IMDb > Abbott and Costello Meet the Keystone Kops (1955)

Abbott and Costello Meet the Keystone Kops (1955) More at IMDbPro »

Photos (see all 5 | slideshow)
IMDb Holiday Movie Guide

Overview

User Rating:
6.7/10   1,232 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Down 19% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Charles Lamont
Writers:
John Grant (writer)
Lee Loeb (story)
Contact:
View company contact information for Abbott and Costello Meet the Keystone Kops on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
21 February 1955 (Sweden) more
Genre:
Comedy more
Tagline:
When every face wore a custard pie, and vamps broke hearts with a winking eye! more
Plot:
Harry and Willie buy the Edison Movie Studio in the year 1912 from Joseph Gorman, a confidence man. They follow Gorman to Hollywood where... more | add synopsis
Plot Keywords:
more
User Comments:
A Funny Abbott? more (14 total)

Cast

  (Complete credited cast)
Bud Abbott ... Harry Pierce
Lou Costello ... Willie Piper
Fred Clark ... Joseph Gorman, aka Sergei Toumanoff
Lynn Bari ... Leota Van Cleef
Max 'Slapsie Maxie' Rosenbloom ... Hinds (as Maxie Rosenbloom)
Frank Wilcox ... Rudolph Snavely
Harold Goodwin ... Cameraman (as Herold Goodwin)
Roscoe Ates ... Wagon Driver
Mack Sennett ... Himself
Heinie Conklin ... Studio Guard
Hank Mann ... Prop Man
more
Create a character page for: ?

Additional Details

Parents Guide:
Add content advisory for parents
Runtime:
80 min | Argentina:85 min
Country:
USA
Language:
English
Color:
Black and White
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Mono (Western Electric Recording)
Certification:
Argentina:Atp | Australia:G | Finland:S | Sweden:Btl | UK:U
Filming Locations:
California Highway 118 between Simi & the outskirts of Moorpark, California, USA more
Company:
Universal International Pictures (UI) more

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
Cameo: [Mack Sennett]seminal silent-picture director directs a pie-throwing sequence. more
Goofs:
Revealing mistakes: In the climactic chase sequence, the shadows of Fred Clark and Lynn Bari are clearly visible on the process screen behind them. more
Movie Connections:
Featured in "The Rockford Files: The Attractive Nuisance (#4.14)" (1978) more

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.

User Comments

   (Comment on this title)
2 out of 3 people found the following comment useful.
A Funny Abbott?, 6 December 2001
Author: lzf0 from United States

There is a real change in the role portrayed by Bud Abbott in this picture. In past films, he has had the role of Costello's straight man for dialogue scenes. He played a sharp, smart, heavy. No one was meant to take this seriously, but Abbott played the bad guy! He usually gets the best of Costello. (This is not true of their famous "Dice Routine", "The Lemon Bit" and that oh so satisfying conclusion of "Africa Screams".) When it came to physical comedy, Costello was on his own, with Abbott nowhere to be found. But starting with this film, and continuing with "A & C Meet the Mummy" and "Dance with Me, Henry", Bud Abbott has become a buffoon. He takes more pratfalls in this film and in "The Mummy" than he did in all of his other films combined. Now it is obvious that a stunt man is doing the physical bits for him, but it is nice to see Abbott become funny. Why didn't this happen sooner? Maybe it was Lou Costello's ego. Maybe it was Bud Abbott's illness. Maybe Abbott just didn't care and let Costello carry the team.

With "Keystone Kops", the writers have finally made Bud Abbott funny. He tries to be gruff and mean, but it just isn't in him. He tries to show that he is braver and smarter than Costello, but no one believes him. There is finally some depth to the team. Costello is still silly and innocent, but now Abbott is a phony to the world. In the past he was able to fool everyone but Lou.

Now I am not saying that I do not enjoy the previous A&C efforts. Some of them are brilliant comedies and John Grant's routines are always marvelous. However, it took so much time for the characters of Bud and Lou to grow. I only wish there were more films to see their metamorphosis.

Was the above comment useful to you?
more (14 total)

Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Abbott and Costello Meet the Keystone Kops (1955)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
Mack Sennett + Abbott + Costello Gblakelii
Silent Movie at the beginning of the film? themole-3
abbott + costello meet the key stone cops bhardrive
more

Recommendations

If you enjoyed this title, our database also recommends:
- - - - -
Singin' in the Rain Hooper Big Fat Liar Bud Abbott and Lou Costello in Hollywood Spills for Thrills
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
Show more recommendations

Related Links

Full cast and crew Company credits External reviews
IMDb Comedy section IMDb USA section Add this title to MyMovies

You may report errors and omissions on this page to the IMDb database managers. They will be examined and if approved will be included in a future update. Clicking the 'Update' button will take you through a step-by-step process.