The Best of Abbott & Costello, Vol. 1 (Buck Privates / Hold That Ghost / In the Navy / Keep 'Em Flying / One Night in the Tropics / Pardon My Sarong / Ride 'Em Cowboy / Who Done It?)

Description

Get ready for big laughs with Abbott and Costello, undeniably the most popular comedy team of all time! Now, the classic films of Bud Abbott and Lou Costello are available on DVD in this hilarious collection.

The wildly popular comic duo has entertained audiences since 1931, conquering vaudeville, radio and the silver screen in nearly 40 films. Enjoy these side-splitting hits like Buck Privates and Hold That Ghost in this collection of eight full-length features. The Best of Bud Abbott and Lou Costello: Volume 1 will have you laughing out loud again and again!

One Night in the Tropics (1940)
Bud and Lou get mixed up in a "Love Insurance" scheme.

Buck Privates (1941)
The duo accidentally enlists in the U.S. Army to avoid getting arrested!

In the Navy (1941)
Bud and Lou are sailors bound for duty on the high seas in this musical comedy.

Hold that Ghost (1941)
The boys inherit a haunted house formerly owned by a mobster.

Keep `Em Flying (1941)
Bud and Lou enlist in the Army Air Corps and get caught up in a love triangle.

Ride `Em Cowboy (1942)
The duo head to the Lazy S ranch to hide after Lou accidentally proposes to an Indian girl.

Pardon My Sarong (1942)
Bud and Lou travel to the South Seas where Lou is mistaken for a legendary god!

Who Done It? (1942)
The boys are suspected of murder while being targeted by the actual killer.

Customer Reviews:

Abbott & Costello at their best........2007-09-11

This collection has many of their best movies. I've introduced them to my wife and she really enjoys their comedy. The set comes on 2 double sided DVD's which makes it a little hard to see what's on each side.

Everything is Right.......2007-08-26

Don't be fooled by critics; Abbott and Costello were GREAT comics. These are eight fabulously funny movies. They are offered in sequence of original release, and this way you can understand some of their self-referencing as running jokes from film to film.

No, the characters were not as lovingly cultivated as Laurel and Hardy, but they were brilliant, and every film has something that made me laugh out loud, even watching alone. If these were the only movies they ever made, they would still have left an impressive oeuvre of some of the funniest films I've ever seen.

You can read more about the individual films from the other reviewers. I'll just make a few very personal observations.

The first movie, "One Night...", might require some fast-forwarding; however, A&C have major roles, and every appearance is very funny, and some really good prat falls.

"Buck Privates" seems to me an almost perfect comedy-music film: great swing music (and fine dancing by Dean Collins), several great A&C routines, and even a spoken-song by Costello. Too bad the writers didn't think to make Costello the accidental hero of the war games sequence.

In "Hold that Ghost", Costello does a dance--with JOAN DAVIS, and that's a sight to behold. He also gets a chance to do clever things, which kept me from losing sympathy towards him (after a while pure incompetence can grate on you). Oddly, Davis does not figure into the final scene at all and A&C have to refer to her in a corny verbal joke. Anyone know what happened?

The romantic leads and their boring songs are a problem in some of these movies, and the romantic resolution at the end of "In The Navy" actually made me cringe, it is so incredibly stupid. But the last shot is with Costello, so the film has a funny ending.

"Keep 'Em Flying" may seem less funny that the first two service-films, but I thought it had better continuity, more heart and patriotism, and a pretty good dramatic ending scene with a nice silly coda. Also, both A&C get to have girlfriends--in fact the same girl (kind of). They also do a Laurel & Hardy routine, lacking the motivation of the original but incredibly funny in their own machine-gun way of delivery. The director missed some comic opportunities, and he could have improved Martha Raye's choreography, but overall it's a smooth film and pretty satisfying.

"Sarong" starts off a little ragged, but then up pops the 3 Magicians scene; "Go Ahead, Back Up"; and Costello driving a bus to the bottom of the bay (and turning on the windshield wipers). Good imagery.

Their usual method with physical comedy is to do a number of variations and then when they think the audience is getting tired, fade out. But after the bus floats down to the sea floor, A&C are brought up into a boat, and thereby into the next part of the story, by being hoisted up on an anchor. Good segue!

"Ride 'Em Cowboys" has the first of the wild chase endings, but the finale of "Sarong" is better: the way they use props from their environment seems funnier, and the jokes are more based on A&C's characters.

"Who Done It" is my favorite of the bunch. No musical numbers, no particular time wasted on a love interest, very fast pace from beginning to end. Costello does many clever things, and his ability to fall down and run into walls without knocking his brains out is really amazing. The writers leave the ironic futility with Laurel & Hardy, and in this film the characters always prevail against the odds, which is fine with me. Curiously, after the "finale", a character asks Costello why he didn't just get killed--although she wasn't even in sight when the incident happened. But this leads to a funny ending.

A thought about the specialty of Clowns: Hal Roach said that Harold Lloyd was not funny; he was just a great actor who could play a comedian. I don't know what this means, but there certainly is such a thing as a "Clown" who is just funny, versus the rest of us. Costello was a great clown. Could anyone then or now go so over-the-top as Costello does in the "Your Time Has Come" sequence, and make you laugh--rather than recoil with embarrassment? Jerry Lewis could have made it work in front of the Colgate audience in 1952, but never in a movie. Costello goes for utter madness, and yet somehow remains lovable, even believable(!) It seems unimaginable that this routine, as written, could be anything but doomed; but it's a virtuosic Clown performance, and he pulls it off.

This is a great compilation, with everything done right for a change, with perfect prints and excellent sound. Even the menu is good, very simple with no moving images, animated genie effects or loud music (distributors take note), and the indexing seems quite handy.

like it used to be.......2007-08-14

I am so glad to have found these movies.I rememeber back when I was younger getting up every sunday morning to watch them on channel 11. It was my favorite time of the morning. Nice to be able to do it again. I love the Abbott and Costello movies. Good clean comedy!

Is any one really this crazy?.......2007-08-12

You bet, and they enlightened the world with their style of comedy that again is timeless. You just have to feel for the "little guy" and wonder how the big fella could put up with him.

A true test of friendship and humor that will delight viewers for centuries to come.

Just can't say enough about the superb job of cleaning these movies and removing the old snow and sound distortion from them.

This collection will have you rushing back to buy another.

Laughing all the way...........2007-06-30

I remember some of these movies from when I was a kid (okay, I'm dating myself but I don't care). "Hold That Ghost", which is the reason I bought this collection, has some of the funniest bits EVER captured on film. No "off color" language or jokes -- just lots of laughs. The exchange after Joan Davis runs into Lou Costello and knocks him down STILL makes me laugh out loud. If you like "funny" -- this is your ticket.

The Best of Abbott & Costello, Vol. 2 (Hit the Ice / In Society / Here Come the Co-Eds / The Naughty Nineties / Little Giant / The Time of Their Lives / Buck Privates Come Home / The Wistful Widow of Wagon Gap)

Average customer rating:

Who's on first?
The Naughty Nineties
FUNNEY SHOWS
abbott and costello
The Best of Abbott and Costello, Vol. 2

The Best of Abbott & Costello, Vol. 2 (Hit the Ice / In Society / Here Come the Co-Eds / The Naughty Nineties / Little Giant / The Time of Their Lives / Buck Privates Come Home / The Wistful Widow of Wagon Gap)
Starring: Bud Abbott , Lou Costello , Marjorie Main , Audrey Young , and George Cleveland
Director: Charles Barton , Daniel Helfgott , and Erle C. Kenton
Manufacturer: Universal Studios
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B0001FGBZM
Release Date: 2004-05-04

Description

By popular demand, the legendary Bud Abbott and Lou Costello are back in eight brand-new-to-DVD comedy classics! Still one of the greatest comedy teams in the history of show business, their films continue to generate new legions of fans around the world.

Now some of their greatest gags and most stellar skits, including the complete version of their signature routine "Who's on First?", are available in this side-splitting collection. It's the boys at their very best and illustrates why Bud and Lou rightly deserve their place among the brightest stars of the silver screen!

Hit the Ice (1943)
Bud and Lou hit the slopes at the Sun Valley Resort after getting mixed up with gangsters.

In Society (1944)
The boys find themselves in hot water after a plumbing job goes wrong at a high society bash.

Here Come the Co-Eds (1945)
Bud and Lou head to campus and attempt to save Bixby College from closing down.

The Naughty Nineties (1945)
Set aboard the River Queen showboat, Bud and Lou perform their legendary "Who's on First?" routine.

