The Best of Abbott & Costello - Volume 2 (8 Film Collection)

Starring:Bud Abbott, Lou Costello, Marjorie Main, Audrey Young, George Cleveland, Gordon Jones, William Ching, Peter M. Thompson, Bill Clauson, Olin Howland, Bill O'Leary, Pamela Wells (II), Jimmy Bates, Paul Dunn, Diane Florentine, Rex Lease, Glenn Strange, Edmund Cobb, Wade Crosby, Dewey Robinson
Director: Charles Barton, Daniel Helfgott, Erle C. Kenton
Studio: Universal Studios
Product Type: DVD

Description

Includes the following movies,
Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein
Mexican Hayride
Abbott and Costello Meet the Killer, Boris Karloff
Abbott and Costello in the Foreign Legion
Abbott and Costello Meet the Invisible Man
Comin' Round the Mountain
Lost in Alaska
Abbott and Costello Go to Mars

Customer Reviews:

Great classic comedy!.......2007-06-27

I used to watch these guys every Sunday morning when I was a kid. When I seen they finally came onto DVD and especially 8 episodes per volume, you just can't go wrong for the price. In my opinion, they were the best comedy duo there ever was. Some of their best movies exist within this volume including my favorite, Abbott & Costello meet Frankenstein. I ordered via standard shipping and received them within a weeks time, packaged nicely, and in great condition. If you love classic, clean comedy, then this is for you.

FUNNY MOVIES .......2007-06-06

WORTH THE MONEY
I LOVE THIS DVD, BRINGS BACK LAUGHTER AND MEMORYS AND YOU NEVER GET BORED WITH IT,

A. & C.::::Vol. 1,2,3.......2007-05-22

All the movies were 'clean', no fuzz, no lines, clear sharp pictures. Unlike some other reviews, these DVD's played perfectly with no problems! Definitely worth the money if you're a true Abbott and Costello fan...well worth it even if it's just old comedy you enjoy!!

More turkeys than gems.......2007-05-22

While there are a couple of really good films on this set, the majority of them are sub-par vehicles. These aren't exactly films that would make a big fan out of someone just getting into A&C. At least this set has been updated to have the eight films on four single-sided discs as opposed to the problem-plagued earlier version which had eight films on two flipper-discs, although the main menus, oddly, haven't been updated as well. They're still designed in a way that gives the impression that two other films are on the flip side.

'A&C Meet Frankenstein' (1948) is widely held as a classic, though I personally find it rather overrated. I liked it more the second time I saw it, but I still honestly don't get why so many people feel it's their best and funniest movie. Who knows, perhaps I'd find it a lot funnier if I'd seen it in the original theatrical run or on television as a child. Although I do think that the plot is pretty strong, and of the three monsters, Bela Lugosi's reprisal of Dracula had the most depth.

'Mexican Hayride' (1948) has some fun scenes, such as when Joe (Lou) is getting his entire wardrobe torn off of his body in an attempt to get rid of everything with his real initials and the later scene in the bullring, but overall it's a pretty mediocre vehicle. Its biggest fault is probably that it was originally a book and Broadway show, not a movie script originally written for them, and so didn't really fit even after being reworked to make it an A&C vehicle.

'A&C Meet the Killer, Boris Karloff' (1949) was one of my favorites on here. It's a great murder mystery, complete with some touches of film noir, and leaves the viewer guessing till the very end. Although in spite of the title, there aren't really any elements of horror in here, and Boris Karloff's character is relegated to a secondary character too quickly. There might not be a lot of funny scenes in it, but the great plot makes up for it.

'A&C in the Foreign Legion' (1950) isn't their most memorable, nor is the premise that novel (just how many comedies have had a similar setting?), though there are a lot of good scenes, such as the opening scene in the boxing ring, the auction for the harem girls, and when Bud and Lou are wandering through the desert and having mirages. It might not be as sophisticated as some of their other films, but I enjoyed it quite a bit.

'A&C Meet the Invisible Man' (1951), one of their better entries in the 'Meet' series, is possibly my favorite film on this set. There's a great plot, and the special effects are rather impressive for the era before computer-generated special effects. Though a lot of the gags center around the fact that Tommy (the boxer who is trying to clear his name of a false murder charge) is invisible, I didn't feel that these jokes got predictable or formulaic, since there were so many different jokes to be mined from this premise instead of the same ones over and over again. And how could any movie not be funny when there's an invisible character?

'Comin' 'Round the Mountain' (1951) is pretty weak, not least because, like many of their earliest films, it's cluttered up by superfluous musical numbers (which seem to drag on forever). The movie even starts with one of them, which isn't a good sign. Among the few genuine highlights are Lou's scene with the witch and the effects her love potion has on everyone who drinks it. The spoof of the Hatfield and McCoy feud could have been funnier, but the hillbilly characters just weren't utilised well enough, particularly the pistol-wielding granny, who should have been given more to do. Bud's character also doesn't get a whole lot to do. It's enjoyable enough, just nothing really memorable.

'Lost in Alaska' (1952) is near the bottom of the barrel. I was massively unimpressed by it. What few humorous moments it contains are all in the first half, and even then they're not that hysterically funny. They were really wasted in this one, and it's not even redeemed by a good ending scene. Bud's character also seems like more of a jerk than usual here.

'A&C Go to Mars' (1953) is generally regarded as one of their worst also, but I found it a bit better than its reputation. The Mardi Gras scenes are pretty funny, as are the two guys playing the escaped convicts who end up joining them on the rocket, and the opening scene of Lou with the children at the orphanage is really heartwarming, particularly knowing how much he cared for disadvantaged children in real life. Most of the rest, however, falls pretty flat. The sci-fi bits are badly dated and such obvious products of the Fifties, the scenes on Venus are pretty ridiculous (although the Queen's truth-detectors are kind of funny), and the last third or so of the movie seems really rushed. Those Venusian women must have been really desperate for men if they were attracted to these four guys! (Even Bud, whom I think looked rather handsome in their earliest films, was looking pretty old and tired by this point.) Overall, it's the type of thing that only a young child or someone who first saw this as a child decades ago is apt to find that funny.

All in all, while there are some genuinely good movies on here, and while the other ones all have their moments, this is something likely to be enjoyed more by completists and hardcore fans than new or casual fans. It's a shame A&C weren't given high-quality scripts worthy of their talents more often and had to go through the motions in turkeys like 'Lost in Alaska' and 'Comin' 'Round the Mountain' so often in the later part of their career.

Abbott and Costello on Parade.......2007-05-07

I remember the great antics of Abbott and Costello from the earliest days of my childhood. That's why I purchased the DVDs covering their film career.
I was not at all disappointed with the quality of the transfer from film to DVD; watching the DVDs was very much like watching the films in a theatre. And of course, Abbott and Costello are as entertaining for me now as much as they were back "in the good ol' days."
I would not, however, recommend these great DVDs for young people; this duo was at its best back in the forties and fifties, but they would be considered corny in this day and age. So, if your fifty--or more--by all means, shell out the cash and enjoy the laughable, crazy, and slapstick antics of one of the most famous comic pairs ever in the business. If you happen to be young, unless you have an unusual interest in the the film industry, skip these DVDs for something a little more modern and sophisticated.

The Best of Abbott & Costello, Vol. 1 (Buck Privates / Hold That Ghost / In the Navy / Keep 'Em Flying / One Night in the Tropics / Pardon My Sarong / Ride 'Em Cowboy / Who Done It?)

Average customer rating:

Laughing all the way....
Classic comedies
Great collection
Enjoyable films, great price, questionable disc quality
The Best of Abbott and Costello, Vol. 2

The Best of Abbott & Costello, Vol. 1 (Buck Privates / Hold That Ghost / In the Navy / Keep 'Em Flying / One Night in the Tropics / Pardon My Sarong / Ride 'Em Cowboy / Who Done It?)
Starring: Bud Abbott , Lou Costello , Dick Powell , Claire Dodd , and Patty Andrews
Director: Arthur Lubin , A. Edward Sutherland , and Erle C. Kenton
Manufacturer: Universal Studios
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Similar Items:

The Best of Abbott & Costello, Vol. 2 (Hit the Ice / In Society / Here Come the Co-Eds / The Naughty Nineties / Little Giant / The Time of Their Lives / Buck Privates Come Home / The Wistful Widow of Wagon Gap)
The Best of Abbott & Costello, Vol. 3 (Abbott & Costello Go to Mars / Abbott & Costello in the Foreign Legion / Abbott & Costello Meet Frankenstein / Abbott & Costello Meet the Invisible Man / Abbott & Costello Meet the Killer / Comin' Round the Mountain / Lost in Alaska / Mexican Hayride)
The Best of Abbott & Costello, Vol. 4 (Abbott & Costello Meet Dr. Jekyl & Mr. Hyde / Abbott & Costello Meet the Keystone Cops / Abbott & Costello Meet the Mummy / Abbott & Costello Meet Jerry Seinfeld / Abbott & Costello Meet the Monsters / The World of Abbott & Costello)
The Adventures of Ma & Pa Kettle - Volume 1
The Marx Brothers Collection (A Night at The Opera/A Day at The Races/A Night in Casablanca/Room Service/At the Circus/Go West/The Big Store)

ASIN: B0000WN0PA
Release Date: 2004-02-10

Description

Get ready for big laughs with Abbott and Costello, undeniably the most popular comedy team of all time! Now, the classic films of Bud Abbott and Lou Costello are available on DVD in this hilarious collection.

The wildly popular comic duo has entertained audiences since 1931, conquering vaudeville, radio and the silver screen in nearly 40 films. Enjoy these side-splitting hits like Buck Privates and Hold That Ghost in this collection of eight full-length features. The Best of Bud Abbott and Lou Costello: Volume 1 will have you laughing out loud again and again!

One Night in the Tropics (1940)
Bud and Lou get mixed up in a "Love Insurance" scheme.

Buck Privates (1941)
The duo accidentally enlists in the U.S. Army to avoid getting arrested!

In the Navy (1941)
Bud and Lou are sailors bound for duty on the high seas in this musical comedy.

Hold that Ghost (1941)
The boys inherit a haunted house formerly owned by a mobster.

Keep `Em Flying (1941)
Bud and Lou enlist in the Army Air Corps and get caught up in a love triangle.

Ride `Em Cowboy (1942)
The duo head to the Lazy S ranch to hide after Lou accidentally proposes to an Indian girl.

Pardon My Sarong (1942)
Bud and Lou travel to the South Seas where Lou is mistaken for a legendary god!

Who Done It? (1942)
The boys are suspected of murder while being targeted by the actual killer.

Customer Reviews:

Laughing all the way...........2007-06-30

I remember some of these movies from when I was a kid (okay, I'm dating myself but I don't care). "Hold That Ghost", which is the reason I bought this collection, has some of the funniest bits EVER captured on film. No "off color" language or jokes -- just lots of laughs. The exchange after Joan Davis runs into Lou Costello and knocks him down STILL makes me laugh out loud. If you like "funny" -- this is your ticket.

Classic comedies.......2007-06-24

It may be hard to believe nowadays, but Abbott and Costello were once one of the biggest box office draws at the movies. In the early 1940s, their movies were among the tops in terms of tickets. Nowadays, they seem to be mostly forgotten except by fans of old movies, which is too bad. Their movies may not be the best comedy ever written, but they are all pretty fun. Volume 1 of The Best of Bud Abbott and Lou Costello features their first eight films.

One Night in the Tropics is their screen debut. They are actually just secondary characters who contribute little to the plot (involving some romantic mix-ups) but are brought in to lighten things up, with among other things, their "Who's on First" routine. Next up is their first starring feature and the first of their three military comedies, Buck Privates. In this one, they accidentally enlist in the army while trying to avoid a cop who later turns out to be their drill sergeant.

The next of their "service comedies" was In The Navy, in which they assist a famous singer who is trying to become a regular Joe by becoming a sailor. The final service comedy is Keep `Em Flying, which puts them in the early Air Force.

The pair inherit a supposed haunted house on Hold That Ghost. It actually used to belong to a mobster, and some of his loot is still in the place, attracting other hoodlums. In Ride `Em Cowboy, they wind up on a dude ranch. Pardon My Sarong is something of a takeoff on the Hope/Crosby Road pictures, with the two winding up on a tropical island. Finally, in Who Done It?, they are entangled in a murder mystery at a radio station.

There is a very structured approach to these movies: Universal Pictures obviously wanted these churned out quickly (some were out within a couple months of the start of shooting!) and they used plenty of contract players: for example, three movies have Shemp Howard in small parts and Dick Foran in bigger parts. All the movies are pretty short (they range from 78 to 87 minutes). They all have a romantic subplot involving other characters and (with the exception of Who Done It?), they all have several musical numbers, some featuring big names like the Andrews Sisters and Ella Fitzgerald.

At the core, however, are Abbott and Costello, more particularly Lou Costello who forms the comic heart of these stories. They are the same characters in every story: Bud is the fast-talking con man and Lou is the not-so-bright coward with an almost child-like approach to the world. There is plenty of physical comedy, but they are at their best when the two are just talking.

It'd be a bit much to call these films classics, but they are entertaining and they would probably amuse kids as well as adults. I suppose it's also technically inappropriate to call this The Best of Abbott and Costello when it actually is just their first eight movies, but at the same time it is true: this collection does show them in top form.

Great collection.......2007-06-15

Except for "One Night in the Tropics", these are some of Abbott and Costello's most entertaining films. One of my very favorite A@C films, "Ride 'em Cowboy" is marred by the dreadful dream sequence. What makes it more frustrating is to read from sources that other comedy scenes (which sound funnier) were filmed but rejected including extended bits of business with the poker sequence. The rest of "Ride 'em Cowboy" however more than makes up for the dream skit. This dvd set is a great buy for the cost.

Enjoyable films, great price, questionable disc quality.......2007-05-04

While I don't think I'll ever grow to be a *huge* A&C fan, as I've been seeing more and more of their films, I've grown to genuinely like them and to really enjoy watching them, even if I personally don't find them as consistently hilarious and personally endearing as some of the other great comedians of the era. But for this price, and for this many films in one collection, how could anyone go wrong?

'One Night in the Tropics' (1940) is actually a star vehicle for Allan Jones (best-known for his roles in the Marx Brothers' first two MGM films), Nancy Kelly, Robert Cummings, Peggy Moran, and a few other secondary characters. It's an enjoyable movie, but nothing really classic or memorable. A&C are actually the most interesting characters and steal the show, even though their comedy routines are detached from the plot and they're just trotted out as periodic comic relief. They're also not really playing very sympathetic characters in this one. It seems like one of those films that's watched more for the historical interest than for genuine entertainment value.

'Buck Privates' (1941), their first starring vehicle, is considered a classic, though here too they often seem to be relegated to supporting comedians and pushed to the back burner in favor of the romantic subplot. The same holds true in their other two service comedies, 'In the Navy' and 'Keep 'Em Flying' (also from 1941). While all three of their service comedies are genuinely enjoyable and funny, they would have been even stronger and funnier if all of the superfluous musical numbers and the romantic subplots with boring characters we don't really care about had been cut out. They were funny and talented enough to carry a film on their own without being forced to play second-fiddle to secondary characters! The weakest of these three is 'Keep 'Em Flying'; overall it just seems disjointed and inconsistent, and like they'd run out of top-notch material to mine after already doing their first two service comedies. (These service comedies also feel, in hindsight, like subtle propaganda just in case the U.S. really did enter WWII, what with the "Isn't the Army/Navy/Air Force great and fun?" theme.)

'Hold That Ghost' (1941) is also somewhat bogged down by musical numbers and a romantic subplot, but at least here those elements don't take up as much time as in a lot of their other early films. The plotline about spending a night in a haunted house and all of the hair-raising things that happen seems a bit cliché today, and the script seems a little weak, but overall there are enough funny moments and interesting twists and turns in the plot to make it worthwhile.

'Who Done It?" (1942), which mixes comedy and a murder mystery, has a very strong script and a supporting cast. What makes this film so funny and tight is that it focuses almost entirely on A&C instead of being cluttered up by some boring romantic subplot and superfluous song and dance numbers. 'Pardon My Sarong' (1942), made in imitation of the popular Hope and Crosby 'Road' pictures of the time, finds them on a tropical island. Although it does feature musical numbers and a romantic subplot, at least the comedy routines are seamlessly worked into the picture instead of seeming more detached from the plotline, and the subplot seems more interesting than usual. 'Ride 'Em Cowboy' (1942) is enjoyable entertainment and has a good script, though unfortunately has the same formulaic feel that a lot of these other films do--musical numbers and a dull romantic subplot that really slow down the story and relegate A&C to supporting characters. Normally I find Westerns boring and dated at best and offensive at worst, but since this is a comedy Western, I liked it. Even the stereotypical depictions of the Native Americans weren't as bad and offensive as they often are in these kinds of films.

Overall, while A&C aren't my top favorite comedians, I do enjoy watching them, and these early films are no exception. And while the songs and romantic subplots slow the pictures down, the boys are great when they're front and center instead of being relegated to supporting players. However, while this may seem like a great price for 8 films, it's not entirely a great deal. Since these are double-sided discs, they're more prone to scratching and malfunctioning. While the first disc played fine for me, I had to go through a number of different copies before finally getting a second disc that didn't freeze up or skip at any point. Would it have taken that much effort for Universal to ensure more quality control on this classic catalogue? And while the extras (trailers and production notes) are much appreciated, these films and this comedy team are famous and respected enough to have merited something more, like audio commentaries or photo galleries. Still, at least they're represented on DVD now, inferior technical quality or not.

The Best of Abbott and Costello, Vol. 2.......2007-04-02

Abbott and Costello's humor is outstanding and timeless. This collection of some of their movies will have you laughing uproariously, and you will watch these movies over and over again, and keep on laughing even after you've watched them so many times that you know what is going to happen next.

The Best of Abbott & Costello, Vol. 2 (Hit the Ice / In Society / Here Come the Co-Eds / The Naughty Nineties / Little Giant / The Time of Their Lives / Buck Privates Come Home / The Wistful Widow of Wagon Gap)

Average customer rating:

The Naughty Nineties
FUNNEY SHOWS
abbott and costello
The Best of Abbott and Costello, Vol. 2
Nostalgic Fun

The Best of Abbott & Costello, Vol. 2 (Hit the Ice / In Society / Here Come the Co-Eds / The Naughty Nineties / Little Giant / The Time of Their Lives / Buck Privates Come Home / The Wistful Widow of Wagon Gap)
Starring: Bud Abbott , Lou Costello , Marjorie Main , Audrey Young , and George Cleveland
Director: Charles Barton , Daniel Helfgott , and Erle C. Kenton
Manufacturer: Universal Studios
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Classics | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Television | Genres | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $14.99 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

( B ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

The Best of Abbott & Costello, Vol. 1 (Buck Privates / Hold That Ghost / In the Navy / Keep 'Em Flying / One Night in the Tropics / Pardon My Sarong / Ride 'Em Cowboy / Who Done It?)
The Best of Abbott & Costello, Vol. 3 (Abbott & Costello Go to Mars / Abbott & Costello in the Foreign Legion / Abbott & Costello Meet Frankenstein / Abbott & Costello Meet the Invisible Man / Abbott & Costello Meet the Killer / Comin' Round the Mountain / Lost in Alaska / Mexican Hayride)
The Best of Abbott & Costello, Vol. 4 (Abbott & Costello Meet Dr. Jekyl & Mr. Hyde / Abbott & Costello Meet the Keystone Cops / Abbott & Costello Meet the Mummy / Abbott & Costello Meet Jerry Seinfeld / Abbott & Costello Meet the Monsters / The World of Abbott & Costello)
The Adventures of Ma & Pa Kettle - Volume 1
The Marx Brothers Collection (A Night at The Opera/A Day at The Races/A Night in Casablanca/Room Service/At the Circus/Go West/The Big Store)

ASIN: B0001FGBZM
Release Date: 2004-05-04

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.

Customer Reviews:

The Naughty Nineties .......2007-07-04

The greatist part of this movie is the whos on First. Don't get me wrong, the whole movie was great but as a avid baseball fan I loved the whos on first seen. I think it's the greatist comedy duet done in history. Plus I grew up watching Abbott & Costello movies on Saturday and Sunday afternoons. I will always love there movies but this one the best.

FUNNEY SHOWS.......2007-06-06

WORTH THE MONEY
I LOVE THIS DVD, BRINGS BACK LAUGHTER AND MEMORYS AND YOU NEVER GET BORED WITH IT,

abbott and costello.......2007-04-11

I received the items in a timely fashion, actually quicker than I expected. The dvd's played fine. I really enjoy ordering from Amazon. I belong to columbia house, and I couldn't tell you the last time I ordered from them since ordering from Amazon. Also the great part was I didn't have to pay for shipping. Very well pleased.

The Best of Abbott and Costello, Vol. 2.......2007-04-02

Abbott and Costello's humor is outstanding and timeless. This collection of some of their movies will keep you laughing uproariously, and you will find yourself watching these movies over and over again and still keep laughing, even after you've watched them so much you know what's going to happen next.

Nostalgic Fun.......2007-03-31

I couldn't resist purchasing an Abbott and Costello DVD. Having grown up with this super-famous wacky duo, I couldn't wait to watch all their movies, the same movies that had made me giggle and guffaw as a mere youngster. I was not disappointed. It was a trip down memory lane that returned me to more innocent times, ice-cream sodas, nickle phone calls, The Andrew Sisters, and comic routines that kept a smile on my face for days. On the technical side, the restoration of these films is flawless. One might think that they were put in the can just yesterday. This DVD offers entertainment that is pure and simple, and a fun-filled glimpse of the past. Young people may find the DVD too silly, but you really had to be there to get the humor.

