Description

By popular demand, the legendary Bud Abbott and Lou Costello are back in eight brand-new-to-DVD comedy classics!Still one of the greatest comedy teams in the history of show business, their films continue to generate new legions of fans around the world.

Now some of their greatest gags and most stellar skits, including the complete version of their signature routine "Who's on First?", are available in this side-splitting collection.It's the boys at their very best and illustrates why Bud and Lou rightly deserve their place among the brightest stars of the silver screen!

Hit the Ice (1943)
Bud and Lou hit the slopes at the Sun Valley Resort after getting mixed up with gangsters.

In Society (1944)
The boys find themselves in hot water after a plumbing job goes wrong at a high society bash.

Here Come the Co-Eds (1945)
Bud and Lou head to campus and attempt to save Bixby College from closing down.

The Naughty Nineties (1945)
Set aboard the River Queen showboat, Bud and Lou perform their legendary "Who's on First?" routine.

Little Giant (1946)
Lou plays a little man with big dreams...and ends up selling vacuum cleaners!

The Time of Their Lives (1946)
Mistaken as a traitor, Lou's ghost is trapped in Danbury Mansion until his innocence is proven.

Buck Privates Come Home (1947)
Bud and Lou return to civilian life and get involved in midget car racing in the sequel to Buck Privates!

The Wistful Widow of Wagon Gap (1947)
Accused of murder, Lou is forced to take care of a widow and her children on a farm. ... Read more

Reviews (20)

INCONSISTANT IMAGE QUALITY - STILL FUNNY!
The Best Of Abbott & Costello: The Franchise Collection: Vol 2" effectively gathers together another bumper crop of films that made up the middle of Bud and Lou's tenure at Universal Studios. Highlights on this two disc edition include the whimsical "The Time Of Their Lives" (1946), a film not well received in its time, but one which has proven to be an enduring classic in the A&C canon. Bud plays the dual role of Cuspert Greenway/Dr. Greenway, a footman in servitude to master Tom Danbury during the 1800s and his psychiatrist ancestor set in 1946. Cuspert's treachery against Horatio (Lou Costello) results in his death and that of Tom's finance, Mistress Melody (Marjorie Reynolds). From here on the story leaps forward to present day. Horatio and Melody, having been cursed upon their murders as traitors to America's independence, remain bound to Danbury Acres until crack of doom. But when they begin to haunt Dr. Greenway and his guests living at the refurbished historical landmark, a ray of hope develops that might finally set their spirits free. In "Here Come The Co-Eds" (1945) Bud and Lou are a couple of caretakers, hiding out from the police at Bixby College, an all girl's school. The film features The Hour Of Enchantment, all girl's orchestra and choir and a riotous basketball game in which Lou, after being hit on the head, believes that he is Daisy Dimple; the world's greatest female basketball player. In "Hit The Ice" (1943) - the boys take off to Sun Valley for skiing, a prospect that falls apart when a mob boss decides to hide out at the same resort. This collection also features a handful of awful films. "The Wistful Widow of Wagon Gap" (1947) is a genuinely boring film in which Lou attempts to win the heart of a crotchety widow (Marjorie Maine) in order to secure her wealthy fortune, but whose adult children have other ideas. Lou generally gets abused by everyone in the cast and there's a genuine strain on the relationship between A&C by this time. In "The Naughty Nineties" (1945) Bud and Lou are performers on a riverboat, but the only salvation from this film is an extended version of the now legendary 'Who's On First' skit. (*Footnote: 'Who's on First' is performed in a truncated version in "One Night In The Tropics" also. That film is available on "The Best Of...Vol. One".) The bad lot of apples reaches its rotten core with "Little Giant" (1946), a really boring hodge-podge in which Lou is a vacuum cleaner salesman working for Bud. This collection is rounded out by a couple of mediocre productions; "In Society" (1944), a trifle in which the boys crash a society party to help a chorus girl fall in love with a rich playboy, and "Buck Privates Come Home" (1947), a rehash of skits from previous films with the tack on of having Bud and Lou smuggle a little French girl back to America after the war.
Over all, the transfers in this collection are a mixed bag in image quality. While some films like "The Time of Their Lives" exhibit little to no age related artifacts, others like "The Wistful Widow..." have not worn well at all. At its worst you will get a transfer riddled in age related artifacts, minor edge enhancement, mis-registration and considerable film grain. At its best, the picture quality is outstanding - leading me to think that some of these transfers were blessed with a meticulous digital restoration, while others got shafted. The audio for all the films is MONO but very nicely presented.

Hopefully as good as Volume One
Five stars for long overdue and hoping it's as great a job as Universal did with "Best of Abbott & Costello Volume 1". The transfers and packaging are great for Volume 1!!!

One thing, though. According to the manufacturer's website there is no mention of this Volume 2 set including "Abbott & Costello Meet Jerry Seinfeld". Where did this bit of information originate?

It makes more sense to possibly include that in a later volume along with "The World of Abbott & Costello". But I guess we'll see. And will the planned Volume 3 possibly include "A & C Meet Frankenstein"? That's already available on it's own as a single DVD with lots of extras? As is "A & C Meet the Mummy" but without as many extras.

At any rate; just keep them coming Universal!!!

HHHHHeeeyyyyyyy Abbbbboooootttttt
I like Abbott and Costello and they have many funny scenes in all their movies. "In Society" (1944) has many good gags including their "Go Ahead and Blow The Horn" routine with Bud and Lou and their encounter with a policeman. Their plumber"s routine in trying to fix the bathroom leak and the damage Lou inflicts on the bathroom is very funny. One of the movies in the set which is often overlooked as one of their best is the "Wistful Widow of Wagon Gap" (1947). It takes place back in the days of the wild west. This film is very humorous in the fact that Lou inherits the "taking care" of a widow and her numerous children(around 7 or 8 kids) and the farm. The tough guys don't want to kill or harm Lou Costello for fear of inheriting the widow (who is obviously not attractive and has a mouth/and call that could be heard for miles) and her herd of children which is the burden that Lou must carry. This gives Costello the edge in order to act tough and not have to worry about the consequences.

All the movies in this set were transferred flawlessly and the pictures are sharp. Good amount of movies for the price.Good humor and laughs for family viewing.

More Comedy! More Fun!
This new A&C DVD is the best! From the Revolution, to the west, to modern days, this volume will always hold some Abbott and Costello favorites.
The Time of Their Lives and The Wistful Widow of Wagon Gap are two movies I had never seen before. Both were awesome!!!! Can't wait to get Volume 3!

