Abbott and Costello: 3 Movies Sure to Strike Your Funny Bone

Bud Abbott and Lou Costello are one of the greatest comedy teams of all time and still remain a favorite today. They had a way of making people laugh with what seems like little effort. It's no wonder they are comedy legends.

All of their films are laugh out loud funny, but there are three movies in particular that I've always enjoyed most.

Their first film together was as supporting actors in 'One Night in the Tropics' for Universal. They performed several classic routines including the famous 'Who's on first?'

'Buck Privates:'

Their second movie, 'Buck Privates' (1941), was a big hit and made Abbott and Costello box office stars. The Andrews Sisters - Patty, Maxene, and Laverne - also appeared in the film.

One of the funniest scenes in this movie is their drill routine. Abbott is trying to make a soldier out of Costello but the latter has a hard time keeping in step with the others and can't seem to do what he is told. This is one of those bits you have to see and way too complicated to describe, and I dare you not to laugh.

'Pardon My Sarang:'

Abbott and Costello's best film, however, was 'Pardon My Sarang' in 1942. In this movie, Abbott and Costello star as two bus drivers who are nabbed by a detective hired by the bus company.

More things happen in this movie than any other Abbott and Costello movie, such as the Baseball Story diversion at a gas station in which the funny duo try to take the attendants mind off of being paid, not knowing two customers before them had already pulled the con and Wellington is chased by a man wielding a baseball bat.

One of the funnier moments in 'Pardon My Sarang' - and there are many - comes after Detective Kendall apprehends them and orders them to drive the bus back to Chicago. Wellington Pflug (Lou Costello) drives the bus onto a small ferry. Algy Shaw (Bud Abbott) tells him, "back up ... go ahead!" to which the detective says, "Go ahead and back up!"

Wellington asks the men, "What kind of bus do you think this is?" He then tells them, "I'll satisfy the both of yous. I'll go sideways!"

Algy shouts to Wellington to "Back up!" By this time, the ferry has started to move away from the pier and the bus falls into the water.

'Abbott & Costello Meet the Killer, Boris Karloff:'

One of my favorite Abbott and Costello movies is 'Abbott & Costello Meet the Killer, Boris Karloff' (1949). The original script was meant for Bob Hope, but when Universal bought the rights, they reworked the script for Abbott and Costello.

Lou Costello stars as Freddie Phillips, a hotel bellhop. Bud Abbott stars as the hotel detective, Casey Edwards, who tries to clear Freddie when he's suspected of murder.

Swami Talpur (Boris Karloff) attempts to get the bellhop to confess to the crime and even tries to hypnotize him into taking his own life, but Freddie isn't smart enough for it to work.

One of the funniest scenes comes when the swami tries to hypnotize Freddie, "You'll kill yourself if it's the last thing you do!"

He is also immune to the attempts at seduction by the beautiful Angela Gordan.

When the police inform everyone Freddie has a bloodstained handkerchief found at the scene of the murder, several attempts are made on his life.

By the way, don't let the name of this film fool you, as Boris Karloff isn't the killer. To find out who is, you'll have to see the movie.

When filming of 'Abbott and Costello Meet the Killer, Boris Karloff' ended, Lou Costello was bedridden with a recurrence of rheumatic fever. It was a year before he and Bud Abbott made another movie together.

Abbott and Costello each had backgrounds in burlesque. Abbott had his own burlesque touring company and Costello was a burlesque comic. They began working together in 1935 at the Eltinge Burlesque Theater in New York City and continued working together until 1956 when they ended their partnership.

Sources:

Abbott & Costello Researcher and Fan

Abbott and Costello Meet the Killer, Boris Karloff (1949) - IMDb

Pardon My Sarang - The Official Abbott & Costello Website

Buck Privates - The Official Abbott & Costello Website