Four problems with this film. First, by 1952, Abbott & Costello had little new to offer the American public; same old same old...and it was beginning to wear a little thin. Second, America had a new favorite comedy team -- Martin & Lewis, who provided entertainment a bit more adult oriented; thus, you're going to see scantily clad women in this film than just about any other A&C film. The songs and singers in this film are atrocious; please...bring back the Andrews Sisters.
So, is there any reason to watch this film at all? Well, it's a rare Abbott & Costello film that's in color. But a bigger reason is to watch the esteemed Charles Laughton be funny (or at least try to be funny); Laughton's career was floundering at this point, and he was paid only $25,000 for this film ("Witness For The Prosecution" was yet to come in his career).
The acting here -- even Laughton's -- is pretty thin (here, Laughton seemed to think that acting funny meant yelling). Costello used to be brilliant...now he was getting repetitive. As usual, Bud Abbott offered little except straight lines. Hi8llary Brooke was a better straight man than Bud Abbott.
Despite the scantily clad women, this is pretty much a kid's picture. And a not very funny one at that. Abbott & Costello were once the funniest duo in films, by this time they were getting a bit stale.
So, is there any reason to watch this film at all? Well, it's a rare Abbott & Costello film that's in color. But a bigger reason is to watch the esteemed Charles Laughton be funny (or at least try to be funny); Laughton's career was floundering at this point, and he was paid only $25,000 for this film ("Witness For The Prosecution" was yet to come in his career).
The acting here -- even Laughton's -- is pretty thin (here, Laughton seemed to think that acting funny meant yelling). Costello used to be brilliant...now he was getting repetitive. As usual, Bud Abbott offered little except straight lines. Hi8llary Brooke was a better straight man than Bud Abbott.
Despite the scantily clad women, this is pretty much a kid's picture. And a not very funny one at that. Abbott & Costello were once the funniest duo in films, by this time they were getting a bit stale.