Abbott and Costello in Hollywood

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Abbott and Costello in Hollywood
A&cinhollywood.jpg
Theatrical release poster|
Written by Nat Perrin
Lou Breslow
Directed by S. Sylvan Simon
Starring Bud Abbott
Lou Costello
Rags Ragland
Frances Rafferty
Country of origin United States
Original language(s) English
Production
Producer(s) Martin A. Gosch
Cinematography Charles Edgar Schoenbaum
Running time 83 min.
Distributor Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer

Abbott and Costello in Hollywood is a 1945 black-and-white comedy film from MGM, produced by Martin A. Gosch, directed by S. Sylvan Simon, that stars the comedy team of Abbott and Costello. The film's complete onscreen title is Bud Abbott and Lou Costello in Hollywood.

Plot[edit | edit source]

A barber, Buzz Curtis (Bud Abbott), and a porter, Abercrombie (Lou Costello), work for a Hollywood salon. They are sent to the office of agent Norman Royce (Warner Anderson) to give him a haircut and a shoeshine. On the way there they run into former co-worker Claire Warren (Frances Rafferty), who is about to star as the lead in a new musical. At the same time her co-star Gregory LeMaise (Carleton G. Young), 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 (Robert Stanton|) 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 (Donald MacBride), 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 | edit source]

Production[edit | edit source]

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

During production, Abbott and Costello returned to Universal Studios on May 13 for reshoots for their film, The Naughty Nineties.

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 being Rio Rita| and Lost in a Harem.

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

Routines performed[edit | edit source]

  • 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). 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 | edit source]

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."[1] 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."[2] Harrison's Reports wrote that the film "should more than satisfy those who respond easily to [Abbott & Costello's] particular brand of slapstick humor."[3]

DVD release[edit | edit source]

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

References[edit | edit source]

  1. Crowther, Bosley (November 23, 1945). "Movie Review - Abbott & Costello in Hollywood". [[wikipedia:The New York Times|]]. Retrieved March 28, 2016. 
  2. "Film Reviews". Variety| (New York: Variety, Inc.): p. 20. August 22, 1945. 
  3. "Abbott and Costello on Hollywood". [[wikipedia:Harrison's Reports|]]: p. 135. August 25, 1945. 

External links[edit | edit source]




Category:1945 films Category:Abbott and Costello Category:American films Category:English-language films Category:Films directed by S. Sylvan Simon Category:Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer films