Abbott & Costello: 8 Classic Films [DVD]

Description

"Rediscover the classic Abbott and Costello moments in this specially packaged four DVD boxset. 'Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein' (1948) is a comic spoof of Universal's classic horror films. Baggage clerks Bud (Abbott) and Lou (Costello) find themselves in hot water when they lose a mysterious shipment en route to the House of Horrors. It transpires that the missing crates contained the remains of Count Dracula (Bela Lugosi) and Frankenstein's monster (Glenn Strange). The crates have now been diverted to the island hideaway of a crazed scientist who wishes to revive the ghouls. The inept duo head off to the island to avert disaster, the arrival of the Wolfman (Lon Chaney Jr) complicates matters further. 'Abbott and Costello Meet The Mummy' (1955) is yet another comic horror spoof. Friends Pete (Abbott) and Freddie (Costello) are in Egypt when they offer to help archaeologist Dr Gustav Zoomer transport his newly-discovered mummy back to America. However, upon arrival at Zoomer's house the duo discover that the doctor has been murdered and the mummy vanished. Their problems increase when the men inherit a medallion which carries an ancient curse and they soon find themselves doing battle with villainous treasure seekers while struggling to keep the mummy's existence under wraps! In 'The Foreign Legion' (1950) sees wrestling promoters Jonesy (Abbot) and Lou (Costello) arrive in Arabia looking for their absconded star attraction, Wee Willie Davis. Instead of finding him, though, they manage to get themselves signed up for the French Foreign Legion. The duo's bumbling attempts to make good as soldiers don't get them very far and matters aren't helped by Lou's regular and bizarre mirage sightings. The trouble really begins, however, when they uncover a plot between their superior officer (Walter Slezak) and the evil Sheik Hamud El Khalid (Douglas Dumbrille). In 'Abbott and Costello Meet The Keystone Cops' (1955) Bud and Lou revisit the golden days of silent film. The year is 1914, and pals Harry (Abbott) and Willis (Costello) find employment in Hollywood after being tricked into investing in a dud studio by a conman. The duo end up working with the Mack Sennett group and the famous Keystone Cops (played here not by the originals, but by a group of actors specifically trained by Sennett for the film). However, when Sennett's studio is also swindled by the crook, the comedy police team find themselves turning crime busters for real! In 'Abbott and Costello Meet The Invisible Man' (1951) retired detectives Bud (Abbott) and Lou (Costello) find themselves helping accused killer Tommy Nelson (Arthur Franz) when he convinces them of his innocence. When the police attempt to arrest Tommy he eludes them by injecting himself with an invisibility serum created by the uncle (Gavin Muir) of his fiancée, Helen (Nancy Guild). Tommy now persuades Lou to find the real killer by going undercover as a boxer, and is forced to help the little fellow out when he has to show his mettle in the ring. In 'Abbott and Costello Go to Mars' (1953) Lester (Abbot) and Orville (Costello) are loading supplies onto a rocket ship when it accidentally takes off. Their first port of call is the New Orleans Mardi Gras - which the duo mistakenly believe to be Mars - where they are accosted by bank robber Mugsy (Horace McMahon) and forced to pilot their ship to the planet Venus. Once there, Lester and Orville find themselves the flavour of the month with the all-female population (men having been banned four centuries earlier), but just how long can this bizarre state of affairs be expected to last? In 'Abbott and Costello Meet The Killer' (1949) the boys take on East Indian culture in a murder mystery romp. Ski resort bellhop Freddie Phillips (Lou Costello) stands accused of the murder of a lawyer, committed shortly after they've had a public disagreement. He's innocent as a lamb, and his best pal/resident detective Casey Edwards (Bud Abbott), pitches in enthusiastically to prove it. They encounter the sinister Swami Talpur (Boris Karloff) who attempts to hypnotise Freddie into signing a confession of guilt then committing suicide but fails, as Freddie is too daft to be hypnotized. Detectives and the boys frantically search for the real killer, and it's not the Swami. 'Abbott and Costello Meet Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde' (1953) is a comic spoof of the classic horror story. Slim (Bud Abbott) and Tubby (Lou Costello) are a pair of inept US cops visiting London to study English police methods. An encounter with beautiful young suffragette Vicky Edwards (Helen Westcott) leads to the discovery that her uncle, Dr Henry Jekyll (Boris Karloff), has created a potion, which transforms him into the evil Mr Hyde, monstrous scourge of the city..."