The Best of Abbott & Costello, Vol. 4 (Abbott & Costello Meet Dr. Jekyl & Mr. Hyde / Abbott & Costello Meet the Keystone Cops / Abbott & Costello Meet the Mummy / Abbott & Costello Meet Jerry Seinfeld / Abbott & Costello Meet the Monsters / The World of Abbott & Costello)

Average customer rating:

GREAT COMEDY TEAM
Hit and miss quality
A&C with fillers...
abbott & costello fan club
The Best of Abbott and Costello

The Best of Abbott & Costello, Vol. 4 (Abbott & Costello Meet Dr. Jekyl & Mr. Hyde / Abbott & Costello Meet the Keystone Cops / Abbott & Costello Meet the Mummy / Abbott & Costello Meet Jerry Seinfeld / Abbott & Costello Meet the Monsters / The World of Abbott & Costello)
Starring: Bud Abbott , Jimmy Aubrey , James Audrey , Wilson Benge , and Judith Brian
Manufacturer: Universal Studios Home Entertainment
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

Classic Comedies | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

Comedy | Boxed Sets | Stores | DVD | Video

( B ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

The Best of Abbott & Costello, Vol. 3 (Abbott & Costello Go to Mars / Abbott & Costello in the Foreign Legion / Abbott & Costello Meet Frankenstein / Abbott & Costello Meet the Invisible Man / Abbott & Costello Meet the Killer / Comin' Round the Mountain / Lost in Alaska / Mexican Hayride)
The Best of Abbott & Costello, Vol. 2 (Hit the Ice / In Society / Here Come the Co-Eds / The Naughty Nineties / Little Giant / The Time of Their Lives / Buck Privates Come Home / The Wistful Widow of Wagon Gap)
The Best of Abbott & Costello, Vol. 1 (Buck Privates / Hold That Ghost / In the Navy / Keep 'Em Flying / One Night in the Tropics / Pardon My Sarong / Ride 'Em Cowboy / Who Done It?)
The Abbott & Costello Show: 100th Anniversary Collection Season 1
Abbott & Costello Show - 100th Anniversary Collection Season 2

ASIN: B000A1INIA
Release Date: 2005-10-04

Description

America's most beloved comedy team pair up with a cast of monsters and The Keystone Kops in this collector's set filled with 6 classics. The last installment in this hilarious franchise includes revealing documentaries and interviews that give an in-depth look at the genius behind Abbott and Costello and their continued popularity. Also featured is the making of the original classic Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein, which spawned an industry of comedy/horror films. Partnered with great legends like Boris Karloff, these masterpieces truly stand the test of time.

Customer Reviews:

GREAT COMEDY TEAM.......2007-06-06

WORTH THE MONEY
WHO DINT LOVE THIS SHOW , THIS SHOW WAS GREAT
I LOVE THIS DVD, BRINGS BACK LAUGHTER AND MEMORYS AND YOU NEVER GET BORED WITH IT,

Hit and miss quality.......2007-05-17

This final installment in this series seems more geared towards completists and serious fans instead of new or casual fans. Of the six films included, only half of them are actually A&C movies, all of them from the very end of their movie career (though at least they're of noticeably better quality than a lot of the turkeys on Volume 3). The other three films are documentaries, none of which are particularly ground-breaking; 'The World of A&C' in particular is awful. And though this was originally released as two flipper discs, the set I got had three one-sided discs, a big step up from the earlier problem-plagued double-sided DVDs all of these volumes were put out on. However, the menu on the first two discs hasn't been changed to reflect that, and still gives the impression that it's double-sided, what with asking the viewer to flip the disc over if s/he wants to watch the other film(s).

'A&C Meet Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde' (1953) is pretty good, probably the strongest of the three films on here, though it is slowed down a bit by a boring romantic subplot and an even more superfluous subplot about the suffragist movement in late 19th century England. Boris Karloff's Jekyll and Hyde character is also a bit one-dimensional, lacking the depth and emotional compellingness of other film portrayals of this famous dual character. Still, there are a lot of great moments and scenes in here, such as the scene in the wax museum, the search for the monster in the dressing rooms, and the chaos that ensues in both London and the police station when Lou's character (with the rather cringe-worthy name Tubby) turns into the monster at the same time that the real monster is on the loose.

'A&C Meet the Keystone Kops' (1955) is probably the weakest film on here, though I wouldn't go so far as to say it's one of their all-time worst. It feels more like a series of skits than a coherent whole, with each skit woven smoothly into the overall plot. Still, while not as inspired as their earlier classics, there is a lot of fun stuff here, such as the scene in the aeroplane, the scenes on the train, the early scenes where Bud is mistaken for Lou's abusive father, and the chase at the end. This film is also noteworthy because Bud's character was finally funny instead of being purely the straightman. He does a lot more physical comedy here than he ever did before; at least this development was better late than never.

