From Deseret News archives:
Slapstick humor of Abbott, Costello still holds up well
"The Best of Bud Abbott and Lou Costello, Volume 3" (Universal, not rated, $26.98, two double-sided discs).
"Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein" (1948) is often cited as the best of A&C's films, and it's still awfully good, with the boys being chased by Dracula (Bela Lugosi), the Wolf Man (Lon Chaney Jr.) and, of course, Frankenstein's monster (Glenn Strange). One complaint: The bonus features on the original DVD release are not included here for some reason.
"Mexican Hayride" (1948) gets its biggest laughs when Costello dances every time a samba is played. He's in Mexico to get back money from crooked Abbott.
"Abbott and Costello Meet the Killer" (1949). The posters say " . . . Meet the Killer, Boris Karloff" but he's not the killer! Good spooky fun in a hotel, with Karloff as a phony fortune-teller.
"Abbott and Costello in the Foreign Legion" (1950). The title tells it all; the best sequence has the boys hallucinating in the desert.
"Comin' Round the Mountain" (1952), a disappointing hillbilly yarn, has one funny scene, as Costello and a witch (Margaret Hamilton, the Wicked Witch of the West in "The Wizard of Oz") stick pins in dolls.
"Lost in Alaska" (1952), another weak A&C effort, has them mixed up with a sad-sack prospector (Tom Ewell). (This is the first film with Abbott in his mustache.)
"Abbott and Costello Go to Mars" (1953) is perhaps weakest of all as the boys board a spaceship and land on, not Mars, but Venus! (Look for Anita Ekberg among the beauties they encounter.)
OK, now what? Universal has only "Abbott & Costello Meet the Keystone Kops" and "Abbott & Costello Meet the Mummy" left . . . unless you count "It Ain't Hay," which was not in "Volume 2" due to a dispute over music rights. "Mummy" is available on a solo disc but what about "Kops"?
Extras: Full frame, trailers, text production notes, subtitle options (English, Spanish, French), chapters.
"If a Man Answers" (Universal, 1962, not rated, $14.98).
Comments
- Rates on 30-year mortgages drop 9:19 a.m.
- Felt's Facts season recap 9:16 a.m.
- Alan Parsons Project co-founder dies 9:15 a.m.
- Oregon tree cutters safe 9:12 a.m.
- Group wants weight loss pill banned 9:08 a.m.
- Bernanke claims will to reel in stimulus 8:59 a.m.
- Service sector activity disappoints 8:56 a.m.
- Stocks turn mixed 8:55 a.m.
- Semitrailer crash closes canyon 8:50 a.m.
- Soccer fans await World Cup draw 8:47 a.m.
- Why is Y. ignoring spew of hatred?
- Mitchell said to share LeBaron traits
- Unbeaten BYU takes trip to Logan
- Teen girl killed in Kaysville crash
- Miles is back, but others still out
- BCS just keeps dirty laundry on spin
- MWC awaits bowl destinations
- Utahns growing tired of Bennett
- Woods says he let family down
- 2 citations issued at Y.-U. game
- Hall mouths off about hate of Utah
914 - Cougars beat Utes in overtime
483 - Hall reprimanded by MWC
406 - Max Hall issues apology
392 - Hall's pain reflects self-betrayal
359 - Utes won't respond to Hall
278 - Why is Y. ignoring spew of hatred?
249 - BYU says Hall incident resolved
244 - 2 citations issued at Y.-U. game
184 - Religion in politics is tiresome
154
The Wall Street Journal has reported that the holiday retail season...
When "Dancing With The Stars" began more than two months ago, 16 couples...
Okay, I didn't know that was a rule. As for Ungas fumble, clearly his butt...
People have to keep up the fight, because they LGBT's are not going to stop....
...are class acts, in my mind. The game last night was a tough fought battle...
I just don't get this. Of course they are insane! What normal person just...
ktown all the way!!!
Your comment doesn't make sense. Sounds more like sour grapes.
"Maybe if the Univ. of Utah banned beer at Rice-Eccles it would cut down on...
Great Win for the Aggies and the Spectrum is one of the best basketball...
Benson you make it sound like life here at BYU is where the students live in...
When your forward plays 37 minutes and gets 2 rebounds and your 7'3" center...



You can be the first to comment on this story.