Little Giant (1946)
Lou plays a little man with big dreams...and ends up selling vacuum cleaners!

The Time of Their Lives (1946)
Mistaken as a traitor, Lou's ghost is trapped in Danbury Mansion until his innocence is proven.

Buck Privates Come Home (1947)
Bud and Lou return to civilian life and get involved in midget car racing in the sequel to Buck Privates!

The Wistful Widow of Wagon Gap (1947)
Accused of murder, Lou is forced to take care of a widow and her children on a farm.

Customer Reviews:

Who's on first?.......2007-08-13

This set is worth it, just to see this hilarious skit that children of all ages adore. Even kids today. It's timeless. It's priceless. Even one of my children have it memorized and likes to quote it from time to time. :)

The Naughty Nineties .......2007-07-04

The greatist part of this movie is the whos on First. Don't get me wrong, the whole movie was great but as a avid baseball fan I loved the whos on first seen. I think it's the greatist comedy duet done in history. Plus I grew up watching Abbott & Costello movies on Saturday and Sunday afternoons. I will always love there movies but this one the best.

FUNNEY SHOWS.......2007-06-06

WORTH THE MONEY
I LOVE THIS DVD, BRINGS BACK LAUGHTER AND MEMORYS AND YOU NEVER GET BORED WITH IT,

abbott and costello.......2007-04-11

I received the items in a timely fashion, actually quicker than I expected. The dvd's played fine. I really enjoy ordering from Amazon. I belong to columbia house, and I couldn't tell you the last time I ordered from them since ordering from Amazon. Also the great part was I didn't have to pay for shipping. Very well pleased.

The Best of Abbott and Costello, Vol. 2.......2007-04-02

Abbott and Costello's humor is outstanding and timeless. This collection of some of their movies will keep you laughing uproariously, and you will find yourself watching these movies over and over again and still keep laughing, even after you've watched them so much you know what's going to happen next.

Average customer rating:

Michelle Phillips PLUS Sybil Danning!!!
They found Bogie's double, why couldn't they find a script?
OK Evening's Entertainment
This is bogart BUT the plot is silly and at times perverted
Enjoyable and lightweight...

The Man With Bogart's Face
Starring: Robert Sacchi , Franco Nero , Michelle Phillips , Olivia Hussey , and Misty Rowe
Director: Robert Day
Manufacturer: Image Entertainment
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ASIN: B00005KH2F
Release Date: 2001-07-10

Amazon.com

Nostalgic send-up of Bogart detective films of the '40s boasts a spot-on impression of the famous star by Robert Sacchi, who made a career doing mostly the same. (That's him in the Robert Zemeckis-helmed "You, Murderer" episode from Tales from the Crypt). The premise is that Sacchi plays a retired cop who gets plastic surgery to make himself look like Bogart, and then sets up shop as a private dick named Sam Marlow. But the plot is really just an excuse to pay tribute to Bogart's detective films. Sacchi's channeling of Bogie is so uncanny you'll be positively mesmerized for about 30 minutes. And that's the problem. While this amiable pastiche might help while away the evening in nostalgic reverie, it does a major disservice to the films it appears to idolize. That's the problem with nostalgia: it usually jettisons all the depth and complexity of the original, leaving an indistinct fifth-generation clone, a fuzzy Xerox of a Xerox of a Xerox. So when the novelty of the flick begins to wane, there's only the plot to fall back on for interest. And the plot is only there to have something upon which to hang references to Bogart flicks. The story largely mirrors The Maltese Falcon, with the great whatsit, the things dreams are made of, being a pair of sapphires known as the "eyes of Alexander." The cast is composed of simulacra of past film greats: Gene Tierney (Michelle Phillips), Sidney Greenstreet (Victor Buono), and Peter Lorre (Herbert Lom)--not so successful, that last one. --Jim Gay

Customer Reviews:

Michelle Phillips PLUS Sybil Danning!!!.......2005-07-04

I first saw this movie in an almost empty cinema back in 1980 when I was 20. My how Time flies!!! The cinema next door was packed with yuppies of dubious and questionable sexuality who were watching The Village People in "Can't Stop The Music". Robert Sacchi does a very good impersonation of Humphey Bogart and Michelle Phillips is equally impressive as Gene Tierney. As per usual Sybil Danning takes off her clothes(Thank God).Now it is 25 years later and I STILL am not embarrassed to tell anybody which movie I saw that day unlike the guys who were in the cinema next to me!!!

