Bud Abbott and Lou Costello in Hollywood
(1945)
83 mins | Comedy | October 1945
Director:
S. Sylvan SimonWriters:
Nat Perrin, Lou BreslowProducer:
Martin A. GoschCinematographer:
Charles SchoenbaumEditor:
Ben LewisProduction Designers:
Cedric Gibbons, Wade B. RubottomProduction Company:
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Corp.Some contemporary sources list the title of this film as Abbott and Costello in Hollywood . The working title for the film was Close Shave . The picture marked Martin Gosch's initial effort as a producer for M-G-M, and was the first film for Bud Abbott and Lou Costello under their new contract with M-G-M. Dance director Charles Walters appeared onscreen in the minor role of "sailor." A Jul 1945 NYT article notes that the film was to have been the first of many M-G-M films starring former Universal players Bud Abbott and Lou Costello, but that the contract between the studio and the comedy team, which called for one film per year for four years, was later abrogated. Mano Artzt, who was hired as a technical advisor on the film, was head of the M-G-M barber shop. M-G-M studio records indicate that the song "Put a Little Salt on the Bluebird's Tail" was recorded for the film but not ... More Less
Some contemporary sources list the title of this film as Abbott and Costello in Hollywood . The working title for the film was Close Shave . The picture marked Martin Gosch's initial effort as a producer for M-G-M, and was the first film for Bud Abbott and Lou Costello under their new contract with M-G-M. Dance director Charles Walters appeared onscreen in the minor role of "sailor." A Jul 1945 NYT article notes that the film was to have been the first of many M-G-M films starring former Universal players Bud Abbott and Lou Costello, but that the contract between the studio and the comedy team, which called for one film per year for four years, was later abrogated. Mano Artzt, who was hired as a technical advisor on the film, was head of the M-G-M barber shop. M-G-M studio records indicate that the song "Put a Little Salt on the Bluebird's Tail" was recorded for the film but not used. More Less
Abbott and Costello in Hollywood
At the busy Hollywood Shop, the "barber shop to the stars," seasoned barber Buzz Kurtis tries to teach his clumsy pal Abercrombie how to shave customers. Abercrombie practices on an air-filled balloon covered with shaving cream, which explodes in his face when he loses control of the razor. Later, at the office of motion picture agent Norman Royce, Buzz and Abercrombie are in the middle of giving the agent a shave and a shoeshine when Jeff Parker, a singer from Des Moines, arrives looking for an agent to represent him. Impressed by Jeff's singing, Norman decides to recommend him for the romantic lead opposite Claire Warren in director Dennis Kavanaugh's next picture. Leading man Gregory LeMaise was to star in the film, but gave up the part and canceled his contract with Norman. The seeming ease with which Norman makes lucrative movie deals persuades Buzz and Abercrombie to become agents themselves, and they begin by convincing Jeff that he should be their first client. A short time later, at the main entrance to Mammoth Studios, Buzz and Abercrombie accidentally crash their car into Kavanaugh's car and are ordered off the lot. While Kavanaugh signs Jeff to star in his new film, Buzz and Abercrombie try to elude the studio police long enough to find Kavanaugh. Later, to celebrate Jeff's new contract, Kavanaugh, Buzz and Abercrombie take the new star to Ciro's nightclub. There Gregory tells Kavanaugh that he has changed his mind and has decided to resume his role in the film. Kavanaugh, not wanting to take a risk on Jeff, takes Gregory back and cancels his contract with Jeff. Claire, who has fallen in love with ... + −
At the busy Hollywood Shop, the "barber shop to the stars," seasoned barber Buzz Kurtis tries to teach his clumsy pal Abercrombie how to shave customers. Abercrombie practices on an air-filled balloon covered with shaving cream, which explodes in his face when he loses control of the razor. Later, at the office of motion picture agent Norman Royce, Buzz and Abercrombie are in the middle of giving the agent a shave and a shoeshine when Jeff Parker, a singer from Des Moines, arrives looking for an agent to represent him. Impressed by Jeff's singing, Norman decides to recommend him for the romantic lead opposite Claire Warren in director Dennis Kavanaugh's next picture. Leading man Gregory LeMaise was to star in the film, but gave up the part and canceled his contract with Norman. The seeming ease with which Norman makes lucrative movie deals persuades Buzz and Abercrombie to become agents themselves, and they begin by convincing Jeff that he should be their first client. A short time later, at the main entrance to Mammoth Studios, Buzz and Abercrombie accidentally crash their car into Kavanaugh's car and are ordered off the lot. While Kavanaugh signs Jeff to star in his new film, Buzz and Abercrombie try to elude the studio police long enough to find Kavanaugh. Later, to celebrate Jeff's new contract, Kavanaugh, Buzz and Abercrombie take the new star to Ciro's nightclub. There Gregory tells Kavanaugh that he has changed his mind and has decided to resume his role in the film. Kavanaugh, not wanting to take a risk on Jeff, takes Gregory back and cancels his contract with Jeff. Claire, who has fallen in love with Jeff, vows to fight Kavanaugh's decision, but Jeff tells her that he has decided to give up his attempt to break into show business and that he will be returning to Des Moines. Desperate to keep their client from leaving Hollywood, Buzz and Abercrombie decide to prevent Gregory from appearing in the film by devising a plan to get the actor arrested. As part of their plan, Buzz and Abercrombie board the actor's boat and provoke him into committing an assault against Abercrombie. Gregory punches Abercrombie so hard, though, that he is propelled into the water. Although Abercrombie swims back to shore, Buzz tells him to hide so that he can accuse Gregory of murder. When Buzz threatens to go to the police, Gregory drops out of sight and is labeled a fugitive by the press. Later, at a bar, Gregory discovers that Abercrombie is alive and chases after him. The chase continues through the amusement park set of Kavanaugh's film, and their ensuing wild roller coaster ride is captured on film. Although the chase adds just the right amount of excitement to the film to make it a hit, Abercrombie and Buzz soon find themselves back at their old jobs at the barber shop. + −
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