COSTELLO'S THE MAN
Another blockbuster when it comes to great movies in bulks like costello. Costello will be a "BIG HIT" with every Volume. The Distributors will hit mega bucks making all these movies available for diehard Costello fans. They picked the right time to do this. Costello is awsome. I can't wait for more future Volumes to come out. I would pay even $50.00 for these sets of 8 movies per box. Way to go. Get them, because once they stop producing them it will be rare and hard to find. ... Read more

Description

One of the greatest comedy teams of all time keeps one step ahead of the law and the criminals in this wild and wacky farce. Abbott and Costello, together for the last time, prove they're still on first with rapid-fire timing and gags galore! All Lou Henry (Costello) wants is a happy life with his two adopted children and to run Kiddyland, the local amusement park. But the local welfare board thinks he's an unfit father, and is determined to take the children away! To make things worse, his friend Bud (Abbott), always up to his eyes in gambling debt, has now run afoul of the mob and needs Lou's help. Can Bud and Lou get back on the merry-go-round, or will they end up in a real shooting gallery? ... Read more

Reviews (3)

A Sad Swan Song
The last Abbott and Costello picture together is a sad, unfunny vehicle that is difficult to watch. When this film was made the team was off the screen for over one year and this outing was supposed to be their comeback film. Next to Abbott and Costello Meet the Keystone Cops, this is the team's worst film and finds its way into film collections solely because it is the team's last film together.

ABBOTT & COSTELLO'S LAST FILM TOGETHER
Charles Barton does fine job directing the team's swan song to the big screen. The boys play the owners of an amusement park, who get mixed up with notorious gangsters. The film teams the duo up once again with MaryWickes - who co-starred with the team in their classic film - "WHODONE IT". Look closely, and you'll notice actor Robert Shayne. Bestknown for his role of "INSPECTOR HENDERSON" in the 1950s TVseries - "ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN" - which starred George Reeves.

ABBOTT & COSTELLO'S LAST FILM TOGETHER
Charles Barton does fine job directing the team's swan song to the big screen. The boys play the owners of an amusement park, who get mixed up with notorious gangsters. The film teams the duo up once again with MaryWickes, who co-starred with them in their classic film "WHO DONE IT?" . Look close and you'll notice actor Robert Shayne. Best knownfor his role of "INSPECTOR HENDERSON" in the "ADVENTURES OFSUPERMAN" TV series. ... Read more

Reviews (86)

AN ALL-TIME CLASSIC!
This was the film that had me eagerly watching The Abbott & Costello Movie each week as a kid...praying that this would be the one aired. What a classic that works on so many levels. It's funny! It's scary! It's nostalgic! And most importantly it treats all of the Universal Monsters seriously! The movie does not make Dracula, Frankenstein, or the Wolf-Man cartoons an buffoons...Bud and Lou rightfully handle that aspect.

The DVD is overall a nice presentation complete with trailers, production notes and photos, a "Making of..." featurette, and an outstanding audio-commentary by film historian Gregory Mank. I loved this commentary because it includes a little bit of everything: how much did each actor make on the film, what were the actors like to work with, where did they go after making this film, where are they today, and how were aspects of this film made. You can tell that Mank did plenty of research before recording this commentary.

If you want to laugh, then check out Abbott and Costello and the monsters in one of the all-time classics from Universal. If you're a real fan of the Lon Chaney Wolf-Man character you may want to read the incredibly fun book by Jeff Rovin, The Return of the Wolf-Man which picks up right where this movie concludes.

Dracula, Frank, and Wolfman scare Bud Abbott & Lou Costello
Lon Chaney becomes "The Werewolf", Bela Logosi as "Dracula" and Glenn Strange as "Monster" (well we all know its Frankenstein). This film was a neat idea to get some of the well known liked actors who are known for their famous roles they have played before together again. Lon Chaney played "The Werewolf" in THE WOLF MAN (1941) and FRANKENSTEIN MEETS THE WOLF MAN (1943). Bela Lugosi played "Dracula" in DRACULA (1931). Glenn Strange played the Frankenstein monster in HOUSE OF FRANKENSTEIN (1944). If you've seen this film before, I would recommend turning on the Audio Commentary of Film Historian, Gregory W. Mank. This commentary played throughout the film is very detailed and precise. It's wonderful to have a commentary that you can learn so much from. Bonus materials are: a 33-minute featurette, "Abbott & Costello Meet The Monsters". Very entertaining behind-the-scenes info and interesting tidbits. The host is David J. Skal. Also 109 Production Photographs, Theatrical Trailer, Production Notes and Cast & Filmmakers' film info.

Richard Lees thanks for your incite
I just acquired this A&C DVD so I checked into amazon to see what the other customers thought and I enjoyed Richard Lees' comments and I'd like to invite him and all Abbott & Costello fans to www.abbottandcostello.net (the official site) especially the message boards where fans can meet and exchange stories and info. There is a lot to talk about these days with many of the movies and TV shows finally being released on DVD.

And now my first impressions about this DVD:

I tend to agree with other reviewers that say that a less than pristine film print was used to transfer to DVD when compared to the print for "Hit The Ice" on The Best of Abbott & Costello Vol.2, for example. There are the film "artifacts" and less than sharp image with harsh contrasts and not the subtle gray tones you see in some of the movies on the "Best of" packages. When the boys first turn on the lights in McDougall's House of Horrors the picture quality is particularly bad. Oh well, I bought "...Meet Frankenstein" for the special features that likely will not be included when The Best of Abbott and Costello Vol.3 comes out in August. I hope Universal has remastered the film for that edition, it will be the third time I have purchased "Abbott & Costello Meet Frankenstein". Yes, the film is that good. So I give 4 stars for the movie itself and the extras and not give it a full 5 stars because of defects in the print and/or transfering to DVD. Also, this DVD was a little pricey. For example, it cost twice as much (where I live) as "Once Upon a Time In The West" which just came out in a 2 DVD special edition with all the bells and whistles.

Bud and Lou's Fairst and and great scary comedy
I have just recieved Abbott and Costello meets Frankenstein and it is better watching it on DVD than on video, this is because of better sound and picture quality and to see a couple of very rare outtakes and the cometary was very interesting and informative about the actors and actress of it and of course the director. the interviews with daughter of Lou was also very interesting as well as the other people in the documentary.

I would highly recommend this DVD if you are an Abbott and Costello fan.

A Little family gratitude for all your kind reviews
Hello All
I was just wandering through amazon and came upon this section and was just delighted to find "A&C meet Frankenstein" getting such nice compliments.
I would like to let you all know that my father Robert Lees and his writing partner and an old family friend, Freddy Rinaldo, wrote this film.
Freddy is no longer with us but my father is still, all of 92 years old, and is thrilled that after all these years you all like the film.
A little addenda:
You all must remember that A&C were essentially radio comedians,
and it was from his training in radio that Costello had the bad habit of coming unglued if he didn't consistantly get laughs from the crew for each gag each take, no matter how many takes were involved in getting a scene right.. For him the crew was a live audience, so if he didn't take the house down, he would put in another piece of business and reinvent the scene on the spot until he did - and he was very inventive! I don't know how successfull they were, but they tried to take him aside and explain how important it was to actually follow the script!! Dad said that Lugosi enjoyed this aspect of Costello very much although I'm not so sure whether the director did, or the writers either for that matter.
Both Dad and Fred respected the "horror/terror" genre in literature very much noting to me when I was younger how complex and interesting the form had become in the hands of writers like Dunsynane Tolstoy Lovecraft Saki,or Poe to name a few.
Tolstoy wrote some strange and luminous things in this old form, once a short story about a Vampyre.
But in those days and by the time Universal Studios got through exploiting it all, "The Wolfman meets Dracula, meets Frankenstein,meets the Mummy, meets the Andrews Sisters" well, lets just say that the bloom was well off the rose.....
And so the object for them was not to parody the genre (at least the serious part) but to parody what Universal Studios had by this time done to the genre....
One of my favorite parts in the film is that sublimely dysfunctional chase scene at the end.
And its true, they had a blast writing the movie. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

This Cute Sitcom Should Have Complete Season DVD Boxsets!
Petticoat Junction aired on TV about 2 years before I was born and I grew up watching the reruns in the 70's and I thought it was such a cute sitcom and I think it's really good that there is a DVD out with some of the episodes but why haven't complete season DVD boxsets been released yet? Green Acres which I think is a spin-off of Petticoat Junction just had it's first season released in a DVD boxset so isn't it about time they also released complete seasons of Petticoat Junction on DVD?