They found Bogie's double, why couldn't they find a script?.......2005-01-04

Bogart is cloned, but so what? It could have been great. In addition to finding Bogart's exact double, they managed some pretty impressive cameos such as Mike Mazurky who just five years before, played a Moose Malloy that would have made Chandler proud. But the script abuses EVERY CLICHE and not ONE joke hits its mark. Worse, the script is bloated with endless movie references. Some that appear to be put there without even the slightest bit of cause given that they aren't even films noir.
I haven't liked any of the recent parodies of noir on film. Especially since they all seem to rely on the similiar plot devices. "The Singing Detective" and "Girl a Car and a Blonde" rely on the identical device that escaping into a noir world helps the protagonist escape a painful medical condition.

Thankfully, "Man with Bogart's Face" does not fall into this trap, but that doesn't improve it much. For better or worse, we must be given Sam Marlow's motivation for assuming his role as a Bogie clone, and we are not.
This movie has more in common with "Umney's Last Case," Stephen King's miserable failure at creating noir in his collection "Nightmare's and Dreamscapes" in that both King and Andrew J.Fenady (the screenwriter) think that if you can cram in enough references to the classics you will be given instant crediblity. This is not the case. My suggestion for alternative to renting this film is that you rent the real thing. Particularly "Maltese Falcon" and for an even better version of the cool funhouse scene in "Man with Bogart's Face," rent "The Lady from Shanghai.
Alas, as I'm a sucker for everything noir I will probably continue to seek out these types of films. Next on my list is "The Black Bird" which I hope is an abler spoof of The Maltese Falcon". That and "Radioactive Dreams"

OK Evening's Entertainment.......2003-05-05

Fun to see Mike Mazurky, Henry Wilcoxon, and George Raft in bit parts. Fun to see Robert Saachi do a spot-on impersonation of Bogart. The best unplanned fun is viewing the cheesy 70s TV-movie values that add to the nostalgia of the film.

This is bogart BUT the plot is silly and at times perverted.......2003-02-15

5 stars to the actor playing bogie,he has the voice,look, manors and style PERFECT. however the golden age of movies did not have curse words & naked women and i really doubt the real bogie would have lowered himself to this stupid script. If you are the ultimate bogart fan,like me, you can apprechiate just how good this actor plays him and at times there are a few funny sceenes like a car crash resulting from seeing bogie back from the dead.nice hearing the this actor relate everything to the "old days" as he visits certain streets and area's in this film where previous old movies were shot naming the stars who were in them, you can kind of picture it in B&W in your head if you saw the films. it is also kind of neat seeing a cameo by george raft an actor who played with bogie way back when in some of the classics but this is NOT a child safe movie. You can take most of the golden age movies and watch them with a family but not this trashy comedy too many uneeded sex implied scenario's that just dont fit with the real humphrey bogart films.

Enjoyable and lightweight..........2002-06-01

Andy Fenaday's scipt follows self-employed detective (Scacchi, who's incredible) as he gets wrapped up in a MALTESE FALCON-type mystery. Heavy doses of amusing dialog, crammed with old movie references, this movie is better than FLETCH. A lot of fun and worth repeated viewings. A must for movie buffs. Good family viewing, with older kids. Rated PG for profanity, violence, and mild sexual innuendo.

Average customer rating:

Okay Monogram programmer

Midnight Limited
Starring: John 'Dusty' King , Marjorie Reynolds , George Cleveland , Edward Keane , and Monte Collins
Director: Howard Bretherton
Manufacturer: Alpha Video
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ASIN: B0007OP1D0
Release Date: 2005-03-29

Product Description

A phantom criminal is at work aboard the night train from New York to Montreal, leaving his victims bound, gagged and penniless. Joan Marshall is victimized but vows to see the Phantom captured and joins forces with detective Val Lennon. Lennon is stum

Customer Reviews:

Okay Monogram programmer.......2005-07-09

The Midnight Limited, an overnight train from New York City (?) to Montreal is plagued by a robber and killer who disappears in the night after commiting his crimes. Ace railroad detective John King (Ace Drummond in the serial of that name) investigates and has time to romance passenger/robbery victim Marjorie Reynolds and sing half a song along the way. It's an okay Monogram programmer, nothing special but it doesn't put you to sleep either with its short running time of 61 minutes. Not much of interest to train fans, just a few stock shots of a moving train and a couple of train terminal (depot) scenes, probably shot on the studio back lot. It's a typical Alpha transfer...looks like it originated on VHS tape, maybe even at the 4 hour speed. Not as bad as some Alpha titles though.

