In Society

Bud Abbott and Lou Costello play a couple of plumbers whose handiwork reminds one of scenes from the Three Stooges when they were "handymen" in a couple of films. Their scenes being mistaken as house guests at an estate are very funny, with them getting the dress clothes of a couple of other guests. The two have a couple of other scenes with some humor, including a firetruck chase. But the comedy in the rest of the film is just so-so. And, but for the two stars, the rest of the film would be a drag.

"In Society" has a romance subplot, as do a number of early Abbott and Costello films. These usually evolve around singing and music with a lesser known swing band of the day. That translates in the 21st century to a band no one is likely have heart of or remembered. And, the cast for this story, and their performances are what one would normally see in the B movies of the day. That goes for the singing and music as well. The only other cast member who adds anything to the film is Arthur Treacher who plays Pipps, the butler.

This film may have been funnier to audiences of its day, during World War II, but it's not a memorable comedy in the 21st century.

In Society (1944)

** 1/2 (out of 4)

Abbott and Costello play plummers who are accidentally invited to a rich person's house for the weekend where they much try to become part of society. Apparently A&C were causing a lot of troubles for the production of this thing due to a contract issue and the final results really show. This certainly isn't their worst film but it's certainly middle of the ground stuff. Most of the jokes just don't flow right as they seemed rushed and forced. Still, there are several minor laughs that keep this thing going for fans.

Another nice little film from Bud & Lou, even if rushed and bodged together with Never Give A Sucker An Even Break at the end it's still a pleasant 70 minutes.

Two inept plumbers keeping their heads above water by working for both the expensive Ajax and cheap Atlas plumbing companies get called to repair a leak in swanky society house with disastrous results but afterwards find themselves invited to a Society garden party (in error), again with disastrous results. Baddie Thomas Gomez and his evil-doings were a side issue here, the comedy routines and the lilting songs were the thing. Marion Hutton supplied the songs, especially lustrous being What A Change In The Weather, done as only Universal ever knew how - and also the rather wooden romance. How different she was to her sister Betty! Languid and still mining the Hellzapoppin vein with popular music mixed with comedy and people disporting themselves in swimsuits, it meanders on to its startling plot course change after an hour and almost turns into a different film. Favourite bits: The boys' exit from Thurston Hall's bathroom; Don't blow the horn!; And of course the all-time classic burlesque sketch of Beagle Street (changed from Floogle Street)/The Susquehannah Hat Co!, adapted for this film by John Grant at Lou's behest. Lou also directed the routine in 1 take using friends as extras and 3 cameras.

Unassuming and inconsequential with no message and absolutely nothing for the serious fan of modern "comedy" – in other words, imho a marvellous film I watch every few years with no diminution of enjoyment.

Abbott and Costello are plumbers who accidentally get themselves invited to a High Society social event. Like so many of their films, this one's got a good amount of funny bits to enjoy, but they also come at the price of enduring some musical interruptions (at least Marion Hutton sings "No Bout Adoubt It" better than she can deliver dialogue). But ignoring those, some of the best gags in this movie include: Bud and Lou trashing a ritzy bathroom with their plumbing incompetence; a hilarious sequence where a policeman beats Costello up for blowing a car's horn late at night while Abbott doesn't lift a finger to help (they often revamped this routine in other films as well as their TV show, but it was never better done than it is here); Costello jumps in a pool to save a man's life and gets berated for it; and the classic highlight of the picture -- the "Bagel Street" bit where Lou attempts to get directions to the Susquehannah Hat Company from all sorts of nutty people he meets on the street. **1/2 out of ****

While I can't say this movie was on a par with "Hold That Ghost" or "Time of Their Lives", it was still funny and entertaining. Bud and Lou play Eddie and Albert, two plumbers who are hired to fix the sink at a wealthy estate during a costume party, (where Arthur Treacher plays the butler) and are driven there by cab driver Elsie Hemmerdingle (Marion Hutton), whom Albert's been dating. She, however, soon loses her heart to Peter Evans (Kirby Grant), who mistakes her for one of the elites, thinking her uniform is a costume. Meanwhile, Albert makes a shambles out of the bathroom, as Murphy's Law prevails!

Some highlights of the film are the two numbers Marion sings: "My Dreams Are Getting Better All the Time" and "No Doubt About It", and a crazy chase on a firetruck, as Eddie and Albert seek to clear their name of stealing a priceless painting.

Not a bad way to pass the time.