A must for all Petticoat Junction fans!
Episodes shown on this DVD are:
Bobby Jo and beatnik
Last chance
Please buy violets
Kate's recipe ... Read more

Product Description

One of Abbott & Costello's funniest comedies. The bumbling pair are hired as guides by gangsters who are in search of a secret treasure. They embark on a journey that leads them on a wild safari of outlandish fun. Abbott & Costello will keep you laughing as they encounter hungry cannibals, growing lions and brooding apes. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

One act that doen't stand test of time
I rented this mainly for my 5- and 3-year olds, who were predictably amused, though they volunteered that Abbott & Costello aren't as good as the Marx Brothers. That's putting it mildly.

I also wanted to see if they were as entertaining as I remembered them from my childhood: They aren't. I can only suppose they were an innovative act in their heyday in the '40s, when they were the biggest grossing movie comedians, but -- what can I say? -- they fail the proverbial test of time. They were fated to Trotsky's ash heap of history -- or, in this case, comedic history -- along with Eddie Cantor, Ma & Pa Kettle, Martin & Lewis, and, hopefully before long, Adam Sandler.

There's a saving grace or two, though, in this movie: One of the Three Stooges, Shemp Howard, has the best bit as a Mr. Magoo-like big game hunter, while a future Stooge, Joe Besser, who, eerily, would one day replace the deceased Howard, does his usual turn as a ludicrous sissy. If only this Abbott & Costello feature had a tenth of the classic qualities of those Three Stooges shorts that contemporaneously got so little respect!

Classic Abbott & Costello!
Being born in Paterson NJ, I guess maybe I'm a little privy to the whole Abbott & Costello thing. I remember when channel 11 was WPIX..now it's WB11....but every Sunday morning; at 11:30AM, they'd run an Abbott & Costello film(they did this for years)and Africa Screams was one of our favorites.

Why? Well, it was classic Bud & Lou all the way. Picture Lou finding a trail of diamonds.....calling on Bud to help him carry ALL HIS MONEY! I'M GOING TO BUY POLO PONIES...OFFICE BUILDINGS!!!

I forget the name of the guy who plays Gunner, but you'll recognize him instantly as well........YOU GOTTA BUY THIS!!!!!!

Would you trade Lou Costello for a bunch of diamonds?
Diane Emerson (Hillary Brooke) is looking for a copy of the book "Dark Safari" by the famous explorer Cuddleford in the book department of Klopper's Department store. When Buzz Johnson (Abbott) hears Diane will pay $2,500 for a map that is in the book, he passes off Stanley Livingston (Costello) as a great explorer, who had accompanied Cuddleford to Africa. Stanley says he can reproduce the map, but when Buzz overhears Diane offer Clyde Beatty $20,000 to lead an expedition to Africa, he knows there is much more money to be made. So the boys take Diane and her henchmen to Africa, where they set out to locate the Ubangi tribe, which has a fortune in uncut diamonds. Eventually the group stumbles on the Ubangi and find out the cannibals are willing to trade the diamonds for Stanley.

The best comedy routines in "Africa Screams" involves Costello and animals, whether it is Abbott dressed up in a lion skin so "Stanley" can prove what a great hunter he is or being rescued by a gorilla. But my favorite scene is when Buzz thinks Stanley is dead and does not notice that his "dead" friend is commiserating with him over his regrets for having treated Stanley so badly. "Africa Screams" is one of the funnier Abbott & Costello films from this period, playing to Costello's strength in pantomime. This 1949 film was directed by Charles T. Barton and features not only the famous hunters Clyde Beatty and Frank Buck, but Shemp Howard of the Three Stooges as Gunner, the near-sighted gunman employed by Diane, and former World Heavyweight Champion Max Baer and his "little" brother Buddy as Grappler McCoy and Boots Wilson, her two goons.

ONE OF ABBOTT & COSTELLO'S BEST FEATURES
A classic A & C film. The boys play two employees of a NY department store. Lou's claim that he can draw a map from a famous big game hunter's book, gets them involved with an unscrupoulous gang of fortune hunters who are organizing a safari to Africa, to hunt for diamonds. Two of the film's BEST highlights are the team's encounters with then famous big game hunters Clyde Beatty and Frank Buck. The film also teams them with Hillary Brook (who co-starred with them in the film "ABBOTT & COSTELLO MEET CAPTAIN KIDD", and later co-starred with them in the first season of their TV series "THE ABBOTT & COSTELLO SHOW"), and Joe Besser and Shemp Howard ( of "THE THREE STOOGES". Howard co-starred with the team in their films "BUCK PRIVATES", "IN THE NAVY", and "IT AIN'T HAY". Besser co-starred with them in their TV series "THE ABBOTT & COSTELLO SHOW" playing the part of 'STINKY'). ... Read more

Description

By the late Forties, Bud Abbott and Lou Costello were superstars. And sprinkled among their usual pictures for Universal were wildly original independent films that gave them more control and showed off the influence of their vaudville roots.Africa Screams and Jack and the Beanstalk offer perfect examples of these classics made outside the studio system.This DVD features pristine prints of both films in a package that will certainly entertain as it sparks nostalgia. In Africa Screams (1949), Bud & Lou find themselves on an African safari. And in one of their funniest films. Over the course of the picture, they encounter lions, a giant ape, uncut diamonds, a crocodile, crooks, cannibals and a great cast that includes Hillary Brooke and Joe Besser, who'd both end up in the Abbott & Costello TV show; lion-tamer Clyde Beatty; famed explorer Frank Buck; boxers Max and Buddy Baer; and Shemp Howard, who took time off from The Three Stooges to play a very near-sighted big game hunter. Jack And The Beanstalk (1952) gave Fifties audiences their first look at the boys in color. Managing to work Bud & Lou into a faithful musical adaptation of the fairy tale, the script places less emphasis on the team's burlesque origins and focuses more on their appeal to children. As Jack, Costello gets to show off his pantomime skills. And, naturally, Abbott is the butcher that cons Jack out of the cow. ... Read more

Reviews (11)

Go Ape or go Giant!!!
Ok, here it is. I am a huge fan of Abbott and Costello movies. Africa Screams is a decent one and has many funny moments but its not their best. Jack and The Beanstalk is ok but thats about it. You won't go wrong watching these movies though. So, on this DVD double feature i went Ape and Not Giant if you get my drift. Ape for Africa Screams and throw out the magic beans for Jack and the Beanstalk. 3 stars is all i could give!