Average customer rating:

Funny and Fun
A great Andrews Sisters movie!
You're In The Army Now
THERE'S NEVER A DULL MOMENT IN 'BUCK PRIVATES'
TEAM'S FIRST STARRING FILM

Buck Privates
Starring: Bud Abbott , Lou Costello , Patty Andrews , Maxene Andrews , and Laverne Andrews
Director: Arthur Lubin
Manufacturer: Universal Studios
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: 6305077959
Release Date: 1998-04-01

Amazon.com

Universal Studios hit box-office gold when they drafted vaudeville comedians and radio stars Bud Abbott and Lou Costello and turned them into one of the most successful screen teams of the 1940s and 1950s. After a tryout as supporting characters in the musical One Night in the Tropics, they starred in Buck Privates as con artists who accidentally enlist while hiding out from New York street cop Nat Pendleton. Naturally he winds up their drill sergeant and comic foil as they wreak havoc on the armed forces. It's vaudeville in fatigues, with the bare bones of a story provided by spoiled millionaire playboy Lee Bowman, his strapping All-American former chauffeur Alan Curtis, and the girl-next-door they both pursue, Jane Frazee. The lackluster subplot is directed with little verve by Arthur Lubin, and the film's energy comes completely from the snappy by-play of the comedians and Costello's flustered double takes and jumpy physical comedy (including a hilarious rifle drill in which the out-of-step soldier marches to the direction of a different compass). The Andrews Sisters sing "You're a Lucky Fellow, Mr. Smith" and "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy," among others, and future Stooge Shemp Howard shows where the "mess" in mess hall comes from as a cook on the receiving end of Costello's KP tomfoolery. This modest comedy became a smash hit and made Abbott and Costello Universal's most valuable commodity, prompting a quick follow-up with another peacetime armed forces comedy, In the Navy. --Sean Axmaker

Description

Those two crazy cutups, Bud Abbott and Lou Costello, turn the military upside down when they accidentally enlist in the Army. This hilarious comedy highlights some of the duo's funniest bits and routines.

Customer Reviews:

Funny and Fun.......2007-08-05

The Army has never been so much fun as when Bud and Lou sign up for their Uncle Sam. Made to capitalize on their sudden popularity, a fine cast and breezy tone overcome the slight premise and give the boys an opportunity for some of their most hilarious gags. Add the fabulous Andrew Sisters to the mix and you've got a great time at the movies.

Slicker (Bud) and Herbie (Lou) are selling ties without a permit but when they duck into what they think is a movie theatre they end up enlisting in the army! This gives our favorite comedy duo a chance to display both their slapstick ability and their fabulous verbal routines. Nat Pendleton is the perfect foil as their Sergeant. As usual, Bud continues to get Lou into hot water, but it seems more of a gag here, rather than mean-spirited, with Bud coming off a bit softer than in later films. Groucho Marx didn't call him the greatest straight-man in the history of comedy for nothing.

Shemp Howard of the Three Stooges gets a nice bit as K Company's cook. He and Lou even get to do a number together! Most of the songs are done by the always great Andrew Sisters, however. They get to do the romantic "I'll Be With You in Apple Blossom Time" and some breezy war songs on the train to bootcamp and at company dances which keep things moving right along.

The secondary story is actually pretty good here, and is not distracting at all. Lee Bowman is very good as the rich playboy (Randoph Parker III) used to getting things his way, and Alan Curtis is equally good as his opposite, Bob Martin. Both are after the lovely Judy Gray (Jane Frazee) who gets to sing "I Wish You Were Here" and brightens the film every time she appears. Director Arthur Lubin has to be given some credit for keeping this part of the story interesting and not simply using it as a filler until Bud and Lou reappear.

It will all come to a satisfying conclusion after a simulated battle against Blue Company. But not before Herbie is tricked into entering the ring in a camp boxing match as "The Human Buzzsaw." The fight is a hoot and so is much of this film, when it's not being breezily entertaining. Seeing this fun film which was made with a slight script and meager budget will remind you of what's wrong with the movies today. A good time for Abbott and Costello fans.

