Bud Abbott and Lou Costello in Hollywood (1945)

Director:

S. Sylvan Simon

Writers:

Nat Perrin (story) and
Martin A. Gosch (story)

Release Date:

5 October 1945 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Tagline:

Your favorite SCREEN TEAM is on the SCREAM BEAM!

Plot:

When two bumbling barbers act as agents for a talented but unknown singer, they stage a phony murder in order to get him a plum role.

Plot Keywords:

Agent | Singer | Barber | Earplug | Insomnia

Cast

Bud Abbott	...	Buzz Kurtis
Lou Costello	...	Abercrombie
Frances Rafferty	...	Claire Warren
Bob Haymes	...	Jeff Parker (as Robert Stanton)
Jean Porter	...	Ruthie
Warner Anderson	...	Norman Royce
Rags Ragland	...	Himself (as 'Rags' Ragland)
Mike Mazurki	...	Klondike Pete
Carleton G. Young	...	Gregory LeMaise
Donald MacBride	...	Dennis Kavanaugh
Edgar Dearing	...	First Studio Cop
Marion Martin	...	Miss Milbane
Arthur Space	...	Director
William 'Bill' Phillips	...	Kavanaugh's Assistant (as Wm. 'Bill' Phillips)

Also Known As:

Abbott and Costello in Hollywood (USA) (short title)

Runtime:

83 min | Argentina:85 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Certification:

USA:Approved | Finland:S | Australia:G

Filming Locations:

Universal Studios - 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, California, USA

Company:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Trivia:

After the disappointing performance of this film at the box office, MGM dropped its option to produce more Bud Abbott & Lou Costello films.

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: During Costello's shaving scene, members of the crew can be heard laughing off-camera.

Quotes:

Abercrombie: [starting to shave Rags] Now, I got the razor and the smelling salts.
Rags Ragland: The what?
Abercrombie: The smellin' salts.
Rags Ragland: What's that for?
Abercrombie: I faint when I see the sight of blood.
Rags Ragland: Oh...
Rags Ragland: [after a delayed reaction] Blood! Look, if you cut me, there's gonna be plenty of blood, and it's all gonna be yours!

Movie Connections:

Featured in 100 Years of Comedy (1997) (V)

Soundtrack:

I Hope the Band Keeps Playing

A&C's best film at MGM

Returning to the MGM lot in the Spring of 1945, Abbott and Costello make what would be their last, and funniest, film at the Tiffany of studios. Declining revenues during the war took its toll at MGM, and the loan-out deal with Universal was not renewed. Bud and Lou probably didn't mind, as there was a downturn in script quality at MGM -- not to mention a downturn in their salaries!!!

"In Hollywood" isn't as poor as their first two MGM films, however. "Rio Rita" and "Lost In A Harem" suffered from poor pacing; here, the pacing is fine. And it's fun to see Lou get into trouble on the MGM lot(in the film, the studio is Mammoth.) Incidentally, MGM lifted the idea of Lou's cavorting on the set from Buster Keaton's 1930 MGM film "Free and Easy." Another fun scene is on the midway set; it's ludicrous to believe that Costello is staying balanced on one wheel on the roller coaster, but, hey, that's what makes the scene funny and enjoyable to watch. The best scene in the film is the "insomnia" sketch, where Costello finds it impossible to sleep through the record that's supposed to put him to sleep (people raised only on CDs can't relate to this!)

All in all, "In Hollywood" is a few notches above A&C's other MGM films. Video collectors take note: although "The Noose Hangs High" and "Dance With Me, Henry" were released on video by MGM/UA, they were actually independent productions. "In Hollywood" was their last MGM film, and a decent one at that. 7 out of 10.