Abbot and Costello - Reallyu Had A Thing Going!
Abbot and Costello were a comedy team for a long times until the fought more then they acted. As a result of the on-screen chemistry - many memorable moments in film history were created. (Who could forget Abbot and Costello Meet Frankenstein? A classic.)

This very cheep DVD features two of their funniest films and great for kids too. Africa Screams and Jack And The Beanstalk. Africa Screams is hysterical. It puts all the stereotypical impressions of the African Culture and mixes them with Abbot and Costello. What could be funnier?

Jack And The Beanstalk was cleverly written and involves music, magic harps and a lot of character performances all mixed in with the humor that is only Costello's brand. He plays Jack and boy do you realize what a mess the fantasy world would be in if he was actually there!

The quality of the transfer is not the best I have seen, but the movies speak for themselves. And, it's a great price!

Entertaining for the youth
Jack & The Beanstalk...an amusing film for an adult but really good for young children. Basically it's the story of an old woman who lived in a shoe, little boe peep and jack and the beanstalk. All of the kids fairy tales in this amusing movie. Africa Screams here would be the better picture for adults however. Africa Screams which features 2 of the Stooges third stooge(Joe Besser and Shemp Howard)Shemp's character is rather unamusing and Joe Besser's character is ok. But the stars that shine here as always are Bud Abbott & Lou Costello. Very funny picture and this 2 dvd combo is definitly a worthwhile purchase.

If you like quality transfers Don't buy this
I have just received my copy of Africa Screams/Jack and the Beanstalk and I'm seriously considering returning it. In this day of computer enhancements and digital restorations why does this transfer look like it was done by a blind, deft Saint Bernard. I have over three hundred DVD's to date in my collection and I have never seen a transfer this bad. It appears to have been copied from a third generation VHS tape originally recorded at SLP speed. The scratches, dropouts' lack of contrast and poor sound quality makes this DVD a waste of money. The color in Jack in the Beanstalk continually shifts and bleeds through each scene and the black and white sequences also shift from B&W to blue at scene changes. Add to that the same scratches and lack of picture quality as Africa Screams gives you two inexcusably bad copies for the price of one. I for one, will not purchase any more transfers from MADACY in Canada

You can't get much better than this!
In this amazing Abbott and Costello package you get two great movies: Jack and the Beanstalk and Africa Screams. Jack and the Beanstalk is a portrayal of the childrens tale but done to a much funnier extent. Costello takes the part of a peasant boy and Abbott as the town butcher, both of whom climb the beanstalk in pursuit of saving the princess and slaying the giant.

Africa Screams is the story of when Abbott and Costello make up a story that they are big game hunters. It is then when a women is looking for a big game hunter that knows the map of a trail that leads to a Orangutang Gargantuan and takes Abbott and Costello along for the adventure.

This dvd should not be passed up if you are interested in a laugh or just want to see some good old classic movies. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

BIG booooo for amazon.com
Due to the lack of description I thought this DVD might contain some of their TV work or something like that, oh boy was I wrong.

What is it ? - "Jack and the Beanstalk" & "African screams" Neither of these movies compare favourably to some of thier classics like "Hold that Ghost" or "A&C meet Frankenstien", especially Jack and the Beanstalk. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Collectors dream gone bad...
Everyone should buy this dvd......NOT!!!!!!!! This is one of my all time favorite shows and they really made a mess of it. The quality was bad and the theme song...WAS GONE!!!!!
Simply this, don't waste your money. If you never saw "Petticoat Junction", you're in for a treat, but don't watch it this way. Wait for a qulified company to put it out. Doesn't even deserve one star.

The pits
As a big-time fan of Petticoat Junction, I was tremendously disappointed in this DVD. The picture quality is the absolute worst. This is a major rip-off and the company that released it should refund everyone's money. Who's idea was it to over-dub the theme song? Give me a break! I will certainly make a note of the releasing agent of this disc and NOT PURCHASE anything else with their name on it!! Shame on you! Junk, junk, junk!!

I want to see the entire series transferred with SUPERIOR quality and sound, with no rediculous over-dubbing or edits. Whoever owns the rights to the show needs to sell permission to a QUALIFIED DVD entertainment group. I think Mr. Haney had something to do with this fiasco.

Ok but not collector quality
For people who just want to casually view the episodes this is OK, but collectors will be disappointed with the quality. For me the best part of the whole show is missing. The main theme, beginning and end, has been overdubbed with some really hokey banjo music. Unfortunately, the theme was the main reason I bought the disc. Being a rail fan I was also disappointed that none of the episodes featured the train or railroad.

Technically, this is not a good copy. It doesn't look like the film was cleaned and treated before it was transferred. There are white spots and blotches throughout. The master was not aligned well frame-to-frame the background motion makes me feel like I'm standing on the deck of a ship. It is especially noticeable in the introduction still shots of the water tower and hotel. Finally, one can see the jittery 25 fps compression. While being the nature of a DVD I think it is exaggerate by the poor alignment of the transfer. Note, this review is based on viewing on a Pioneer Elite DVL-91.

What happened to the theme song?
I was so glad to get these old episodes on DVD, however, I was extremely disappointed that the theme song had been replaced by some generic banjo music with no lyrics. I don't have a clue why they did this, but it ruined it for me, because the theme song is one of my favorite parts of the show. But, for the extremely low price, it was worth buying despite the absence of the theme song.

Good down home fun!
Petticoat Junction is good viewing for people of all ages.Set in the southern or midwest town of Hooterville (the name of the state is delightfully not given) the show focuses on the Shady Rest hotel.It is run by Kate Bradley, her 3 outstanding looking daughters and their crusty but likable Uncle Joe (Carson). Stories relate to the amusing run ins they have with their guests and the girls' romances. ... Read more

Amazon.com

In this sequel to 1941's Buck Privates, Bud and Lou are on theirway home from the war in Europe (having joined the Army by mistake in the first film). Lou is smuggling home Evey, an adorable French orphan. When Evey is discovered and scheduled for deportation, the only way Bud and Lou can keep her is to get real jobs, a real home, and a real wife.They seek out Evey's "Aunt" Sylvia for help, but first her fiancée needs some quick cash toget his midget-car racer ready for the big race.Of course, the whole thing ends with Lou in the car, leading the cops on a hilarious chase.And don't worry--Evey finds a real home with Sylvia.Buck Privates Come Home is one of those rare sequels that may be better than the original.It's got plenty of routines, sight gags, and action--and only one of those musical interludes that frustrate dyed-in-the-wool A&C fans.The following year, Bud and Lou would team up with the same director and writers to make the classic Abbott & Costello Meet Frankenstein. --Geof Miller ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Funny and Touching Film.
Bud and Lou return to the States and want to keep a young girl named Evie they adopted while in France, thus they enter world racing championship race to win a lot of money and become foster uncles to Evie. As expected things go wrong and Lou ends up in the race car, but in the end, things turn out all right. The useual laughs are also under-lined by some tender moments as Bud, Lou, and Evie slowly start to become a family.

This sequel is better
Buck Privates was very good but i think you will find this movie even better because its faster paced, good action, plenty of funny moments, and i believe it has better direction. I highly recommend this one. This is another Abbott and Costello film well worth watching. Not all of thier films are great but this one is so just enjoy it.

