Abbott and Costello Go to Mars (1953)

Director:

Charles Lamont

Writers:

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

Release Date:

6 April 1953 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Sci-Fi | Fantasy

Tagline:

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

Plot:

Lester and Orville accidentally launch a rocket which is supposed to fly to Mars. Instead it goes to New Orleans for Mardi Gras...

Plot Keywords:

Mardi Gras | Telescope | Chrysler Building Manhattan New York City | Spaceship | Venus The Planet

Cast

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)
Jeanne Thompson	...	Handmaiden (Miss Louisiana)
Jeri Miller	...	Venusian Guard (Miss Welcom to Long Beach)
Judy Hatula	...	Guard (Miss Michigan)
Elsa Edsman	...	Handmaiden (Miss Hawaii) (as Elza Edsman)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Bobby Barber	...	Bit Role (uncredited)
Stanley Blystone	...	Bit Role (uncredited)
Milt Bronson	...	Announcer (uncredited)
Ralph Brooks	...	Bank Employee (uncredited)
Ken Christy	...	Police Lieutenant (uncredited)
Juanita Close	...	Bit Role (uncredited)
Russ Conway	...	Second Policeman at Bank (uncredited)
Barry Curtis	...	Boy (uncredited)
Harold DeGarro	...	Tall Cop (uncredited)
Dudley Dickerson	...	Bank Janitor (uncredited)
Lester Dorr	...	Customer (uncredited)
Jane Easton	...	Javelin Thrower (uncredited)
Hal Forrest	...	Dr. Nedring (uncredited)
Ed Fury	...	Perfect Man (uncredited)
Harold Goodwin	...	Dr. Coleman (uncredited)
Tim Graham	...	Mr. Lucas, Bank Cashier (uncredited)
Douglas Henderson	...	Announcer (uncredited)
Donald Kerr	...	Bank Employee (uncredited)
Harry Lang	...	French Waiter (uncredited)
Rex Lease	...	Police Sergeant (uncredited)
Scott Lee	...	Policeman #1 (uncredited)
Grace Lenard	...	French Girl in Restaurant (uncredited)
Hank Mann	...	Clothing Store Clerk (uncredited)
Frank Marlowe	...	Bartender (uncredited)
Saul Martell	...	Jules (uncredited)
Patti McKay	...	Venusian Guard (uncredited)
William Newell	...	Drunk (uncredited)
Paul Newlan	...	Traffic Cop (uncredited)
Helen Noyes	...	Miss Frances Planey (uncredited)
Gloria Pall	...	Tall Girl in New York (uncredited)
Gregg Palmer	...	Radio Announcer (uncredited) (voice)
Syd Saylor	...	Man at Fountain (uncredited)
Cora Shannon	...	Bit Role (uncredited)
Harry Shearer	...	Boy (uncredited)
Jack Shutta	...	Grogan, Bank Guard (uncredited)
Carl Sklover	...	Bit Role (uncredited)
Robert Stevenson	...	Observer (uncredited)
Helen Strohm	...	Girl (uncredited)
Brick Sullivan	...	Policeman (uncredited)
Jack Tesler	...	Dr. Holtz (uncredited)
Ricki Van Dusen	...	Girl (uncredited)
Dale Van Sickel	...	Policeman #2 (uncredited)
Stanley Waxman	...	Second Announcer (uncredited)
Sally Yarnell	...	Bit Role (uncredited)
Betty Yeaton	...	Contortionist (uncredited)

Directed by
Charles Lamont

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
D.D. Beauchamp		story and screenplay
Howard Christie		story
John Grant		screenplay

Produced by
Howard Christie	....	producer

Original Music by
Henry Mancini		(uncredited)
Milton Rosen		(uncredited)
Herman Stein		(uncredited)

Cinematography by
Clifford Stine		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Russell F. Schoengarth		(as Russell Schoengarth)

Art Direction by
Robert F. Boyle		(as Robert Boyle)
Alexander Golitzen

Set Decoration by
Russell A. Gausman
Julia Heron

Costume Design by
Leah Rhodes

Makeup Department
Joan St. Oegger	....	hair stylist
Bud Westmore	....	makeup department head

Production Management
Jack Gertsman	....	unit production manager (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
William Holland	....	assistant director
Gordon McLean	....	assistant director (uncredited)

Sound Department
Leslie I. Carey	....	sound
Robert Pritchard	....	sound

Visual Effects by
David S. Horsley	....	special photography

Stunts
Vic Parks	....	stunt double (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Joan Joseff	....	costume jeweller (uncredited)

Music Department
Joseph Gershenson	....	musical director
Frank Skinner	....	composer: stock music (uncredited)
Alexander Tansman	....	composer: stock music (uncredited)

Other crew
Milt Bronson	....	dialogue director (uncredited)
Lee Frederic	....	script supervisor (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Universal International Pictures (UI)

Distributors

• Universal Pictures (1953) (USA) (theatrical)
• MCA/Universal Home Video (1994) (USA) (VHS)
• Doperfilme (Portugal)
• Universal Home Entertainment (2004) (USA) (DVD)

Also Known As:

Runtime:

77 min | Argentina:81 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Certification:

Argentina:Atp | Australia:G | Finland:S | Sweden:Btl | USA:Approved

Filming Locations:

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

Company:

Universal International Pictures (UI)

Trivia:

The Venusian women were played by contestants in the Miss Universe competition.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: 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.

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.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in This Island Earth (1955)

50's space-age theme.

Fans of rocket-age science fiction films will find interest in this wacky spoof. The early 1950's saw the start of the atomic age rocket ship film genre with ROCKET X-M and DESTINATION MOON in 1950 and WHEN WORLDS COLLIDE and FLIGHT TO MARS in 1951. These movies were all hits and the trend lasted through the sixties with MAROONED and JOURNEY TO THE FAR SIDE OF THE SUN in 1969 (one year after 2001 A SPACE ODYSSEY).

In 1953 Abbott and Costello quickly updated their old vaudeville routines to capture a younger, modern audience and try their hand at this phenomena. They had success spoofing the horror genre with A&C MEETS FRANKENSTEIN and A&C MEETS THE INVISIBLE MAN a couple years earlier and the young audiences who had watched Universal's monster films were now watching rocket films and would soon be watching alien monsters devour entire cities. Though flights to Mars were now a typical plot device, A&C GO TO MARS was ahead of the game by going to Venus six years before FIRST SPACESHIP ON VENUS (1959)!

Abbott and Costello start off toward Mars but end up back on Earth during New Orleans Mardi Gras. They are fooled by fanciful costumes with giant masks and believe they are on Mars. Eventually they flee to Venus populated by beautiful women and all's well that ends well.

The production values were very good, considering that studios were rushing out poorly produced imitations of ROCKET X-M and DESTINATION MOON after their success. After the quick patter routines of the duo that serviced them well in the forties had become so familiar to the audience it was refreshing to have them do something else. Though certainly not a classic and not on the list of best A & C films, for those tiring of the same routines this film is visually exciting filled with space-age fun, beautiful models and hilarious gags. Kids love the film and older adults love the 50's space-age theme. Grab the popcorn.