The final Abbott and Costello film is one of their worst, with the guys showing their age: raspy voices, the delivery a lot slower. Abbott in particular seems like an old man, who slurs his words and moves around awkwardly. This is really a Lou Costello film with Abbott in a support role. Costello is a kind hearted idiot who owns an amusement park and looks after strays including orphans (I’m not kidding) and Abbott, who is a gambling addict. That point is the most interesting thing about the film – the power balance between the two has shifted: Costello is the powerful one and Abbott (though he tries to bluster) seems like an elderly, slightly absent minded uncle; he’s the one who gets in to trouble.
A sign of the times: Costello’s nephew plays a skiffle and sings rock and roll (esque) songs. More of this might have made the film more interesting. But most of it is devoted to gangsters trying to get money off the boys, and Costello being accused of murder and likeable priests. Director Charles Barton made some of the duo’s best movies, but also some of their worst of which this is one. The chase scene in the amusement park at the end is okay – but more could have been made of this, indeed of the amusement park setting. The end has Costello leading a bunch of orphans Pied Piper style: now that would have made a better movie. (NB I know this is PC of me to say but I can’t help thinking it’s a bit dodgy that a middle aged bachelor is so keen to adopt orphans).
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