Abbott & Costello
Posted: June 7th, 2011, 4:11 pm
Been going through the tremendous DVD set, Abbott and Costello: The Complete Universal Collection, supplemented by the few MGM and independent films the boys did together.
I've been an avid A & C fan since I was a boy. For years, every Sunday morning at 11:30, channel 11, WPIX aired one of their 30+- Universal films, and I watched every week, so it has been a great joy to revisit them again. Because of my history with these films, still knowing virtually every routine, plus the fact that I grew up in the town that bordered the city where Lou hailed from, I find myself unable to view the films critically; I just love 'em.
One Night in the Tropics (1940) The duo's debut film is the only one in which they appear that they are not the stars; but they should be because when they aren't on the screen, the film is pretty much a dud. Alan Jones and Robert Cummings star in this musical/comedy about "love insurance". The boys essentially do short snippets of their greatest hits, including Jonah and the Whale (done better in their later release Here Come the Co-Eds) and a very abbreviated Who's on First. (The entire routine can be seen in their film, The Naughty Nineties, as well as at the Baseball Hall of Fame).
Buck Privates (1941) Their first staring vehicle is a service comedy classic. Great comedy, great music (the Andrew Sisters croon, among others, Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy of Company B), and a plot that holds together, albeit barely. Lots of highlights but the dice game and especially the Drill Routine are among the best. Lou, famous for his ad-libs, asks Drill Instructor Bud, "What time is it?" Without missing a beat, Bud fires back, "None of your business."
This was Universal's biggest hit of the year, and the boys were on their way.
In the Navy (1941) What was good for the army was good for the navy, but even better. Bud and Lou, again with the Sisters Andrew, are in top form and this film has laughs to spare. The Lemon Bit, featuring Bud, Lou and Stooge Shemp Howard is a must. But the absolute greatest routine, one of may all-time favorites, is 7 X 13 = 28. (And boy did I goof my young nephew's head when I showed it to him!) The film also features one of my favorite lines from Lou, "There's a tomat-a in the potato locker." (Have to see it to understand.) This is the film that introduced me to Dick Powell, who actually resurrected his career (and sings a couple of tunes, too.) Classic.
Hold That Ghost ( 1941) A & C were filming this right after the release of Buck Privates, but with Private's success, Universal halted the production on Ghost and got the boys into another service comedy. And since both service comedies were successful with the Andrew Sisters, despite them not originally appearing in the script, when production on Ghost resumed, the Sisters and other musical numbers were shoe-horned in (actually book-ended, as they appear at the beginning and end.) Regardless, once the film-proper begins, you have the quintessential haunted house comedy. Not only that, but the co-stars include Richard (Creature From the Black Lagoon) Carlson and Evelyn (Queen of Horror) Ankers. But it's Joan Davis who really makes her mark, working her comedic wiles with Lou, most notably during a very funny "dance routine". And speaking of Lou, it's here where we finally get to see him do his "scared routine", which he did so well that Universal insisted, regardless of plots, that Lou be scared at some point in the future films. That this plot makes little sense is beyond the point. The "changing room" bit is a standout (and oft repeated in their films) and this includes their best filmed version of the moving candle routine, which Lou shares with Joan.
Keep 'em Flying (1941) Four films in ten months and as went the army, navy, now, too, is the Army Air Corps. (The US Air Force became a separate branch in '47.)). No Andrew Sisters this time, but still plenty of okay music, a great plot, and best of all, Martha Raye…as TWINS! One twin likes Bud, the other Lou, but, naturally Lou doesn't realizes that their are two of 'em, meaning the "order something" routine is hysterical. More plot this time, and we get to see both Bud and Lou do a little actual acting. Lou showing he is quite capable of adding a bit of pathos to his character, something which none other than Charles Chaplin would soon notice.
Ride 'em Cowboy (1941) Bud and Lou at a dude ranch. Not only that, they are there with silent film star Johnny Mack Brown and Anne (House of Frankenstein) Gwynne. Not to mention the film debut of Ella Fitzgerald, who sings a great version of "A Tisket, A Tasket". The film features a long and very funny chase sequence as well as some of their great word-play gags, including "heard of cows". They also stage an elaborate version of "Crazy House", but the bit feels shoe-horned in, and just doesn't work in the context of the film (excerpted, it works fine.) Still, a very fun and funny film.