Abbott & Costello in top form
Another rare case of a sequel topping the original. There is some effective sentiment to go along with the clowning. Along with 'The Time of Their Lives' and 'Abbott & Costello Meet Frankenstein', this one ranks as one of the boys' best.

BUD AND LOU ARE AT AGAIN IN HILARIOUS SEQUEL
The ONLY SEQUEL to an A&C film and one of their BEST. The boys return from the war in Europe after having ACCIDENTLY enlisted in the Army in the first film. (One wonders how Abbott & Costello could have POSSIBILY taking part in WW II and having the Allies still win). The film begins with the classic "DRILL ROUTINE" from 'BUCK PRIVATES'. On the ship carrying the boys home, Lou tries to smuggle in a French war orphan named Evie. The ONLY way the comedy team can keep the girl is to get REAL JOBS, REAL MONEY, and a REAL WIFE. The boys gather together their old pals from their platoon and convince them to put up the money for Evie's "AUNT SYLVIA'S" fiance's midget car who is sure will win the big race. This investment pits "SLICKER & HERBIE" against their old nemesis "SGT. COLLINS" (The policeman who tried to arrest them in the first film for selling neckties without a license and who later became their Army sergeant.) The climatic chase seen is one of the highlights of this VERY FUNNY,HILARIOUS sequel to "BUCK PRIVATES" [NOTE: Shortly after the release of this film, Abbott & Costello were reunited with the SAME WRITERS and the SAME DIRECTOR, for what will be the BEST HORROR COMEDY ever filmed - " ABBOTT & COSTELLO MEET FRANKENSTEIN"]

not as innocent as buck privates//costello tries too hard
..good sequel /top of film is padded with original buck privates//segments of the film are too serious//costello is not as innocent /right//left sequence is funny//midget race car sequence is excellent. ... Read more

Product Description

One of Abbott & Costello's funniest comedies. The bumbling pair are hired as guides by gangsters who are in search of a secret treasure. They embark on a journey that leads them on a wild safari of outlandish fun. Abbott & Costello will keep you laughing as they encounter hungry cannibals, growing lions and brooding apes. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

One act that doen't stand test of time
I rented this mainly for my 5- and 3-year olds, who were predictably amused, though they volunteered that Abbott & Costello aren't as good as the Marx Brothers. That's putting it mildly.

I also wanted to see if they were as entertaining as I remembered them from my childhood: They aren't. I can only suppose they were an innovative act in their heyday in the '40s, when they were the biggest grossing movie comedians, but -- what can I say? -- they fail the proverbial test of time. They were fated to Trotsky's ash heap of history -- or, in this case, comedic history -- along with Eddie Cantor, Ma & Pa Kettle, Martin & Lewis, and, hopefully before long, Adam Sandler.

There's a saving grace or two, though, in this movie: One of the Three Stooges, Shemp Howard, has the best bit as a Mr. Magoo-like big game hunter, while a future Stooge, Joe Besser, who, eerily, would one day replace the deceased Howard, does his usual turn as a ludicrous sissy. If only this Abbott & Costello feature had a tenth of the classic qualities of those Three Stooges shorts that contemporaneously got so little respect!

Classic Abbott & Costello!
Being born in Paterson NJ, I guess maybe I'm a little privy to the whole Abbott & Costello thing. I remember when channel 11 was WPIX..now it's WB11....but every Sunday morning; at 11:30AM, they'd run an Abbott & Costello film(they did this for years)and Africa Screams was one of our favorites.

Why? Well, it was classic Bud & Lou all the way. Picture Lou finding a trail of diamonds.....calling on Bud to help him carry ALL HIS MONEY! I'M GOING TO BUY POLO PONIES...OFFICE BUILDINGS!!!

I forget the name of the guy who plays Gunner, but you'll recognize him instantly as well........YOU GOTTA BUY THIS!!!!!!

Would you trade Lou Costello for a bunch of diamonds?
Diane Emerson (Hillary Brooke) is looking for a copy of the book "Dark Safari" by the famous explorer Cuddleford in the book department of Klopper's Department store. When Buzz Johnson (Abbott) hears Diane will pay $2,500 for a map that is in the book, he passes off Stanley Livingston (Costello) as a great explorer, who had accompanied Cuddleford to Africa. Stanley says he can reproduce the map, but when Buzz overhears Diane offer Clyde Beatty $20,000 to lead an expedition to Africa, he knows there is much more money to be made. So the boys take Diane and her henchmen to Africa, where they set out to locate the Ubangi tribe, which has a fortune in uncut diamonds. Eventually the group stumbles on the Ubangi and find out the cannibals are willing to trade the diamonds for Stanley.

The best comedy routines in "Africa Screams" involves Costello and animals, whether it is Abbott dressed up in a lion skin so "Stanley" can prove what a great hunter he is or being rescued by a gorilla. But my favorite scene is when Buzz thinks Stanley is dead and does not notice that his "dead" friend is commiserating with him over his regrets for having treated Stanley so badly. "Africa Screams" is one of the funnier Abbott & Costello films from this period, playing to Costello's strength in pantomime. This 1949 film was directed by Charles T. Barton and features not only the famous hunters Clyde Beatty and Frank Buck, but Shemp Howard of the Three Stooges as Gunner, the near-sighted gunman employed by Diane, and former World Heavyweight Champion Max Baer and his "little" brother Buddy as Grappler McCoy and Boots Wilson, her two goons.

ONE OF ABBOTT & COSTELLO'S BEST FEATURES
A classic A & C film. The boys play two employees of a NY department store. Lou's claim that he can draw a map from a famous big game hunter's book, gets them involved with an unscrupoulous gang of fortune hunters who are organizing a safari to Africa, to hunt for diamonds. Two of the film's BEST highlights are the team's encounters with then famous big game hunters Clyde Beatty and Frank Buck. The film also teams them with Hillary Brook (who co-starred with them in the film "ABBOTT & COSTELLO MEET CAPTAIN KIDD", and later co-starred with them in the first season of their TV series "THE ABBOTT & COSTELLO SHOW"), and Joe Besser and Shemp Howard ( of "THE THREE STOOGES". Howard co-starred with the team in their films "BUCK PRIVATES", "IN THE NAVY", and "IT AIN'T HAY". Besser co-starred with them in their TV series "THE ABBOTT & COSTELLO SHOW" playing the part of 'STINKY'). ... Read more

Product Description

One of Abbott & Costello's funniest comedies. The bumbling pair are hired as guides by gangsters who are in search of a secret treasure. They embark on a journey that leads them on a wild safari of outlandish fun. Abbott & Costello will keep you laughing as they encounter hungry cannibals, growing lions and brooding apes. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

One act that doen't stand test of time
I rented this mainly for my 5- and 3-year olds, who were predictably amused, though they volunteered that Abbott & Costello aren't as good as the Marx Brothers. That's putting it mildly.

