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Dance with Me, Henry

January 01, 1970

For the song popularized by Etta James, see The Wallflower (Dance with Me, Henry).

Dance with Me, Henry is a 1956 American comedy film directed by Charles Barton and starring Abbott and Costello and Gigi Perreau. It is the final film that they starred in together, although Costello starred in one more film before his death, The 30 Foot Bride of Candy Rock.

Dance with Me, Henry
Theatrical release poster
Directed byCharles Barton
Written byDevery Freeman
Produced byBob Goldstein
StarringBud Abbott
Lou Costello
Gigi Perreau
Rusty Hamer
Mary Wickes
CinematographyGeorge Robinson
Edited byRobert Golden
Music byPaul Dunlap
Production
company
Robert Goldstein Productions
Distributed byUnited Artists
Release date
  • December 14, 1956 (1956-12-14)
Running time
80 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$450,000[1]

Plot edit

Lou Henry is the owner of Kiddyland, an amusement park, and Bud Flick is his friend and partner. Together they share a home with two orphan children, Duffer and Shelly. Welfare worker Miss Mayberry does not think that their home is a suitable environment for the children and attempts to remove them. One of the reasons is that Bud is a gambler and owes $10,000 to Big Frank, who offers to forget the debt if Bud agrees to help launder $200,000 that Big Frank took from a Chicago bank. Bud agrees to meet Big Frank's man, Mushie, at Kiddyland to pick up the money and a plane ticket. Lou, however, informs District Attorney Proctor of the plan and he arrives at Kiddyland during Bud and Mushie's meeting. Mushie sees the DA and hides the money just before he murders Proctor and frames Lou for it. Miss Mayberry uses Lou's arrest as a reason to take the children from his home.

Bud informs Mushie that he knows that he really killed Proctor, and Mushie threatens to kill him. However, Big Frank and Dutch kill Mushie. They kidnap Bud and demand that he tell them where the money is hidden. Meanwhile, Lou is released by the police, who believe that he will lead them to Bud. Dutch then kidnaps Lou and takes him to their hideout, where Bud is also being held. Bud lies and tells Big Frank that he knows where the money is and they all head to Kiddyland, with the police following them every step of the way. Bud then tricks Big Frank into confessing to everything while they are inside the park's recording booth, after which Lou grabs the recording and escapes into the park. Shelly and Duffer have also escaped from Miss Mayberry and are now inside the park playing when they see Lou being chased. They return to the orphanage to get help from the other children, and they all head back to Kiddyland. The children then wreak havoc in the park, foiling the gangsters at every turn. The police capture them, and the reward money that Bud and Lou receive is donated to the orphanage. Miss Mayberry, seeing what a good role model Lou really is, returns custody of the orphans to him.[2]

Cast edit

Main edit

Supporting edit

Uncredited edit

Production edit

Dance with Me, Henry was filmed from May 23 through June 22, 1956. It was Abbott and Costello's 36th feature film and their first after being dropped by Universal Pictures in 1955 following the completion of Abbott and Costello Meet the Mummy. Independent film producer Bob Goldstein hired the duo for this film, which was released through United Artists. It turned out to be the last film that Abbott and Costello made together as a team, as they ended their partnership in July 1957.[3] The film's title was taken from the 1955 Etta James song "The Wallflower (Dance with Me, Henry)", although the film's plot has nothing to do with the song.[2]

During filming, Abbott and Costello's routine Who's on First? was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York, where a clip still runs continuously.[4]

A bit part in the film went to the "just released from contract" Mouseketeer Sherry Allen, who was advised by Lou Costello to return to the use (professionally) of her true surname, "Alberoni". She took his advice, and has been known professionally since that time by her birth name.

Release edit

Dance with Me, Henry received mixed reviews when it was released theatrically in December 1956. A.H. Weiler, reviewing the film for The New York Times, complained: "it is perfectly clear that any attempt to lend dramatic dimension to the simple and egregious fantasy expected of an Abbott and Costello venture can be fraught with the makings of a loud backfire."[5] The New York Herald Tribune was more conciliatory, noting "this time, the team is more sedate" while praising Costello for eschewing slapstick comedy and "developing along the lines of a Chaplinesque character."[2]

In 1956, during Ralph Edwards' This Is Your Life show on NBC which featured a retrospective of Lou Costello's life, the comedy team mentioned the recent release of this film.[6][7]

Home media edit

Dance with Me, Henry was released on DVD in June 2005 by MGM Entertainment.[8] It was released a second time on DVD, as well as on Blu-ray, on June 21, 2015.

