fbpx
Wikipedia

Abbott and Costello in Hollywood

December 13, 2023

Abbott and Costello in Hollywood[a] is a 1945 American black-and-white comedy film directed by S. Sylvan Simon and starring the comedy team of Abbott and Costello alongside Frances Rafferty. Made by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, it was produced by Martin A. Gosch.

Abbott and Costello in Hollywood
Theatrical release poster
Directed byS. Sylvan Simon
Written byNat Perrin
Lou Breslow
Produced byMartin A. Gosch
StarringBud Abbott
Lou Costello
Frances Rafferty
Robert Stanton
Jean Porter
Warner Anderson
"Rags" Ragland
Mike Mazurki
CinematographyCharles Schoenbaum
Edited byBen Lewis
Music byGeorge Bassman
Production
company
Distributed byLoew's Inc.[1]
Release date
  • October 4, 1945 (1945-10-04) (U.S.)[2]
Running time
83 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Plot edit

A barber, Buzz Curtis, and a porter, Abercrombie, work for a Hollywood salon. They are sent to the office of agent Norman Royce to give him a haircut and a shoeshine. On the way there they run into former co-worker Claire Warren, who is about to star as the lead in a new musical. At the same time her co-star Gregory LeMaise, whose fame is dwindling, arrives and invites her to join him at lunch. She declines, which angers him.

While at the agent's office Buzz and Abercrombie witness LeMaise enter and declare to Royce that he cannot work with Claire. Royce, who has just seen a young singer, Jeff Parker audition, fires LeMaise and offers the job to Parker. This causes LeMaise to change his mind, and Royce does as well, giving LeMaise his job back. Buzz and Abercrombie quickly switch careers and become Parker's agents, and head to the studio's chief, Mr. Kavanaugh, to find a role for Parker.

Unfortunately, when they meet up with Kavanaugh it's because they just crashed their car into his at the studio gate. Kavanaugh bans them from the lot, but they manage to sneak back in with a group of extras. Once inside they find themselves at the wardrobe department and Buzz gets dressed as a cop and Abercrombie as a tramp. They use their newfound disguises to roam the lot.

Later, Buzz and Abercrombie try to help Parker get the role by getting LeMaise out of the picture by trying to start a fight with him. Their plan is to photograph him hitting Abercrombie and then having him arrested. The plan goes off without a hitch until Abercombie falls overboard after being hit and is feared drowned. LeMaise decides to hide, and Parker is given the role in his place. LeMaise eventually discovers that Abercrombie is still alive and chases him around the backlot. LeMaise eventually is caught, and Claire and Parker become famous when the film is successful. Subsequently, Buzz and Abercrombie become big-time agents in Hollywood.

Cast edit

Production edit

Filming took place from April 10 through June 1, 1945, with some retakes filmed in July.

During production, Abbott and Costello returned to Universal Studios on May 13 for retakes on The Naughty Nineties (1945).

This is the last of three feature films that Abbott and Costello made on loan to Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer while under contract to Universal; the other two features were Rio Rita (1942) and Lost in a Harem (1944).

Many stars appear in the film as themselves, such as Lucille Ball, Rags Ragland, Preston Foster, and Dean Stockwell.

Routines performed edit

Insomnia is one of the routines that Abbott and Costello perform. Costello is unable to fall asleep, so Abbott gives him a record that is guaranteed to put anyone to sleep. However, no one is around to turn it off, and when the needle reaches the end, it starts skipping, which wakes him. Abbott agrees to stay awake to turn it off when it is over, but falls under the spell of the record and goes to sleep himself. They try again, this time with cotton in Abbott's ears (a sequence that was used in the MGM compilation film, (That's Entertainment, Part II). When this also fails, Costello ties a string from his foot to the record player. The thought is when he falls asleep, his foot will drop shutting off the machine, but instead it turns on the radio, which blasts a loud march!