I also wanted to see if they were as entertaining as I remembered them from my childhood: They aren't. I can only suppose they were an innovative act in their heyday in the '40s, when they were the biggest grossing movie comedians, but -- what can I say? -- they fail the proverbial test of time. They were fated to Trotsky's ash heap of history -- or, in this case, comedic history -- along with Eddie Cantor, Ma & Pa Kettle, Martin & Lewis, and, hopefully before long, Adam Sandler.

There's a saving grace or two, though, in this movie: One of the Three Stooges, Shemp Howard, has the best bit as a Mr. Magoo-like big game hunter, while a future Stooge, Joe Besser, who, eerily, would one day replace the deceased Howard, does his usual turn as a ludicrous sissy. If only this Abbott & Costello feature had a tenth of the classic qualities of those Three Stooges shorts that contemporaneously got so little respect!

Classic Abbott & Costello!
Being born in Paterson NJ, I guess maybe I'm a little privy to the whole Abbott & Costello thing. I remember when channel 11 was WPIX..now it's WB11....but every Sunday morning; at 11:30AM, they'd run an Abbott & Costello film(they did this for years)and Africa Screams was one of our favorites.

Why? Well, it was classic Bud & Lou all the way. Picture Lou finding a trail of diamonds.....calling on Bud to help him carry ALL HIS MONEY! I'M GOING TO BUY POLO PONIES...OFFICE BUILDINGS!!!

I forget the name of the guy who plays Gunner, but you'll recognize him instantly as well........YOU GOTTA BUY THIS!!!!!!

Would you trade Lou Costello for a bunch of diamonds?
Diane Emerson (Hillary Brooke) is looking for a copy of the book "Dark Safari" by the famous explorer Cuddleford in the book department of Klopper's Department store. When Buzz Johnson (Abbott) hears Diane will pay $2,500 for a map that is in the book, he passes off Stanley Livingston (Costello) as a great explorer, who had accompanied Cuddleford to Africa. Stanley says he can reproduce the map, but when Buzz overhears Diane offer Clyde Beatty $20,000 to lead an expedition to Africa, he knows there is much more money to be made. So the boys take Diane and her henchmen to Africa, where they set out to locate the Ubangi tribe, which has a fortune in uncut diamonds. Eventually the group stumbles on the Ubangi and find out the cannibals are willing to trade the diamonds for Stanley.

The best comedy routines in "Africa Screams" involves Costello and animals, whether it is Abbott dressed up in a lion skin so "Stanley" can prove what a great hunter he is or being rescued by a gorilla. But my favorite scene is when Buzz thinks Stanley is dead and does not notice that his "dead" friend is commiserating with him over his regrets for having treated Stanley so badly. "Africa Screams" is one of the funnier Abbott & Costello films from this period, playing to Costello's strength in pantomime. This 1949 film was directed by Charles T. Barton and features not only the famous hunters Clyde Beatty and Frank Buck, but Shemp Howard of the Three Stooges as Gunner, the near-sighted gunman employed by Diane, and former World Heavyweight Champion Max Baer and his "little" brother Buddy as Grappler McCoy and Boots Wilson, her two goons.

ONE OF ABBOTT & COSTELLO'S BEST FEATURES
A classic A & C film. The boys play two employees of a NY department store. Lou's claim that he can draw a map from a famous big game hunter's book, gets them involved with an unscrupoulous gang of fortune hunters who are organizing a safari to Africa, to hunt for diamonds. Two of the film's BEST highlights are the team's encounters with then famous big game hunters Clyde Beatty and Frank Buck. The film also teams them with Hillary Brook (who co-starred with them in the film "ABBOTT & COSTELLO MEET CAPTAIN KIDD", and later co-starred with them in the first season of their TV series "THE ABBOTT & COSTELLO SHOW"), and Joe Besser and Shemp Howard ( of "THE THREE STOOGES". Howard co-starred with the team in their films "BUCK PRIVATES", "IN THE NAVY", and "IT AIN'T HAY". Besser co-starred with them in their TV series "THE ABBOTT & COSTELLO SHOW" playing the part of 'STINKY'). ... Read more

Reviews (1)

QUALITY COPY OF BLUE STEEL
The image on Blue Steel is very good. I'd say about 95% is crisp. For example, Wayne rides a white horse that is a vibrant white. There are a few frames that are washed out and murky. Overall this seems to be a good quality copy. The sound on this copy isn't good. There is alot of hissing and dropout. The story is engaging.

Hell Town is Blue Steel's opposite. The image is dull and murky, but the sound does not have alot of hiss. Again this is an engaging, interesting story(with Wayne starting as a bad seed).

Overall I would stay away, unless you want a good copy of Blue Steel. ... Read more

Product Description

One of Abbott & Costello's funniest comedies. The bumbling pair are hired as guides by gangsters who are in search of a secret treasure. They embark on a journey that leads them on a wild safari of outlandish fun. Abbott & Costello will keep you laughing as they encounter hungry cannibals, growing lions and brooding apes. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

One act that doen't stand test of time
I rented this mainly for my 5- and 3-year olds, who were predictably amused, though they volunteered that Abbott & Costello aren't as good as the Marx Brothers. That's putting it mildly.

I also wanted to see if they were as entertaining as I remembered them from my childhood: They aren't. I can only suppose they were an innovative act in their heyday in the '40s, when they were the biggest grossing movie comedians, but -- what can I say? -- they fail the proverbial test of time. They were fated to Trotsky's ash heap of history -- or, in this case, comedic history -- along with Eddie Cantor, Ma & Pa Kettle, Martin & Lewis, and, hopefully before long, Adam Sandler.

There's a saving grace or two, though, in this movie: One of the Three Stooges, Shemp Howard, has the best bit as a Mr. Magoo-like big game hunter, while a future Stooge, Joe Besser, who, eerily, would one day replace the deceased Howard, does his usual turn as a ludicrous sissy. If only this Abbott & Costello feature had a tenth of the classic qualities of those Three Stooges shorts that contemporaneously got so little respect!

Classic Abbott & Costello!
Being born in Paterson NJ, I guess maybe I'm a little privy to the whole Abbott & Costello thing. I remember when channel 11 was WPIX..now it's WB11....but every Sunday morning; at 11:30AM, they'd run an Abbott & Costello film(they did this for years)and Africa Screams was one of our favorites.

Why? Well, it was classic Bud & Lou all the way. Picture Lou finding a trail of diamonds.....calling on Bud to help him carry ALL HIS MONEY! I'M GOING TO BUY POLO PONIES...OFFICE BUILDINGS!!!

I forget the name of the guy who plays Gunner, but you'll recognize him instantly as well........YOU GOTTA BUY THIS!!!!!!

Would you trade Lou Costello for a bunch of diamonds?
Diane Emerson (Hillary Brooke) is looking for a copy of the book "Dark Safari" by the famous explorer Cuddleford in the book department of Klopper's Department store. When Buzz Johnson (Abbott) hears Diane will pay $2,500 for a map that is in the book, he passes off Stanley Livingston (Costello) as a great explorer, who had accompanied Cuddleford to Africa. Stanley says he can reproduce the map, but when Buzz overhears Diane offer Clyde Beatty $20,000 to lead an expedition to Africa, he knows there is much more money to be made. So the boys take Diane and her henchmen to Africa, where they set out to locate the Ubangi tribe, which has a fortune in uncut diamonds. Eventually the group stumbles on the Ubangi and find out the cannibals are willing to trade the diamonds for Stanley.

