"Hold That Ghost" (1941)

Continuing to review the movies of Bud Abbott and Lou Costello, we hit "Hold That Ghost" from Universal in 1941!

As I mentioned last time, this movie (with the working title of "Oh, Charlie") was put on, well, hold in order to let "In the Navy" released as quickly as possible.

Despite their ample screen time in "In the Navy" and "Buck Privates," this is really the first film that lets the boys carry the main plot. It's kind of like instead of them being the comedy relief, there's now romance relief in support of the comedy!

(left to right) Joan Davis, Evelyn Ankers, Richard Carlson

The romance is supplied by Richard Carlson, who like Bob Cummings from "One Night in the Tropics," looks about the same here as he did in the mid-1950s and the lovely Evelyn Ankers, who was in a ton of movies for Universal, including "The Wolf Man," also from 1941!

Bud and Lou also get a solid comedy partner in Joan Davis, who has great chemistry with them, but apparently Lou thought she was a little too funny and was threatening to steal the picture!

But "Hold That Ghost" is a really fun movie and there are plenty of laughs to go around!

Joan Davis is definitely in this deleted scene from the original ending!

There's some controversy as to whether Joan Davis appears in the newly filmed ending. You see what would appear to be her character, but only from behind and she doesn't speak, so you'd think it was a stand-in, but some sources say it was her, but she was facing the wrong way. I know Universal was cheap and didn't like retakes, but wouldn't director Arthur Lubin had yelled, "Hey, Joan! Turn around!" or something?

Apparently Universal thought they should add some music to the movie while they were retooling it, so they filmed some bookends with the Andrews Sisters, since they had gone over well in the two service comedies.

Also featured in the musical portions is the very shticky Ted Lewis, a veteran bandleader who even by 1941 standards must have seemed dated. 

Ted does a couple of his old songs, including the so-non-PC-you-can't-believe-it-was-acceptable "Me and My Shadow" routine. Times were different, to be sure.

Anyway, the Andrews Sisters sing the main (only?) new song from the film, "Sleepy Serenade." which they naturally recorded for Decca:

Something of a contrast from the boisterous Don Raye songs from the earlier films!

And note how it says the song is from the New Universal Picture "Oh, Charlie" on the label!

Here's a version by Vaughn Monroe on Bluebird:

I've said before that it's interesting how Vaughn's early, pre-recording ban records are much more like "regular" band records than his later records which were more like vocal records, in keeping with changing musical trends.

"Sleepy Serenade" was also recorded as an instrumental by Claude Thornhill for the Okeh label:

A typically gorgeous arrangement from the Thornhill band. So underrated!

The Andrews Sisters also sing "Aurora" in the movie, although I think they had recorded the song earlier and it was shoehorned into the movie.

Here's their recording on Decca:

Interestingly, Decca had three other versions of the song (none of which mention the movie on the label), so let's hear them too!

Jimmy Dorsey recorded a lot of Latin-tinged songs, usually featuring Bob Eberly and Helen O'Connell, but only Helen appears on this:

Interesting. I have to say that I really don't care for Helen O'Connell's vocals on the whole. She was popular, though!

The Latin flavor continues with Pancho and his Orchestra:

A "Samba March," eh? Love it!

Then there's this off-beat polka version by "Happy" Harry Harden's Musette Orchestra:

That's awesome! I just love the muted trumpet!

Interesting that Pancho and Harry only use limited group vocals!

All in all, a really fun flick with reasonably entertaining tacked-on musical numbers!

"In the Navy" (1941)

Our next movie starring Bud Abbott and Lou Costello is 1941's "In the Navy" from Universal Pictures!

This film followed hot on the heels of "Buck Privates" as Universal wanted another service comedy with the boys as soon as possible. As I understand it, "Hold That Ghost" was put in hold and "In the Navy" was filmed and released quickly.

The unusual opening credits make the connection quite clear!

Bud and Lou are in top form with many very funny routines, so this is a fun movie, although I feel it doesn't zip along as well as "Buck Privates," but few do!

This movie is unusual for A & C as it's really the only one to co-star them with a real actual movie star, in the person of Dick Powell, who's billed above the title with them!

I talk about Dick Powell all the time and about his transition from romantic crooner to hard-boiled tough guy and "In the Navy" is late in the crooner period. Is it a coincidence that Powell's character is a populaur crooner who's tired of being a crooner? Hmmm...

This was probably not the type of role that Dick was looking for in 1941, but he was a pro and does a good job as always.

Claire Dodd plays the love interest and she does a good job with an oddly written part.

It's interesting to see Dick Foran in a similar supporting role as he had in the earlier "Shipmates Forever from Warner Brothers in 1935, a movie that also starred Dick Powell. 

Dick Foran was later the male lead in a couple of A & C movies.

The Condos Brothers dance duo show some fancy steps, but the obnoxious Universal kid comedy team of Butch & Buddy also show up, not helping the proceedings!

The Andrews Sisters return to sing some numbers and they're good while singing, but can't act at all, although Patti has an expanded role as Lou's love interest.

Onto the  songs, which were again supplied by Don Raye, but with Gene DePaul this time.

