Leofwine_draca Typical "old dark house" comedy-horror-mystery yarn, influenced by THE CAT AND THE CANARY which had enjoyed great success with Bob Hope a year earlier. While admittedly real-life performer Kay Kyser and his band of musical misfits - which includes the exceptionally goofy Ish Kabbibie, complete with his influential ridiculous haircut - may not be to everybody's taste, and the years have tamed and made the jokes clichéd, YOU'LL FIND OUT has a spirit of fun which makes it impossible to dislike. Even though the film runs at ninety-five minutes, it never drags and once you get over the initial introduction scenes, there's plenty of fun to be had as our bumbling idiots traipse around a spooky country mansion and try desperately not to get killed.Although (as is often the case with these comedy-horrors) the supernatural turn out to be predictably down-to-earth at the film's close, there are still plenty of spooky shenanigans before that, especially a hair-raising séance scene involving a floating disembodied head which is genuinely shuddersome after all these years, a magnificent macabre sight. This film is worth watching for horror buffs too for the casting of three of the genre's finest performers - Bela Lugosi, Boris Karloff, and Peter Lorre. A turbaned Lugosi is never anything less than sinister from when he first appears in a mirror and really seems to be enjoying himself in his minor role, sending up his horror persona. Karloff in comparison is his typically genteel self until his darker side is revealed later on in the film, and finally Lorre has a ball as the fraudulent professor, inimitably reading lines with his silky voice and creating plenty of shudders. Even Kyser, who starts off as being exceptionally irritating, is quite amiable as the bumbling investigator and there are some many things going on that the running time flies by. A worthwhile curiosity, not the best perhaps but definitely not bad, and worth watching just to see the famed horror trio in their only appearance together.