A great Andrews Sisters movie!.......2007-07-02

I loved this movie! Not because I'm a fan of Abbott and Costello, but because I'm a huge Andrews Sisters fan and they are featured very prominently in this film. In fact, they do the entire "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy" number in this movie as well as many others. It is a great way to see the Andrews Sisters perform and sing. I recommend it highly!

You're In The Army Now.......2007-05-24

This was the first big hit for Abbott & Costello. The boys are peddling ties on the street, and duck into an Army recruiting station to escape a policeman. There are the usual sight gags and verbal jokes that made them the top comics of the 1940s. The Andrews Sisters provide the songs. A steam train takes the inductees to their training camp. [Note how all the men wore suits, ties, and hats.] There is a funny scene where Lou Costello learns how to play with dice. He is a fast learner! The next lesson shows a lesson in finance. Then a playboy gets a chance to learn things they don't teach in college. There is a humorous lesson in teaching close-order drill. Then another comedy routing.

There is a shooting match that is lost when the top marksman develops a problem to stay out; he is shunned. We see some rough crude humor in the boxing match. [Lou Costello shows his skill as a physical comedian.] Next morning there is a sham battle as a training exercise. Real army films are included for realism. Three patrols are set out to capture and destroy a guardhouse. One patrol manages to accomplish their mission. There is a party to celebrate, and we see a dance and song from that era. A side bet at 10-to-1 allows Company K to clean up. There is a final big number to end the film.

A few months later in December 1941 the nation changed forever. But the need for entertainment went on, and so did Abbot & Costello in other comedies.

THERE'S NEVER A DULL MOMENT IN 'BUCK PRIVATES'.......2007-01-14

IN A NUTSHELL: THE QUINTESSENTIAL ABBOTT & COSTELLO FEATURE FILM

'BUCK PRIVATES' is unquestionably one of the best Bud Abbott and Lou Costello films. 'Buck Privates' features some of the A & C team's best and most memorable vaudeville routines. The perfect setting for these routines is what makes 'Buck Privates' work as a comic masterpeice.

WHAT 'BUCK' PRIVATES' IS ALL ABOUT:

Having been caught in the act of peddling neckties in the street, without a permit, Bud and Lou get hoodwinked into enlisting in the army to avoid being sent to jail. Ironically, they soon find themselves in boot camp under the command of the policeman who was prepared to arrest them.

SOUNDS LIKE VERY SILLY STUFF -- RIGHT?

It is silly, but it holds together very nicely and with a minimal, but coherent plot.

CLASSIC ABBOTT & COSTELLO ROUTINES FIT RIGHT IN

For Abbott and Costello, the strictness and structure of military discipline provides the perfect platform for a wide variety of burlesque skits that include many of the team's most famous and classic routines, such as; 'waiting for the little girl to catch-up', 'the dice game', 'the drill of the awkward squad', 'turn-on the radio' and 'the boxing ring'. I must admit that I have recited many of these routines over the years and they delight me to say them, and even more to hear them from the mouths of A & C.

'Buck Privates' also features the Andrews Sisters, who at times turn the film into a music video as they perform their mega-hit tunes such as, 'Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy' and 'Apple Blossom Time'. This musical setting also helps to elevate the mood of this film which was made as the U.S. was entering World War 2 while at the same time the grand music video style of the Andrews Sisters performance gives a classic big-budget feel to this relatively low budget B-film.

LESS IS SOMETIMES BETTER!

'Buck Privates' uses an interesting if not rather cliche secondary plot, involving a love triangle, to provide balance to the film, and provide a framework for the plot so that A & C can make their appearances seem like comical happenstances rather than staged vaudeville routines. This sub-plot may appear extraneous, but this diversionary love triangle, involving Judy Gray [Jane Frazee] is the device that keeps A & C's crazy humor timely and welcomed by the audience.