'A&C Meet the Mummy' (1955) is actually pretty good for being their penultimate film, and their final film at Universal. I think it's rather better than its pretty dismal reputation, even though the boys are looking old and tired by this late point. There are a number of great scenes here, such as the hamburger-switching, the "take your pick" routine, and the three mummies running around in the Tomb of Klaris (though the real mummy doesn't look all that convincingly scary, just like someone wrapped in a bunch of bandages). Interestingly, Bud's character is billed as Peter Patterson and Lou's character is billed as Freddie Franklin in the credits, yet they call one another by their real names all throughout the film.

'A&C Meet the Monsters' is a brief mini-documentary a bit over a half-hour long, narrated by David Skal, and focusing on all of the horror spoofs they did in the late Forties and early Fifties. It's interesting enough, but could have been longer and covered more ground. 'A&C Meet Jerry Seinfeld' is the most interesting of the documentaries; it provides clips from their films, their tv show, and various appearances they made on other tv shows, home movies (a number of them in color), and a fair amount of historical background. Seinfeld's love of and enthusiasm for the team is palpable, but never crosses the line into fawning. It's always nice when a documentary is narrated by someone who actually has enthusiasm for the subject(s) instead of by someone who doesn't have much of an opinion one way or the other. Still, there isn't a lot of information here that most fans don't already know. 'The World of A&C' is a terrible clipshow from 1965, with obnoxious unfunny narration by Jack E. Leonard. The clips (from 19 of their films) are shown without rhyme or reason, with no context provided, and aren't even identified until the end credits. They're also not even shown in chronological order, which doesn't allow the viewer to get a sense of how their craft, screen relationship, and characters grew and evolved over time. Besides that, most of the clips are from their later films such as 'Mexican Hayride,' 'Lost in Alaska,' and 'A&C Go to Mars,' which aren't exactly regarded as the cream of the crop. It's inexplicable why their earlier, more representative, films were ignored or given such short schrift. And with no background information provided, just a nonstop stream of clips, the viewer will have no sense of why they were so popular and great.

Overall, while none of these films are really classics, I do think they're better than their reputations. While this isn't a set that's ideal for the new or casual fan, it does have a lot of great moments for the more established fan. It's just too bad it's padded out with three documentaries instead of the rest of their later films that haven't already been released.

A&C with fillers..........2007-05-15

This is a mix of some funny stuff with a few other materials thrown in but not necessarily for good measure. However, that is what the search button on the remote is for. All in all, A&C is classic slapstick...with my favorites being the Jekyl & Hyde and the Mummy sequences. It is something that will give some good laughs to all generations. I wouldn't say this volume is exceptional, but a few selections will give a nice smack on the funny bone.

abbott & costello fan club.......2007-05-13

I am a big fan of them from many years ago, and since we have the dvds (all of them) my kids really enjoy all their movies too, and think they are hilarious. My kids are 11, 9, and 5 and other then the fact that they dont know why its in black and white, they laugh like crazy, and because they are harmless, our whole family can watch them together, which is a rare thing these days.

The Best of Abbott and Costello .......2007-03-13

The DVD plays great and it,s not to bad of a comedy series so all and all like I said it,s okay but I,ve seen better comedy series.

Best Picture Collection - Musicals (An American in Paris/Gigi/My Fair Lady)

Average customer rating:

Always get the original version
Expected better

Best Picture Collection - Musicals (An American in Paris/Gigi/My Fair Lady)
Starring: Leslie Caron , Maurice Chevalier , Louis Jourdan , Hermione Gingold , and Eva Gabor
Director: Charles Walters , and Vincente Minnelli
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

Classics | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Musicals & Performing Arts | Genres | DVD | Video

Drama | Boxed Sets | Stores | DVD | Video

Musicals & Performing Arts | Boxed Sets | Stores | DVD | Video

Classics | Boxed Sets | Stores | DVD | Video

( B ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

The Rodgers & Hammerstein Collection (The Sound of Music / The King and I / Oklahoma! / South Pacific / State Fair / Carousel)
The Audrey Hepburn DVD Collection (Roman Holiday / Sabrina / Breakfast at Tiffany's)
The Humphrey Bogart Collection (The Big Sleep/The Maltese Falcon/Casablanca/Key Largo)
Singin' in the Rain (Two-Disc Special Edition)
American Movie Musicals Collection: West Side Story/Fiddler on the Roof/Guys and Dolls

ASIN: B000087EYD
Release Date: 2003-03-04

Amazon.com

An American in Paris
A GI (Gene Kelly) stays in Paris after the war to become an artist and has to choose between the patronage of a rich American woman (Nina Foch) and a French gamine (Leslie Caron) engaged to an older man. The plot is mostly an excuse for director Vincente Minnelli to pool his own extraordinary talent with those of choreographer-dancer-actor Kelly and the artists behind the screenplay, art direction, cinematography, and score, creating a rapturous musical not quite like anything else in cinema. The final section of the film comprises a 17-minute dance sequence that took a month to film and is breathtaking. Songs include "'S Wonderful," "I Got Rhythm," and "Love Is Here to Stay."