lugonian YOU'LL FIND OUT! (RKO Radio, 1940), produced and directed by David Butler, marks the second in a series of musical-comedies starring that band-leader and radio personality from Rocky Mount, North Carolina, Kay Kyser. A sequel to his screen introduction, THAT'S RIGHT, YOU'RE WRONG (1939), with Adolphe Menjou, Lucille Ball and Dennis O'Keefe in the cast, this edition finds Kyser and his band members (Ish Kabibble, Sully Mason, Harry Babbitt and Ginny Simms) in a "haunted house" theme supported by not one but three horror film greats, Boris Karloff, Bela Lugosi and Peter Lorre, in straightforward performances. Also in support are Helen Parrish in a Deanna Durbin look-alike appearance; and Dennis O'Keefe as her romantic interest.Beginning with Kay Kyser, dressed in graduation garb, hosting his Wednesday night radio quiz program, "College of Musical Knowledge" the story gets underway as Chuck Deam (Dennis O'Keefe), Kyser's manager, arranging for Kay and his band to come to the an estate where they are to entertain at the 21st birthday party for Chuck's girl, Janis Belocratz (Helen Parrish). Before their departure, Chuck rescues Janis from getting struck by a speeding automobile while standing outside the radio station. She then reveals to him this to be her second near miss experience during the past two weeks. Seeing that her life may be in danger, Chuck agrees to watch over her. Arriving by bus to the Belocratz estate with his troupe during a thunderstorm, Kyser and company find the place to not only have a spooky outlook but an assortment of oddball characters: namely Janis's aunt, Margo Belocratz (Alma Kruger), a psychic; Judge Spencer Mannaring (Boris Karloff), the family lawyer; Prince Saliano (Bela Lugosi), a turban wearing spiritualist; and Professor Karl Fenninger (Peter Lorre), the guest of honor. Mysterious circumstances occur following the explosion of a bridge being their only means of entering and leaving the estate; Janis's near death encounters ranging from a blowgun needle to a falling chandelier; a mysterious figure lurking through the window; and a mystery man (Leonard Mudie) claiming to be Professor Fenninger. As the Kyser band provide some musical entertainment to ease the tension, Kyser himself, assisted with Chuck and Kabibble's dog, Prince, takes it upon himself playing detective to see what lurks ahead. Does Kay get the results? You'll find out! A mystery-comedy consisting of various songs by Johnny Mercer and Jimmy McHugh include: "I'm Telling You, Baby" (introduced by Sully Mason, sung by the Kyser band); "You Got Me This Way, Crazy for You" (sung by Harry Babbitt); "The Bad Humor Man" (sung by Babbitt and Kyser band); "I'd Know You Anywhere" (sung by Ginny Simms); "One Track Mind," "I'd Know You Anywhere" (reprise) and "One Track Mind" (sung by Simms).Although the script may not appear too original, its time-worn related theme dating back to the silent era did serve as fine material for other comics as Bob Hope with THE GHOST BREAKERS (1940); Abbott and Costello in HOLD THAT GHOST (1941), or even The Three Stooges in one of their many comedy shorts for Columbia (1934-1959). Take notice how Ish Kabibble can very well be taken for the younger version of Stooge leader, Moe Howard, with his Buster Brown haircut that stands upward whenever Ish encounters elements of surprise. A little contrived, YOU'LL FIND OUT does allow for some exceptionally good individual scenes during its 97 minutes, namely the two separate séance sequences played for laughs with a touch of suspense, and Kyser going through the motions through secret panels and dark hallways, along with encountering movable objects and a sound effects machine known as the Sonovox.Because Karloff and Lugosi share limited scenes together, and virtually take the back seat to the musical-comedy antics of Kay Kyser and his band, YOU'LL FIND OUT is generally dismissed or overlooked as part of their frequent pairings made famous over at Universal Studios. In spite of their great presence, it is Lorre who comes across as the creepier of the three with those sinister eyes and soft-speaking manner bearing no difference from his performance from suspense thrillers as his most recent STRANGER ON THE THIRD FLOOR (RKO, 1940) to add irony to the story such as it is. Karloff retains his dignified manner as does Lugosi with his mysterious intentions, leaving much of the comedy to others involved, namely its star, Kay Kyser, with a kind face and glasses reminiscent to silent film comedian Harold Lloyd.Often funny, sometimes silly, but typical Kyser flare, especially when looking directly into the camera to address the motion picture audience that the movie was "all in fun," which was intended to be. YOU'LL FIND OUT, which often played on American Movie Classics prior to 2001, can be seen occasionally on Turner Classic Movies, appropriately around Halloween time. Watch for Kay Kyser's next escapade with his band in PLAYMATES(1941) with guest star John Barrymore. Any good? You'll find out! (***)

theclassicmovies Love the movie, Love the music. Ish, Harry, Ginny, Sulley and of course Kay are wonderful. Wish this movie would play more. The Horror Legends Bela Lugosi, Boris Karloff, Peter Lorre naturally make this film have the spooky theme to it. Ish and his puppy lighten the mood. The comedy relief of this film is wonderful. It, as with other Kay Kyser movies, are a 10+. The music is light hearted and catchy. I would certainly recommend this movie to anyone and everyone who wish to enjoy the music from a great Big Band that incorporates the eery-ness from Bela Lugosi, Boris Karloff and Peter Lorre. Every time I see this movie, I always see something new that I hadn't seen before.

bensonmum2 IMDb lists this film as a Comedy / Horror / Musical / Mystery. While it does have elements of all four genres, none are portrayed very well. The comedy is weak. The horror is almost non-existent. While there are musical numbers, none is very memorable. And the mystery could be solved by a first grader. Sounds pretty bad, huh? With all this having been said, I still enjoy this movie. Why? Boris Karloff, Bela Lugosi, and Peter Lorre make their only joint appearance in a film (that I'm aware of). Each provides a level of excitement and enjoyment to what would otherwise be a very forgettable movie. In the film, they are plotting together to scheme a rich heiress out of her fortune. It's up to Kay Kyser and his band to save the day. The plot involves psychics, poison darts, ghosts, trap doors, and hidden passageways. If you're a fan of Lugosi, Karloff, and Lorre, You'll Find Out can be fun.