A VERY FULL 84 MINUTE FILM EXPERIENCE

-----> THE PRINCIPAL CAST MEMBERS

Lee Bowman - Randolph Parker III
Alan Curtis - Bob Martin
Bud Abbott - Slicker Smith
Lou Costello - Herbie Brown
Jane Frazee - Judy Gray
The Andrews Sisters - Themselves
Nat Pendleton - Sgt. Michael Collins
Samuel S. Hinds - Maj. Gen. Emerson
Harry Strang - Sgt. Callahan
Nella Walker - Mrs. Parker II
Leonard Elliott - Henry
Shemp Howard - Chef

-----> THE PRODUCTION CREW

Arthur Lubin - Director
Alex Gottlieb - Producer
John Grant - Screenwriter
Arthur Horman - Screenwriter
Milton Krasner - Cinematographer
Charles Previn - Composer (Music Score)
Hughie Prince - Composer (Music Score)
Phil Cahn - Editor
Nick Castle - Choreography

-----> 3 ACADEMY AWARD NOMINATIONS [all for the music!]

Best Score (nom) Charles Previn 1941 Academy
Best Song (nom) Hughie Prince 1941 Academy
Best Song (nom) Don Raye 1941 Academy

BOTTOM LINE: STILL WONDROUSLY FUNNY AND WITHOUT A DULL MOMENT AFTER 65 YEARS!

TEAM'S FIRST STARRING FILM.......2005-07-22

Bud Abbott and Lou Costello's second film for Universal and the first in which they get star billing, has them playing two con men who ACCIDENTALLY enlist in the Army in order to avoid getting arrested.

Slicker Smith and Herbie Brown are street peddlers selling neck ties while constantly running from the police. To escape an officer they run into an Army Recruiting Station (in a vacant movie theater). Through a misunderstanding, they are recruited into the U.S. Army. They are sent off to boot camp to find out their drill instructor is the very same cop who chased them into the recruiting station in the first place. The boys have a hilarious time frustrating their humorless drill instructor.

Routines & Hilarious Moments:

Dice Routine
Drill Routine
You're 40, She's 10
Boxing Match
Put the pack on his back
Turn that radio off!

TRIVIA: (1)Abbott and Costellos drill routine ran only two-and-a-half minutes in the script, but was allowed five minutes of screen time because of their ad-libbing. Much of their dialogue in the film was ad-libbed.(2)During WWII, the Japanese used to show the "DRILL ROUTINE" to show how stupid the American Army was. (3)A sneak preview was held in late January 1941 for soldiers at Fort MacArthur, California.(4)This film took in $4,000,000, more than either "CITZEN KANE" (1941) or "HOW GREEN WAS MY VALLEY" (1941).

Average customer rating:

GREAT COMEDY TEAM
HILARIOUS SEQUEL TO BUCK PRIVATES
This sequel is better
Abbott & Costello in top form
BUD AND LOU ARE AT AGAIN IN HILARIOUS SEQUEL

Buck Privates Come Home
Starring: Bud Abbott , Lou Costello , Tom Brown , Joan Shawlee , and Nat Pendleton
Director: Charles Barton
Manufacturer: Universal Studios
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: 6305078475
Release Date: 1998-04-08

Amazon.com

In this sequel to 1941's Buck Privates, Bud and Lou are on their way home from the war in Europe (having joined the Army by mistake in the first film). Lou is smuggling home Evey, an adorable French orphan. When Evey is discovered and scheduled for deportation, the only way Bud and Lou can keep her is to get real jobs, a real home, and a real wife. They seek out Evey's "Aunt" Sylvia for help, but first her fiancée needs some quick cash to get his midget-car racer ready for the big race. Of course, the whole thing ends with Lou in the car, leading the cops on a hilarious chase. And don't worry--Evey finds a real home with Sylvia. Buck Privates Come Home is one of those rare sequels that may be better than the original. It's got plenty of routines, sight gags, and action--and only one of those musical interludes that frustrate dyed-in-the-wool A&C fans. The following year, Bud and Lou would team up with the same director and writers to make the classic Abbott & Costello Meet Frankenstein. --Geof Miller

Description

Comedy duo Bud Abbott and Lou Costello are back for more laughs in this hilarious sequel. Returning home from the war, they help an orphan girl sneak into the country, a plan that could put them in jail--and the audience in stitches!

