This one doesn't get mentioned as much as "Hold That Ghost" or "Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstien" but it is one of their best. Chick (Bud) and Mervin (Lou) are working in a diner but trying to break into radio as writers for the mystery show "Murder at Midnight". There is just one great gag and skit followed by another, and Bud and Lou turn every situation in this great and well written comedy into utter chaos. In technical terms, this movie is a hoot!
The very pretty Louise Albritton trys to help Patrick Knowles break into radio but he is having none of it and offers to help Bud and Lou by inviting them to a live broadcast of "Murder at Midnight". During the broadcast of course a real murder occurs and the boys see this as their big break. They impersonate the police in order to solve the murder of the radio station owner themselves and become the only radio writers to actually solve a real crime. What could possibly go wrong?
Mervin romances very funny Juliet (Mary Wickes) along the way and William Bendix has a nice turn as Brannigan, a cop who isn't even as smart as Lou. The cops, headed by William Gargen as Lt. Moran, are after Chick and Mervin and since Lou has the real clue to the crime in his pocket, so is the murderer. Jimmy (Knowles) and Jane (Albritton) work together to find out who commited the crime while all this is going on and decide to go live with a new "Murder at Midnight" to flush out the real culprit.
The first shot of Bud and Lou working in the diner as Lou attempts to give a customer a slice of limburger cheese is worth the price of this movie alone. From beginning to end this film is side splittingly funny. While on the run from Lt. Moran and the killer Mervin wins a $10,00.00 radio contest. If avoiding the cops so they can collect isn't enough trouble Mervin has to come up with some kind of photo ID in order to collect. What does he finally produce? His membership card to the Girl Scouts, troup #34!
This is a terrific movie that will make you feel good. They even poke fun at themselves and their famous skit "Who's on First" in this one. I highly recommend this film if your a fan of Bud and Lou or old time radio or both. This film is a nice reminder of why many people consider Bud Abbott and Lou Costello to be the funniest comedy team ever. Don't miss this one!
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars - Fast-paced comedy mystery.
Early Abbott and Costello flick that converts a murder mystery into frantic comedy. Nazi spies infest a major radio station in the early days of WWII. Bud and Lou are soda jerks at a nearby drug store lunch counter. When the "Murder at Midnight" program turns seriously deadly, our heroes pretend to be detectives and investigate the murder. The real detectives chase Bud and Lou around the radio station as the boys stay one step ahead of the crooks. Bud and Lou make the most of their comedic opportunities. They are more energetic and enthusiastic for the material than in their later films. There are none of the intrusive musical numbers that plagued some of A&C's other films. In fact, there isn't an Andrews Sister in sight. Some grumble that Lou Costello copied his comedy style from Curly Howard of the Three Stooges. Regardless of the merits of that argument, snappy dialogue and frenetic sight gags move the action right along. The laughs come in rapid-fire fashion. Check out Lou's encounter with the transcript recordings of killers in action, and the disembodied voice that inquires, "Do you have halitosis?" His attempt to make an urgent telephone call (ALexander 2: 2-2-2-2!) from a busy pay telephone with an unresponsive operator is also hilarious. William Bendix adds to the fun as a slow-witted police detective. Bud tells Lou to flirt with the station president's secretary (Mary Wickes) to help them get into the radio business. She studies a book on various ways to commit murder, or, in Lou's phrase, "...different ways to cook a guy's goose."
Great comedy is timeless. This movie has a very '40s look to it, but Bud and Lou manage to keep the comedy fresh and energetic. The movie is of value to collectors of classic comedy. It's also a good chance to introduce the kids to the world of Abbott and Costello. Enjoy the fun. ;-)
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars - One of My Favorite A&C's Along with A&C Meet Frankenstein and The Time of Their Lives, this is one of my favorite A&C films. Don Porter is great as the villian. One of the first films where Costello and a cop are constantly fighting (pre-Mike the cop).
Some of the classic routines : Operator give me Alexander 2222 and Volts are Watt?