References edit

  1. ^ Furmanek p 236
  2. ^ a b c Jim Mulholland (1977). The Abbott and Costello Book. Popular Library. pp. 216–219.
  3. ^ Leonard Maltin (1974). Movie Comedy Teams. New American Library. pp. 289–290.
  4. ^ Furmanek, Bob and Ron Palumbo (1991). Abbott and Costello in Hollywood. New York: Perigee Books. ISBN 0-399-51605-0
  5. ^ A.H. Weiler (December 24, 1956). "Screen: New Format for Hitchcock; Suspense Is Dropped in 'The Wrong Man' Fonda Plays Title Role of Paramount Film Martin and Lewis Abbott and Costello". The New York Times. Retrieved 2009-04-15.
  6. ^ This is Your Life Lou Costello, NBC TV, presented by Ralph Edwards, 1956, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MWpEOXvnOmA, accessed January 22, 2022
  7. ^ This is Your Life: The Ultimate Collection Volume 1. Dir. Axel Gruenberg & Richard Gottlieb. Perf. Bob Warren, Lou Costello. DVD R2 Entertainment, 2005.
  8. ^ David Nusair (June 28, 2005). . ReelTalk Reviews. Archived from the original on 2009-03-08. Retrieved 2009-04-15.

Further reading edit

  • Stephen Cox and John Lofflin. The Abbott and Costello Story. Cumberland House Publishing, 1997.

External links edit

 
Wikiquote has quotations related to Dance with Me, Henry.