Customer Reviews:

GREAT COMEDY TEAM.......2007-06-06

WORTH THE MONEY
WHO DINT LOVE THIS SHOW , THIS SHOW WAS GREAT
I LOVE THIS VHS, BRINGS BACK LAUGHTER AND MEMORYS AND YOU NEVER GET BORED WITH IT,

HILARIOUS SEQUEL TO BUCK PRIVATES.......2005-11-02

BUCK PRIVATES COME HOME
Universal-International Pictures
Release Date: March 1947
Runtime: 77 minutes

Director:
Charles Barton

Producer:
Robert Arthur

Writing Credits:
Richard Macaulay
Bradford Ropes
John Grant
Frederic I. Rinaldo
Robert Lees

Cast:

Bud Abbott....Slicker Smith
Lou Costello....Herbie Brown
Nat Pendleton...Sergeant Collins
Beverly Simmons....Yvonne 'Evie' LeBrec
Tom Brown.....Bill Gregory
Joan Shawlee....Sylvia Hunter
Don Porter....Captain Christie
Don Beddoe....Mr. Roberts
Russell Hicks....William Appleboy
John Sheehan.....Mr. Drew, Immigration Offical
Jean Del Val....M. Duprez, French Consul
Joe Kirk.....Real Estate Salesman
Charles Trowbridge....J.P. Quince
Eddie Dunn....Mulroney
Knox Manning....Introductory Narrator
Milburn Stone....Auto Race Annnouncer

Music by:
Walter Schumann

Cinematography by:
Charles Van Enger

Film Editig by:
Edward Curtiss

Art Direction:
Bernard Herzbrun
Frank A. Richards

Set Decoration:
Russell A. Gausman
Charles Wyrick

Costume Design by:
Yvonne Woods

Assistant Director
Joseph E. Kenny

Sound Department:
Charles Felstead
Robert Pritchard

Other Crew:
David S. Horsley....special photographic effects
David Tamkin....orchestrator

Plot Summary:

Slicker and Herbie are getting out of the Army, but not without a souvenir. Herbie brings home a little French girl named "Evie". But the Army finds Evie and seeks to have her sent back to France. Meanwhile, the boys are back to their neck tie business and running from their old drill sergeant. Evie escapes the officials and finds Herbie and Slicker. With the help of Sylvia, her fiancee Bill Gregory, and their old Army pals, the boys find themselves in the midget car racing business to raise enough money to adopt Evie.

ROUTINES & HILARIOUS MOMENTS:
Teeter-tottering table
Lou in clothesline hammock
Lou racing midget race car

Trivia (from imdb.com): The final chase sequence re-uses footage from 'NEVER GIVE A SUCKER AN EVEN BREAK' (1941).

This sequel is better.......2000-07-18

Buck Privates was very good but i think you will find this movie even better because its faster paced, good action, plenty of funny moments, and i believe it has better direction. I highly recommend this one. This is another Abbott and Costello film well worth watching. Not all of thier films are great but this one is so just enjoy it.

Abbott & Costello in top form.......2000-01-11

Another rare case of a sequel topping the original. There is some effective sentiment to go along with the clowning. Along with 'The Time of Their Lives' and 'Abbott & Costello Meet Frankenstein', this one ranks as one of the boys' best.

BUD AND LOU ARE AT AGAIN IN HILARIOUS SEQUEL.......1999-09-02

The ONLY SEQUEL to an A&C film and one of their BEST. The boys return from the war in Europe after having ACCIDENTLY enlisted in the Army in the first film. (One wonders how Abbott & Costello could have POSSIBILY taking part in WW II and having the Allies still win). The film begins with the classic "DRILL ROUTINE" from 'BUCK PRIVATES'. On the ship carrying the boys home, Lou tries to smuggle in a French war orphan named Evie. The ONLY way the comedy team can keep the girl is to get REAL JOBS, REAL MONEY, and a REAL WIFE. The boys gather together their old pals from their platoon and convince them to put up the money for Evie's "AUNT SYLVIA'S" fiance's midget car who is sure will win the big race. This investment pits "SLICKER & HERBIE" against their old nemesis "SGT. COLLINS" (The policeman who tried to arrest them in the first film for selling neckties without a license and who later became their Army sergeant.) The climatic chase seen is one of the highlights of this VERY FUNNY,HILARIOUS sequel to "BUCK PRIVATES" [NOTE: Shortly after the release of this film, Abbott & Costello were reunited with the SAME WRITERS and the SAME DIRECTOR, for what will be the BEST HORROR COMEDY ever filmed - " ABBOTT & COSTELLO MEET FRANKENSTEIN"]

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