Gianni e Pinotto fra i cowboys

Ella Fitzgerald, in her first screen role, plays Ruby, who fills several roles as one of the employees of the ranch. At the opening rodeo, she is dressed as a rodeo clown, and comes to Anne's side when she is hurt. Later in the film, she can be seen removing an apron before singing. Ella sings A-Tisket, A-Tasket in the bus, as the ranch crew drives from the railway station to the ranch. Ruby and the other employees interact playfully during the song.

In the one dance scene in the film, a square dance is being held in a barn. The Merry Macs interrupt the square dance caller with the musical question, "What kind of old fashion jive is that you've got?" And end up telling him "Don't be a chump. Do a square dance, but make it jump." They then launch into an upbeat swing tune. The Macs sing "Ruby, Ruby. We want Ruby", and ask her to come out and sing jive. She takes off her apron and sings a few verses. Still singing, she introduces dancers who will "show you how they drop the square. You know. Back in Harlem up on Sugar Hill." Several couples come out and put on quite a display of Lindy Hop. Ruby and the Macs each take a turn with additional verses, and over a dozen couples take the floor doing swing. Well known swing dancers Dean Collins and Jewel McGowan dance along side the other couples in this scene. Although Dean is known for a smooth style of Lindy, he and Jewel perform two "around the block" moves, as well as some energetic kicks during their short time on camera. Most of the songs in the film are cowboy songs, which were very popular at the time. The presence of Ella Fizgerald and swing dancers demonstrates another popular music and dance of the early 1940s.

When Universal found they had a gold mine in two burlesque comedians named Bud Abbott and Lou Costello they rushed them into film after film. In the early years of their Unviersal contract the boys did film after film. Since Universal did most of it's product on the cheap for a major studio Bud and Lou became major moneymakers.

Have you ever noticed that in their earliest films while they are top billed, Bud and Lou are extraneous to the plot. There's usually some romantic story plot and always some musical entertainment. Ride 'Em Cowboy fits this formula perfectly. Dick Foran who appeared in three Abbott and Costello films in this period is a western story writer who's publicity agent has made him a western superhero. Foran sings real nice, but he can barely ride a horse. Anne Gwynne, daughter of a dude ranch owner, learns the truth and spurns him. But the smitten Foran is determined to make himself all the cowboy she expects of him.

Dick Foran who had done some singing cowboy films at Warner Brothers in the Thirties was now at Universal and he had a pleasant singing voice and an easy manner that never intruded on the comedy of Bud and Lou. A big hit song for the World War II years, I'll Remember April, was introduced by him in this film.

And if Foran introducing a hit song wasn't enough, Universal got the Merry Macs to perform a few numbers and Ella Fitzgerald reprised her A Tisket A Tasket hit from the mid thirties. Something for everyone.

But after all this is Bud and Lou's film and they have some good moments themselves. Funniest I think is Costello trying to break a horse and he literally ropes Abbott along for the ride.

Douglass Dumbrille plays an Indian chief. For me, just the sight of the polished villainous Mr. Cedar of Mr. Deeds Goes to Town in an Indian suit is funny enough. But Costello shoots an arrow through the painted heart of his daughter's tepee which in that tribe is a marriage proposal. Costello is going to be wed to an Indian princess who looks like Rosie O'Donnell. He balks at the prospect and a running gag throughout the film is Dumbrille and the tribe chasing Costello to get him to the altar in a bow and arrow wedding. This same gag with the same principal players is used in their later film Lost in a Harem for MGM.

This is one of my favorite Abbott and Costello films and when you get to see it, it will be a favorite of your's as well.

Ride 'Em Cowboy has always been my favourite Abbott & Costello film, since the first time I saw it at 10 years old. Other films of theirs had some of the classic routines, maybe better stories too, but this one has some great routines, great atmosphere and a lot of great songs too. And just as importantly Anne Gwynne never looked lovelier ... even when she was ogling Dick Foran! Was that why she didn't she make the A-list?!

It's that Universal Studios 1941 atmosphere that counts most, and Don Raye & Gene de Paul had cooked up some marvellous tunes as well, my favourite being Give Me My Saddle. The marvellous Merry Macs had their bit with Wake Up Jacob, a glorious little ditty I think is still not available on CD. Most of todays music experts would go for Ella's classic A-Tisket A-Tasket though, whilst probably commenting on how demeaning it was for her to appear in such a film. But as far they're concerned not for anyone else appearing though!

Favourite bits: Lou's dream sequence "You will You won't"; in the chase "putting out the brake"; the romantic midnight horse ride to the gorgeous I'll Remember April; many other bits of Bud & Lou's, all putting a smile on my face: not forgetting the poker game, breaking in Wildcat, the Red Indian dummy sketch etc. Was Sunbeam the young squaw an inspiration for Tex Avery's cartoons?

82 minutes of joy to fans, however if you don't like A&C, b&w films from 1941, Westerns or slushy music there's nothing for you here.

Well obviously not close to that brilliant offering from Stan & Ollie, but this is a nice genre attempt from Bud & Lou.

The guys here are peanut vendors at a rodeo show, after accidentally burning their boss's foot they hide away on a train heading west. They end up at the Lazy S ranch and get work despite the fact that they clearly have no idea what they are letting themselves into.

That's as much as you need to know really, there is the usual mix up of songs, love interest, and pure mania that goes with the decent films from the boys considerably large CV. A running plot strand of the guys on the run from Indian's because Lou has accidentally got engaged to a squaw, makes for some great and humorous scenes, but the stand out sequence takes place at a swimming pool, wonderfully funny part of the film. The film isn't really one to win new fans to the comedic talent of the pair because the running time could be too long for some with this brand of humour, but for those already converted, the film sits nicely up at the top with the best of their work.

A-ticket, a-tasket, a green and yellow basket! 7/10

New York hot dog vendors Bud Abbott and Lou Costello (as Duke and Willoughby) cause trouble at a rodeo, them move out west for real, first disguised as cows and then as cowboys. This was the inevitable "western" take on the "Abbott & Costello" franchise, and it catches the duo appearing still fresh, and with the formula working well. With their "poker game" probably best known, the vaudeville routines seem not to have been tapped out, and the material is chosen well. And, new comedy bits are blended in well.

The inoffensive lovers are singing cowboy Dick Foran (as "Bronco Bob" Mitchell) and pretty cowgirl Anne Gwynne (as Anne Shaw).

Ella Fitzgerald drops in, to sing her hit "A-Tisket, A-Tasket" (1938). Western hero Johnny Mack Brown (as "Alabam'" Brewster) also lends some support. But, the highlight is seeing Ms. Fitzgerald and The Merry Macs do a 1940s jive called "Rockin' and Reelin'" (a tune Chuck Berry might have enjoyed). It's guaranteed to pop your top. Merry Mac brothers Joe, Ted, and Judd McMichael (herein complimented by Mary Lou Cook) were an excellent vocal group, best known for their later hit "Mairzy Doats" (1944).

******* Ride 'Em Cowboy (2/13/42) Arthur Lubin ~ Lou Costello, Bud Abbott, Dick Foran, Anne Gwynne