Abbott and Costello Go to Mars (1953)

Lester and Orville accidentally launch a rocket which is supposed to fly to Mars. Instead it goes to New Orleans for Mardi Gras. They are then forced by bank robber Mugsy and his pal Harry ... See full summary »

Director:

Charles Lamont

Writers:

D.D. Beauchamp (story), Howard Christie (story),

Stars:

Bud Abbott, Lou Costello, Mari Blanchard

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Bud Abbott	...	Lester
Lou Costello	...	Orville
Mari Blanchard	...	Allura
Robert Paige	...	Dr. Wilson
Horace McMahon	...	Mugsy
Martha Hyer	...	Janie Howe
Jack Kruschen	...	Harry
Joe Kirk	...	Dr. Orvilla
Jean Willes	...	Capt. Olivia
Anita Ekberg	...	Venusian Guard
James Flavin	...	First Policeman in Bank
Jackie Loughery	...	Venusian Guard (Miss U.S.A.)
Ruth Hampton	...	Handmaiden (Miss New Jersey) (as Ruth June Hampton)
Valerie Jackson	...	Handmaiden (Miss Montana)
Renate Hoy	...	Handmaiden (Miss Germany) (as Renate Huy)

Storyline

Lester and Orville accidentally launch a rocket which is supposed to fly to Mars. Instead it goes to New Orleans for Mardi Gras. They are then forced by bank robber Mugsy and his pal Harry to fly to Venus where they find a civilization made up entirely of women, men having been banished.

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Plot Keywords:

mardi gras | telescope | chrysler building manhattan new york city | spaceship | venus the planet | 

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Taglines:

THEY'RE OUT OF THIS WORLD ON A MISGUIDED MISSLE!

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Genres:

Comedy | Sci-Fi | Fantasy

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

6 April 1953 (USA)

Also Known As:

On to Mars

Filming Locations:

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

Box Office

Budget:

$754,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Universal International Pictures (UI)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

77 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

A very young Harry Shearer appears as one of the boys seen near the beginning.

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Goofs

During the scene in which the rocket is flying in space, just before they land on Venus, when the rocket is flying by, you can see the string holding it.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Miss Frances Planey: Orville, after you've finished flying the jet ships for the children, bring them back to the orphanage. Then cut the lawn and water the plants.
Orville: All right, Miss Planey.

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Connections

Featured in The World of Abbott and Costello (1965)

User Reviews

This is not A&C's worst film

"Go to Mars" has been unfairly maligned as Abbott and Costello's worst film. A careful comparison to "Mexican Hayride" or "Dance With Me, Henry" would certainly prove this point. While it doesn't rate in their Top 10, "Go to Mars" has many funny and wonderful moments.

Among the great gags: Costello asking Abbott for a nickel to go through the Lincoln Tunnel; The Statue of Liberty ducking out of the way of the rocket. Costello's reactions to space flight are also funny.

What drags the film down for me in the rankings are the following two items. First, the "space map" the rocket scientist uses to point out Venus and Mars; How can he find the two small planets among numerous pictures of large galaxies? If the map were accurate, Venus and Mars would not be in the Solar System, they would be two stars between galaxies! If these nitwits were in charge of the space program we would have never gotten to the moon! Second, the last 20 or so minutes are rushed compared to the rest of the film. It seems that in no time at all, Costello has gone from a prisoner on Venus to king. And then, just as quickly, is dethroned. This portion of the film is over too quickly, especially considering the bevy of Venus beauties we get to see!

Take a quick look: that's Harry Shearer of "The Simpsons" and "Spinal Tap" fame in an uncredited role as a boy at the orphanage early in the film.

Not their best, but certainly not their worst. 6 out of 10.