The best comedy routines in "Africa Screams" involves Costello and animals, whether it is Abbott dressed up in a lion skin so "Stanley" can prove what a great hunter he is or being rescued by a gorilla. But my favorite scene is when Buzz thinks Stanley is dead and does not notice that his "dead" friend is commiserating with him over his regrets for having treated Stanley so badly. "Africa Screams" is one of the funnier Abbott & Costello films from this period, playing to Costello's strength in pantomime. This 1949 film was directed by Charles T. Barton and features not only the famous hunters Clyde Beatty and Frank Buck, but Shemp Howard of the Three Stooges as Gunner, the near-sighted gunman employed by Diane, and former World Heavyweight Champion Max Baer and his "little" brother Buddy as Grappler McCoy and Boots Wilson, her two goons.

ONE OF ABBOTT & COSTELLO'S BEST FEATURES
A classic A & C film. The boys play two employees of a NY department store. Lou's claim that he can draw a map from a famous big game hunter's book, gets them involved with an unscrupoulous gang of fortune hunters who are organizing a safari to Africa, to hunt for diamonds. Two of the film's BEST highlights are the team's encounters with then famous big game hunters Clyde Beatty and Frank Buck. The film also teams them with Hillary Brook (who co-starred with them in the film "ABBOTT & COSTELLO MEET CAPTAIN KIDD", and later co-starred with them in the first season of their TV series "THE ABBOTT & COSTELLO SHOW"), and Joe Besser and Shemp Howard ( of "THE THREE STOOGES". Howard co-starred with the team in their films "BUCK PRIVATES", "IN THE NAVY", and "IT AIN'T HAY". Besser co-starred with them in their TV series "THE ABBOTT & COSTELLO SHOW" playing the part of 'STINKY'). ... Read more

Product Description

One of Abbott & Costello's funniest comedies. The bumbling pair are hired as guides by gangsters who are in search of a secret treasure. They embark on a journey that leads them on a wild safari of outlandish fun. Abbott & Costello will keep you laughing as they encounter hungry cannibals, growing lions and brooding apes. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

One act that doen't stand test of time
I rented this mainly for my 5- and 3-year olds, who were predictably amused, though they volunteered that Abbott & Costello aren't as good as the Marx Brothers. That's putting it mildly.

I also wanted to see if they were as entertaining as I remembered them from my childhood: They aren't. I can only suppose they were an innovative act in their heyday in the '40s, when they were the biggest grossing movie comedians, but -- what can I say? -- they fail the proverbial test of time. They were fated to Trotsky's ash heap of history -- or, in this case, comedic history -- along with Eddie Cantor, Ma & Pa Kettle, Martin & Lewis, and, hopefully before long, Adam Sandler.

There's a saving grace or two, though, in this movie: One of the Three Stooges, Shemp Howard, has the best bit as a Mr. Magoo-like big game hunter, while a future Stooge, Joe Besser, who, eerily, would one day replace the deceased Howard, does his usual turn as a ludicrous sissy. If only this Abbott & Costello feature had a tenth of the classic qualities of those Three Stooges shorts that contemporaneously got so little respect!

Classic Abbott & Costello!
Being born in Paterson NJ, I guess maybe I'm a little privy to the whole Abbott & Costello thing. I remember when channel 11 was WPIX..now it's WB11....but every Sunday morning; at 11:30AM, they'd run an Abbott & Costello film(they did this for years)and Africa Screams was one of our favorites.

Why? Well, it was classic Bud & Lou all the way. Picture Lou finding a trail of diamonds.....calling on Bud to help him carry ALL HIS MONEY! I'M GOING TO BUY POLO PONIES...OFFICE BUILDINGS!!!

I forget the name of the guy who plays Gunner, but you'll recognize him instantly as well........YOU GOTTA BUY THIS!!!!!!

Would you trade Lou Costello for a bunch of diamonds?
Diane Emerson (Hillary Brooke) is looking for a copy of the book "Dark Safari" by the famous explorer Cuddleford in the book department of Klopper's Department store. When Buzz Johnson (Abbott) hears Diane will pay $2,500 for a map that is in the book, he passes off Stanley Livingston (Costello) as a great explorer, who had accompanied Cuddleford to Africa. Stanley says he can reproduce the map, but when Buzz overhears Diane offer Clyde Beatty $20,000 to lead an expedition to Africa, he knows there is much more money to be made. So the boys take Diane and her henchmen to Africa, where they set out to locate the Ubangi tribe, which has a fortune in uncut diamonds. Eventually the group stumbles on the Ubangi and find out the cannibals are willing to trade the diamonds for Stanley.

The best comedy routines in "Africa Screams" involves Costello and animals, whether it is Abbott dressed up in a lion skin so "Stanley" can prove what a great hunter he is or being rescued by a gorilla. But my favorite scene is when Buzz thinks Stanley is dead and does not notice that his "dead" friend is commiserating with him over his regrets for having treated Stanley so badly. "Africa Screams" is one of the funnier Abbott & Costello films from this period, playing to Costello's strength in pantomime. This 1949 film was directed by Charles T. Barton and features not only the famous hunters Clyde Beatty and Frank Buck, but Shemp Howard of the Three Stooges as Gunner, the near-sighted gunman employed by Diane, and former World Heavyweight Champion Max Baer and his "little" brother Buddy as Grappler McCoy and Boots Wilson, her two goons.

ONE OF ABBOTT & COSTELLO'S BEST FEATURES
A classic A & C film. The boys play two employees of a NY department store. Lou's claim that he can draw a map from a famous big game hunter's book, gets them involved with an unscrupoulous gang of fortune hunters who are organizing a safari to Africa, to hunt for diamonds. Two of the film's BEST highlights are the team's encounters with then famous big game hunters Clyde Beatty and Frank Buck. The film also teams them with Hillary Brook (who co-starred with them in the film "ABBOTT & COSTELLO MEET CAPTAIN KIDD", and later co-starred with them in the first season of their TV series "THE ABBOTT & COSTELLO SHOW"), and Joe Besser and Shemp Howard ( of "THE THREE STOOGES". Howard co-starred with the team in their films "BUCK PRIVATES", "IN THE NAVY", and "IT AIN'T HAY". Besser co-starred with them in their TV series "THE ABBOTT & COSTELLO SHOW" playing the part of 'STINKY'). ... Read more

Reviews (11)

Go Ape or go Giant!!!
Ok, here it is. I am a huge fan of Abbott and Costello movies. Africa Screams is a decent one and has many funny moments but its not their best. Jack and The Beanstalk is ok but thats about it. You won't go wrong watching these movies though. So, on this DVD double feature i went Ape and Not Giant if you get my drift. Ape for Africa Screams and throw out the magic beans for Jack and the Beanstalk. 3 stars is all i could give!

Abbot and Costello - Reallyu Had A Thing Going!
Abbot and Costello were a comedy team for a long times until the fought more then they acted. As a result of the on-screen chemistry - many memorable moments in film history were created. (Who could forget Abbot and Costello Meet Frankenstein? A classic.)