Dick Powell sings the ballad "Starlight, Starbright" in the movie, but wasn't making records at that time, so we'll hear Dick Jurgens and his Orchestra with vocalist Harry Cool on Okeh records:

I always enjoy the Dick Jurgens band and although I miss star vocalist Eddy Howard, Harry Cool is pretty good too!

The Andrews Sisters get another snappy number, the not-overly-PC "Gimme Some Skin, My Friend," which they recorded for Decca:

That's the sort of song that I don't think was meant to be offensive, and I don't think it really is, but times were different then.

The Decca Band with The King's Men return with the (more or less) title song:

So, some good stuff!

"Buck Privates" (1941)

As we continue to review the films of the comedy team of Bud Abbott and Lou Costello, we hit pay dirt with Universal's "Buck Privates" from 1941!

This is the movie that established the team as a box office sensation, leading to a long line of movies.

I love everything about this movie and it's just a blast!

Bud and Lou are the comedy relief, but they get a bigger storyline than they did in the previous year's "One Night in the Tropics" and they make the most of it.

(Left to right) Lee Bowman, Jane Frazee, Alan Curtis

I like the straight romantic plot too, as I think Lee Bowman, Alan Curtis and Jane Frazee are perfectly cast. Along with Nat Pendleton as the tough sergeant, this is probably the strongest cast of any A & C movie.

I like how the movie is filled with familiar character actors from Shemp Howard down to Tom Tyler (in a bit as the boxing referee).

And the music is great! I know a lot of modern viewers don't like the musical numbers, but I'm a fan of 1940s  music anyway and I like how this movie offers up a total entertainment package and can understand why 1941 audiences went crazy for it!

The top song is the Oscar nominated "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy" by songwriters Don Raye and Hughie Prince (who appear in the movie as fellow recruits) and sung by the Andrews Sisters!

It's probably the most famous sing from an Abbott & Costello picture and is also one of the Andrews Sisters' best remembered numbers.

So here are the girls on Decca Records:

So much fun!

Don Raye and Hughie Prince had previously collaborated drummer/vocalist Ray McKinley on the hit song "Beat Me Daddy, Eight to the Bar" and "Buck Privates" included a follow-up, "Bounce Me Brother with a Solid Four," which the Andrews Sisters also performed in the film.

But let's hear Ray sing it with Will Bradley on Columbia:

The Bradley/McKinley band was great band while it lasted!

Another song from "Buck Privates" was "You're a Lucky Fellow, Mr. Smith," which the Andrews Sisters sang as part of a production number.

Let's listen to the Decca recording by the Decca Band with The King's Men (of "Fibber McGee & Molly" fame):

Fun to hear it as a march! 

The Andrews Sisters also performed their version of the then-oldie "I'll Be with You in Apple Blossom Time," which they also recorded for Decca:

A couple of other Raye/Prince songs, Jane Frazee's "I Wish You Were Here" and Lou Costello's specialty "When Private Brown Becomes a Captain" don't seem to have been recorded, but are effective in the movie.

Lots of fun!

"One Night in the Tropics" (1940)

Now that we're in the new year, I'm changing direction a tiny bit!

I've been enjoying matching up the movie sheet music with contemporary recordings and I'll still do that, but I'm going to focus on the films of Bud Abbott & Lou Costello!

Fans know that their early films featured a lot of musical numbers, which some modern viewers don't like. I do, though!

I'll also be talking about their non-musical movies as they come up.

So, let's begin with "One Night in the Tropics" from Universal in 1940, the team's movie debut!

The boys are supporting players in this one, proving the comedy relief and they are awesome!

The rest of the movie when they're not onscreen is a little clunky, but entertaining enough.

Allan Jones with Nancy Kelly

As a musical, its strongest point is Allan Jones, who had moved over from MGM to Universal.

He does most of the singing, but the non-singing female leads, Nancy Kelly and Peggy Moran, lip-synch to some dubbed vocals.

The songs are by no less than esteemed composer Jerome Kern with lyrics by the talented Dorothy Fields, but non of hem really went anywhere.

But we do have some records!

First up is Sammy Kaye with Tommy Ryan singing "You and Your Kiss" on Victor Records:

I say it all the time, but that's so Sammy Kaye!

Also on Victor is Leo Reisman's version of "Remind Me" with vocalist George Griffin:

Nice rumba (rhumba?) beat there!

Guy Lombardo is always popping up and he cut "Your Dream (Is the Same as My Dream)" with Mert Curtis on Decca:

As I mentioned, "One Night in the Tropics" is pleasant but not overly memorable unless Bud and Lou are on-screen.

Rounding out the attractive cast is Robert Cummings as the other male lead who looks about the same as he did years later on his 1950s sitcom.

Also on board is William Frawley, who looks like he did on "I Love Lucy" years later.

The difference is that Bob looks young and Bill already looks old!

So, we're off to a good start!

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!

Eddy Howard rings in the New Year with "Auld Lang Syne" on Mercury in 1951:

I think Eddy Howard was great and what a nice arrangement!

And speaking of nice arrangements, that's Cyd Charisse at the top!