January 01, 1970
dance, with, henry, song, popularized, etta, james, wallflower, 1956, american, comedy, film, directed, charles, barton, starring, abbott, costello, gigi, perreau, final, film, that, they, starred, together, although, costello, starred, more, film, before, dea. For the song popularized by Etta James see The Wallflower Dance with Me Henry Dance with Me Henry is a 1956 American comedy film directed by Charles Barton and starring Abbott and Costello and Gigi Perreau It is the final film that they starred in together although Costello starred in one more film before his death The 30 Foot Bride of Candy Rock Dance with Me HenryTheatrical release posterDirected byCharles BartonWritten byDevery FreemanProduced byBob GoldsteinStarringBud AbbottLou CostelloGigi PerreauRusty HamerMary WickesCinematographyGeorge RobinsonEdited byRobert GoldenMusic byPaul DunlapProductioncompanyRobert Goldstein ProductionsDistributed byUnited ArtistsRelease dateDecember 14 1956 1956 12 14 Running time80 minutesCountryUnited StatesLanguageEnglishBudget 450 000 1 Contents 1 Plot 2 Cast 2 1 Main 2 2 Supporting 2 3 Uncredited 3 Production 4 Release 5 Home media 6 References 7 Further reading 8 External linksPlot editLou Henry is the owner of Kiddyland an amusement park and Bud Flick is his friend and partner Together they share a home with two orphan children Duffer and Shelly Welfare worker Miss Mayberry does not think that their home is a suitable environment for the children and attempts to remove them One of the reasons is that Bud is a gambler and owes 10 000 to Big Frank who offers to forget the debt if Bud agrees to help launder 200 000 that Big Frank took from a Chicago bank Bud agrees to meet Big Frank s man Mushie at Kiddyland to pick up the money and a plane ticket Lou however informs District Attorney Proctor of the plan and he arrives at Kiddyland during Bud and Mushie s meeting Mushie sees the DA and hides the money just before he murders Proctor and frames Lou for it Miss Mayberry uses Lou s arrest as a reason to take the children from his home Bud informs Mushie that he knows that he really killed Proctor and Mushie threatens to kill him However Big Frank and Dutch kill Mushie They kidnap Bud and demand that he tell them where the money is hidden Meanwhile Lou is released by the police who believe that he will lead them to Bud Dutch then kidnaps Lou and takes him to their hideout where Bud is also being held Bud lies and tells Big Frank that he knows where the money is and they all head to Kiddyland with the police following them every step of the way Bud then tricks Big Frank into confessing to everything while they are inside the park s recording booth after which Lou grabs the recording and escapes into the park Shelly and Duffer have also escaped from Miss Mayberry and are now inside the park playing when they see Lou being chased They return to the orphanage to get help from the other children and they all head back to Kiddyland The children then wreak havoc in the park foiling the gangsters at every turn The police capture them and the reward money that Bud and Lou receive is donated to the orphanage Miss Mayberry seeing what a good role model Lou really is returns custody of the orphans to him 2 Cast editMain edit Bud Abbott as Bud Flick Lou Costello as Lou Henry Gigi Perreau as Shelley Marni Nixon as Shelley singing voice Rusty Hamer as Duffer Mary Wickes as Miss Mayberry Supporting edit Ted de Corsia as Big Frank Ron Hargrave as Ernie the ukulele player Frank Wilcox as Father Mullahy Sherry Alberoni as Bootsie Eddie Marr as Garvey Richard Reeves as Mushie Robert Shayne as Proctor Walter Reed as Drake Paul Sorensen as Dutch Uncredited edit Robert Bice as Policeman John Cliff as Knucks Phil Garris as Mickey Jess Kirkpatrick as Policeman David McMahon as Savoldi Gilman Rankin as McKay Rod Williams as JanitorProduction editDance with Me Henry was filmed from May 23 through June 22 1956 It was Abbott and Costello s 36th feature film and their first after being dropped by Universal Pictures in 1955 following the completion of Abbott and Costello Meet the Mummy Independent film producer Bob Goldstein hired the duo for this film which was released through United Artists It turned out to be the last film that Abbott and Costello made together as a team as they ended their partnership in July 1957 3 The film s title was taken from the 1955 Etta James song The Wallflower Dance with Me Henry although the film s plot has nothing to do with the song 2 During filming Abbott and Costello s routine Who s on First was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown New York where a clip still runs continuously 4 A bit part in the film went to the just released from contract Mouseketeer Sherry Allen who was advised by Lou Costello to return to the use professionally of her true surname Alberoni She took his advice and has been known professionally since that time by her birth name Release editDance with Me Henry received mixed reviews when it was released theatrically in December 1956 A H Weiler reviewing the film for The New York Times complained it is perfectly clear that any attempt to lend dramatic dimension to the simple and egregious fantasy expected of an Abbott and Costello venture can be fraught with the makings of a loud backfire 5 The New York Herald Tribune was more conciliatory noting this time the team is more sedate while praising Costello for eschewing slapstick comedy and developing along the lines of a Chaplinesque character 2 In 1956 during Ralph Edwards This Is Your Life show on NBC which featured a retrospective of Lou Costello s life the comedy team mentioned the recent release of this film 6 7 Home media editDance with Me Henry was released on DVD in June 2005 by MGM Entertainment 8 It was released a second time on DVD as well as on Blu ray on June 21 2015 References edit Furmanek p 236 a b c Jim Mulholland 1977 The Abbott and Costello Book Popular Library pp 216 219 Leonard Maltin 1974 Movie Comedy Teams New American Library pp 289 290 Furmanek Bob and Ron Palumbo 1991 Abbott and Costello in Hollywood New York Perigee Books ISBN 0 399 51605 0 A H Weiler December 24 1956 Screen New Format for Hitchcock Suspense Is Dropped in The Wrong Man Fonda Plays Title Role of Paramount Film Martin and Lewis Abbott and Costello The New York Times Retrieved 2009 04 15 This is Your Life Lou Costello NBC TV presented by Ralph Edwards 1956 https www youtube com watch v MWpEOXvnOmA accessed January 22 2022 This is Your Life The Ultimate Collection Volume 1 Dir Axel Gruenberg amp Richard Gottlieb Perf Bob Warren Lou Costello DVD R2 Entertainment 2005 David Nusair June 28 2005 Two Abbott and Costello Comedies from MGM ReelTalk Reviews Archived from the original on 2009 03 08 Retrieved 2009 04 15 Further reading editStephen Cox and John Lofflin The Abbott and Costello Story Cumberland House Publishing 1997 External links edit nbsp Wikiquote has quotations related to Dance with Me Henry Dance with Me Henry at IMDb nbsp Dance with Me Henry at the TCM Movie Database Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Dance with Me Henry amp oldid 1218547600, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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