Reception edit

Bosley Crowther of The New York Times wrote: "Among the real rib-tickling sketches in this film the two high spots are Costello's schooling in the tonsorial art and his desperate battle to overcome insomnia. During these interludes his brilliant pantomimic talents are brought into full play. As for the rest, well, even half a laugh is better than none."[3] Variety wrote: "An Abbott and Costello picture may not be an artistic triumph, but the duo certainly try hard enough to make audiences laugh. Their latest, 'Abbott and Costello in Hollywood,' is no exception; it should do fairly good business."[4] Harrison's Reports wrote that the film "should more than satisfy those who respond easily to [Abbott & Costello's] particular brand of slapstick humor."[5]

Home media edit

Warner Home Video released the film on DVD November 21, 2006 with Lost in a Harem (1944).

Notes edit

  1. ^ On screen title is Bud Abbott and Lou Costello in Hollywood.

References edit

  1. ^ Abbott and Costello in Hollywood at the American Film Institute Catalog
  2. ^ "Abbott & Costello in Hollywood". WarnerBros.com. Retrieved March 28, 2016.
  3. ^ Crowther, Bosley (November 23, 1945). "Movie Review - Abbott & Costello in Hollywood". The New York Times. Retrieved March 28, 2016.
  4. ^ "Film Reviews". Variety. New York. August 22, 1945. p. 20.
  5. ^ "Abbott and Costello on Hollywood". Harrison's Reports: 135. August 25, 1945.

External links edit

 
Wikiquote has quotations related to Abbott and Costello in Hollywood.