I've been an avid A & C fan since I was a boy. For years, every Sunday morning at 11:30, channel 11, WPIX aired one of their 30+- Universal films, and I watched every week, so it has been a great joy to revisit them again. Because of my history with these films, still knowing virtually every routine, plus the fact that I grew up in the town that bordered the city where Lou hailed from, I find myself unable to view the films critically; I just love 'em.
One Night in the Tropics (1940) The duo's debut film is the only one in which they appear that they are not the stars; but they should be because when they aren't on the screen, the film is pretty much a dud. Alan Jones and Robert Cummings star in this musical/comedy about "love insurance". The boys essentially do short snippets of their greatest hits, including Jonah and the Whale (done better in their later release Here Come the Co-Eds) and a very abbreviated Who's on First. (The entire routine can be seen in their film, The Naughty Nineties, as well as at the Baseball Hall of Fame).
Buck Privates (1941) Their first staring vehicle is a service comedy classic. Great comedy, great music (the Andrew Sisters croon, among others, Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy of Company B), and a plot that holds together, albeit barely. Lots of highlights but the dice game and especially the Drill Routine are among the best. Lou, famous for his ad-libs, asks Drill Instructor Bud, "What time is it?" Without missing a beat, Bud fires back, "None of your business."
This was Universal's biggest hit of the year, and the boys were on their way.
In the Navy (1941) What was good for the army was good for the navy, but even better. Bud and Lou, again with the Sisters Andrew, are in top form and this film has laughs to spare. The Lemon Bit, featuring Bud, Lou and Stooge Shemp Howard is a must. But the absolute greatest routine, one of may all-time favorites, is 7 X 13 = 28. (And boy did I goof my young nephew's head when I showed it to him!) The film also features one of my favorite lines from Lou, "There's a tomat-a in the potato locker." (Have to see it to understand.) This is the film that introduced me to Dick Powell, who actually resurrected his career (and sings a couple of tunes, too.) Classic.
Hold That Ghost ( 1941) A & C were filming this right after the release of Buck Privates, but with Private's success, Universal halted the production on Ghost and got the boys into another service comedy. And since both service comedies were successful with the Andrew Sisters, despite them not originally appearing in the script, when production on Ghost resumed, the Sisters and other musical numbers were shoe-horned in (actually book-ended, as they appear at the beginning and end.) Regardless, once the film-proper begins, you have the quintessential haunted house comedy. Not only that, but the co-stars include Richard (Creature From the Black Lagoon) Carlson and Evelyn (Queen of Horror) Ankers. But it's Joan Davis who really makes her mark, working her comedic wiles with Lou, most notably during a very funny "dance routine". And speaking of Lou, it's here where we finally get to see him do his "scared routine", which he did so well that Universal insisted, regardless of plots, that Lou be scared at some point in the future films. That this plot makes little sense is beyond the point. The "changing room" bit is a standout (and oft repeated in their films) and this includes their best filmed version of the moving candle routine, which Lou shares with Joan.
Keep 'em Flying (1941) Four films in ten months and as went the army, navy, now, too, is the Army Air Corps. (The US Air Force became a separate branch in '47.)). No Andrew Sisters this time, but still plenty of okay music, a great plot, and best of all, Martha Raye…as TWINS! One twin likes Bud, the other Lou, but, naturally Lou doesn't realizes that their are two of 'em, meaning the "order something" routine is hysterical. More plot this time, and we get to see both Bud and Lou do a little actual acting. Lou showing he is quite capable of adding a bit of pathos to his character, something which none other than Charles Chaplin would soon notice.
Ride 'em Cowboy (1941) Bud and Lou at a dude ranch. Not only that, they are there with silent film star Johnny Mack Brown and Anne (House of Frankenstein) Gwynne. Not to mention the film debut of Ella Fitzgerald, who sings a great version of "A Tisket, A Tasket". The film features a long and very funny chase sequence as well as some of their great word-play gags, including "heard of cows". They also stage an elaborate version of "Crazy House", but the bit feels shoe-horned in, and just doesn't work in the context of the film (excerpted, it works fine.) Still, a very fun and funny film.