This very cheep DVD features two of their funniest films and great for kids too. Africa Screams and Jack And The Beanstalk. Africa Screams is hysterical. It puts all the stereotypical impressions of the African Culture and mixes them with Abbot and Costello. What could be funnier?

Jack And The Beanstalk was cleverly written and involves music, magic harps and a lot of character performances all mixed in with the humor that is only Costello's brand. He plays Jack and boy do you realize what a mess the fantasy world would be in if he was actually there!

The quality of the transfer is not the best I have seen, but the movies speak for themselves. And, it's a great price!

Entertaining for the youth
Jack & The Beanstalk...an amusing film for an adult but really good for young children. Basically it's the story of an old woman who lived in a shoe, little boe peep and jack and the beanstalk. All of the kids fairy tales in this amusing movie. Africa Screams here would be the better picture for adults however. Africa Screams which features 2 of the Stooges third stooge(Joe Besser and Shemp Howard)Shemp's character is rather unamusing and Joe Besser's character is ok. But the stars that shine here as always are Bud Abbott & Lou Costello. Very funny picture and this 2 dvd combo is definitly a worthwhile purchase.

If you like quality transfers Don't buy this
I have just received my copy of Africa Screams/Jack and the Beanstalk and I'm seriously considering returning it. In this day of computer enhancements and digital restorations why does this transfer look like it was done by a blind, deft Saint Bernard. I have over three hundred DVD's to date in my collection and I have never seen a transfer this bad. It appears to have been copied from a third generation VHS tape originally recorded at SLP speed. The scratches, dropouts' lack of contrast and poor sound quality makes this DVD a waste of money. The color in Jack in the Beanstalk continually shifts and bleeds through each scene and the black and white sequences also shift from B&W to blue at scene changes. Add to that the same scratches and lack of picture quality as Africa Screams gives you two inexcusably bad copies for the price of one. I for one, will not purchase any more transfers from MADACY in Canada

You can't get much better than this!
In this amazing Abbott and Costello package you get two great movies: Jack and the Beanstalk and Africa Screams. Jack and the Beanstalk is a portrayal of the childrens tale but done to a much funnier extent. Costello takes the part of a peasant boy and Abbott as the town butcher, both of whom climb the beanstalk in pursuit of saving the princess and slaying the giant.

Africa Screams is the story of when Abbott and Costello make up a story that they are big game hunters. It is then when a women is looking for a big game hunter that knows the map of a trail that leads to a Orangutang Gargantuan and takes Abbott and Costello along for the adventure.

This dvd should not be passed up if you are interested in a laugh or just want to see some good old classic movies. ... Read more

Product Description

One of Abbott & Costello's funniest comedies. The bumbling pair are hired as guides by gangsters who are in search of a secret treasure. They embark on a journey that leads them on a wild safari of outlandish fun. Abbott & Costello will keep you laughing as they encounter hungry cannibals, growing lions and brooding apes. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

One act that doen't stand test of time
I rented this mainly for my 5- and 3-year olds, who were predictably amused, though they volunteered that Abbott & Costello aren't as good as the Marx Brothers. That's putting it mildly.

I also wanted to see if they were as entertaining as I remembered them from my childhood: They aren't. I can only suppose they were an innovative act in their heyday in the '40s, when they were the biggest grossing movie comedians, but -- what can I say? -- they fail the proverbial test of time. They were fated to Trotsky's ash heap of history -- or, in this case, comedic history -- along with Eddie Cantor, Ma & Pa Kettle, Martin & Lewis, and, hopefully before long, Adam Sandler.

There's a saving grace or two, though, in this movie: One of the Three Stooges, Shemp Howard, has the best bit as a Mr. Magoo-like big game hunter, while a future Stooge, Joe Besser, who, eerily, would one day replace the deceased Howard, does his usual turn as a ludicrous sissy. If only this Abbott & Costello feature had a tenth of the classic qualities of those Three Stooges shorts that contemporaneously got so little respect!

Classic Abbott & Costello!
Being born in Paterson NJ, I guess maybe I'm a little privy to the whole Abbott & Costello thing. I remember when channel 11 was WPIX..now it's WB11....but every Sunday morning; at 11:30AM, they'd run an Abbott & Costello film(they did this for years)and Africa Screams was one of our favorites.

Why? Well, it was classic Bud & Lou all the way. Picture Lou finding a trail of diamonds.....calling on Bud to help him carry ALL HIS MONEY! I'M GOING TO BUY POLO PONIES...OFFICE BUILDINGS!!!

I forget the name of the guy who plays Gunner, but you'll recognize him instantly as well........YOU GOTTA BUY THIS!!!!!!

Would you trade Lou Costello for a bunch of diamonds?
Diane Emerson (Hillary Brooke) is looking for a copy of the book "Dark Safari" by the famous explorer Cuddleford in the book department of Klopper's Department store. When Buzz Johnson (Abbott) hears Diane will pay $2,500 for a map that is in the book, he passes off Stanley Livingston (Costello) as a great explorer, who had accompanied Cuddleford to Africa. Stanley says he can reproduce the map, but when Buzz overhears Diane offer Clyde Beatty $20,000 to lead an expedition to Africa, he knows there is much more money to be made. So the boys take Diane and her henchmen to Africa, where they set out to locate the Ubangi tribe, which has a fortune in uncut diamonds. Eventually the group stumbles on the Ubangi and find out the cannibals are willing to trade the diamonds for Stanley.

The best comedy routines in "Africa Screams" involves Costello and animals, whether it is Abbott dressed up in a lion skin so "Stanley" can prove what a great hunter he is or being rescued by a gorilla. But my favorite scene is when Buzz thinks Stanley is dead and does not notice that his "dead" friend is commiserating with him over his regrets for having treated Stanley so badly. "Africa Screams" is one of the funnier Abbott & Costello films from this period, playing to Costello's strength in pantomime. This 1949 film was directed by Charles T. Barton and features not only the famous hunters Clyde Beatty and Frank Buck, but Shemp Howard of the Three Stooges as Gunner, the near-sighted gunman employed by Diane, and former World Heavyweight Champion Max Baer and his "little" brother Buddy as Grappler McCoy and Boots Wilson, her two goons.

ONE OF ABBOTT & COSTELLO'S BEST FEATURES
A classic A & C film. The boys play two employees of a NY department store. Lou's claim that he can draw a map from a famous big game hunter's book, gets them involved with an unscrupoulous gang of fortune hunters who are organizing a safari to Africa, to hunt for diamonds. Two of the film's BEST highlights are the team's encounters with then famous big game hunters Clyde Beatty and Frank Buck. The film also teams them with Hillary Brook (who co-starred with them in the film "ABBOTT & COSTELLO MEET CAPTAIN KIDD", and later co-starred with them in the first season of their TV series "THE ABBOTT & COSTELLO SHOW"), and Joe Besser and Shemp Howard ( of "THE THREE STOOGES". Howard co-starred with the team in their films "BUCK PRIVATES", "IN THE NAVY", and "IT AIN'T HAY". Besser co-starred with them in their TV series "THE ABBOTT & COSTELLO SHOW" playing the part of 'STINKY'). ... Read more