December 13, 2023
abbott, costello, hollywood, 1945, american, black, white, comedy, film, directed, sylvan, simon, starring, comedy, team, abbott, costello, alongside, frances, rafferty, made, metro, goldwyn, mayer, produced, martin, gosch, theatrical, release, posterdirected,. Abbott and Costello in Hollywood a is a 1945 American black and white comedy film directed by S Sylvan Simon and starring the comedy team of Abbott and Costello alongside Frances Rafferty Made by Metro Goldwyn Mayer it was produced by Martin A Gosch Abbott and Costello in HollywoodTheatrical release posterDirected byS Sylvan SimonWritten byNat PerrinLou BreslowProduced byMartin A GoschStarringBud AbbottLou CostelloFrances RaffertyRobert StantonJean PorterWarner Anderson Rags RaglandMike MazurkiCinematographyCharles SchoenbaumEdited byBen LewisMusic byGeorge BassmanProductioncompanyMetro Goldwyn MayerDistributed byLoew s Inc 1 Release dateOctober 4 1945 1945 10 04 U S 2 Running time83 minutesCountryUnited StatesLanguageEnglish Contents 1 Plot 2 Cast 3 Production 4 Routines performed 5 Reception 6 Home media 7 Notes 8 References 9 External linksPlot editA barber Buzz Curtis and a porter Abercrombie work for a Hollywood salon They are sent to the office of agent Norman Royce to give him a haircut and a shoeshine On the way there they run into former co worker Claire Warren who is about to star as the lead in a new musical At the same time her co star Gregory LeMaise whose fame is dwindling arrives and invites her to join him at lunch She declines which angers him While at the agent s office Buzz and Abercrombie witness LeMaise enter and declare to Royce that he cannot work with Claire Royce who has just seen a young singer Jeff Parker audition fires LeMaise and offers the job to Parker This causes LeMaise to change his mind and Royce does as well giving LeMaise his job back Buzz and Abercrombie quickly switch careers and become Parker s agents and head to the studio s chief Mr Kavanaugh to find a role for Parker Unfortunately when they meet up with Kavanaugh it s because they just crashed their car into his at the studio gate Kavanaugh bans them from the lot but they manage to sneak back in with a group of extras Once inside they find themselves at the wardrobe department and Buzz gets dressed as a cop and Abercrombie as a tramp They use their newfound disguises to roam the lot Later Buzz and Abercrombie try to help Parker get the role by getting LeMaise out of the picture by trying to start a fight with him Their plan is to photograph him hitting Abercrombie and then having him arrested The plan goes off without a hitch until Abercombie falls overboard after being hit and is feared drowned LeMaise decides to hide and Parker is given the role in his place LeMaise eventually discovers that Abercrombie is still alive and chases him around the backlot LeMaise eventually is caught and Claire and Parker become famous when the film is successful Subsequently Buzz and Abercrombie become big time agents in Hollywood Cast editBud Abbott as Buzz Kurtis Lou Costello as Abercrombie Frances Rafferty as Claire Warren Bob Haymes as Jeff Parker as Robert Stanton Jean Porter as Ruthie Warner Anderson as Norman Royce Rags Ragland as himself as Rags Ragland Mike Mazurki as Klondike Pete Carleton G Young as Gregory LeMaise Donald MacBride as Dennis Kavanaugh Edgar Dearing as First Studio Cop Marion Martin as Miss Milbane Arthur Space as Director William Phillips as Kavanaugh s Assistant as Wm Bill Phillips Production editFilming took place from April 10 through June 1 1945 with some retakes filmed in July During production Abbott and Costello returned to Universal Studios on May 13 for retakes on The Naughty Nineties 1945 This is the last of three feature films that Abbott and Costello made on loan to Metro Goldwyn Mayer while under contract to Universal the other two features were Rio Rita 1942 and Lost in a Harem 1944 Many stars appear in the film as themselves such as Lucille Ball Rags Ragland Preston Foster and Dean Stockwell Routines performed editInsomnia is one of the routines that Abbott and Costello perform Costello is unable to fall asleep so Abbott gives him a record that is guaranteed to put anyone to sleep However no one is around to turn it off and when the needle reaches the end it starts skipping which wakes him Abbott agrees to stay awake to turn it off when it is over but falls under the spell of the record and goes to sleep himself They try again this time with cotton in Abbott s ears a sequence that was used in the MGM compilation film That s Entertainment Part II When this also fails Costello ties a string from his foot to the record player The thought is when he falls asleep his foot will drop shutting off the machine but instead it turns on the radio which blasts a loud march Reception editBosley Crowther of The New York Times wrote Among the real rib tickling sketches in this film the two high spots are Costello s schooling in the tonsorial art and his desperate battle to overcome insomnia During these interludes his brilliant pantomimic talents are brought into full play As for the rest well even half a laugh is better than none 3 Variety wrote An Abbott and Costello picture may not be an artistic triumph but the duo certainly try hard enough to make audiences laugh Their latest Abbott and Costello in Hollywood is no exception it should do fairly good business 4 Harrison s Reports wrote that the film should more than satisfy those who respond easily to Abbott amp Costello s particular brand of slapstick humor 5 Home media editWarner Home Video released the film on DVD November 21 2006 with Lost in a Harem 1944 Notes edit On screen title is Bud Abbott and Lou Costello in Hollywood References edit Abbott and Costello in Hollywood at the American Film Institute Catalog Abbott amp Costello in Hollywood WarnerBros com Retrieved March 28 2016 Crowther Bosley November 23 1945 Movie Review Abbott amp Costello in Hollywood The New York Times Retrieved March 28 2016 Film Reviews Variety New York August 22 1945 p 20 Abbott and Costello on Hollywood Harrison s Reports 135 August 25 1945 External links edit nbsp Wikiquote has quotations related to Abbott and Costello in Hollywood Bud Abbott and Lou Costello in Hollywood at the American Film Institute Catalog Abbott and Costello in Hollywood at IMDb Abbott and Costello in Hollywood at AllMovie Abbott and Costello in Hollywood at the TCM Movie Database Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Abbott and Costello in Hollywood amp oldid 1158853109, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

article

, read, download, free, free download, mp3, video, mp4, 3gp, jpg, jpeg, gif, png, picture, music, song, movie, book, game, games.