Gigi
Vincente Minnelli's 1958 adaptation of Colette's story about a girl (Leslie Caron) groomed as a courtesan--but desired as a wife by a Parisian playboy (Louis Jordan)--won a lot of Oscars ^®, but it also has the unusual distinction of being an MGM musical shot on location in the City of Lights. What a musical it is (by Lerner and Loewe): Maurice Chevalier and Hermione Gingold crooning "Ah, Yes, I Remember It Well," plus the songs "Thank Heaven for Little Girls," "Gigi," "I'm a Bore," and "She's Not Thinking of Me." Director Minnelli makes a sumptuous, dreamy, almost laid-back affair of it all, and the indispensable cast is forever etched into memory. Hollywood's long-running infatuation with Continental grace and manners, the memory of a much earlier time imported to American movies through such immigrant directors as Ernst Lubitsch, may have finally come to a gentle end with this film.

My Fair Lady
Hollywood's legendary "woman's director," George Cukor, transformed Audrey Hepburn into street-urchin-turned-proper-lady Eliza Doolittle in this film version of the Lerner and Loewe musical. Based on George Bernard Shaw's play Pygmalion, My Fair Lady stars Rex Harrison as linguist Henry Higgins (Harrison also played the role, opposite Julie Andrews, on stage), who draws Eliza into a social experiment that works almost too well. The letterbox edition of this film on video certainly pays tribute to the pageantry of Cukor's set, but it also underscores a certain visual stiffness that can slow viewer enthusiasm just a tad. But it's really star wattage that keeps this film exciting, that and such great songs as "On the Street Where You Live" and "I Could Have Danced All Night." Actor Jeremy Brett, who gained a huge following later in life portraying Sherlock Holmes, is quite electric as Eliza's determined suitor. --Tom Keogh

Customer Reviews:

Always get the original version.......2007-05-30

Once again MGM has packaged three great films but in their pan and scan versions. It will be better to get them seperately in the letterbox versions.

Expected better.......2007-01-09

It would have been much better with wide screen presentation, Gigi also lacks quality in soung and the magnificent viewes of Paris are lost. Of the whole collection, An american in Paris comes as the best picture in this format. Not worth the money

The Best of the Abbott & Costello Comedy Hour, Volumes 1 & 2

Average customer rating:

Loads of laughs

The Best of the Abbott & Costello Comedy Hour, Volumes 1 & 2
Starring: Abbott & Costello Comedy Hour
Manufacturer: Good Times Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Television | Genres | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $9.99 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

( B ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

The Best of Abbott & Costello, Vol. 4 (Abbott & Costello Meet Dr. Jekyl & Mr. Hyde / Abbott & Costello Meet the Keystone Cops / Abbott & Costello Meet the Mummy / Abbott & Costello Meet Jerry Seinfeld / Abbott & Costello Meet the Monsters / The World of Abbott & Costello)
The Best of Abbott & Costello, Vol. 3 (Abbott & Costello Go to Mars / Abbott & Costello in the Foreign Legion / Abbott & Costello Meet Frankenstein / Abbott & Costello Meet the Invisible Man / Abbott & Costello Meet the Killer / Comin' Round the Mountain / Lost in Alaska / Mexican Hayride)
The Best of Abbott & Costello, Vol. 1 (Buck Privates / Hold That Ghost / In the Navy / Keep 'Em Flying / One Night in the Tropics / Pardon My Sarong / Ride 'Em Cowboy / Who Done It?)
Abbott & Costello Show - 100th Anniversary Collection Season 2
AMC TV - The Abbott & Costello Show, 1951-1954

ASIN: B00064AM94
Release Date: 2004-12-28

Customer Reviews:

Loads of laughs.......2007-02-01

I bought this for a freinds daughter, who is a comedien all by herself. She loves the shows and watches the DVD over and over. A great alternative to the junk on TV today.
I'm still laughing.

Best Picture Oscar Collection - Musicals (My Fair Lady Special Edition / An American in Paris / The Broadway Melody of 1929 / Gigi / The Great Ziegfeld)

Average customer rating:

Excellent!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Best Picture Oscar Collection - Musicals (My Fair Lady Special Edition / An American in Paris / The Broadway Melody of 1929 / Gigi / The Great Ziegfeld)
Starring: Leslie Caron , Maurice Chevalier , Louis Jourdan , Hermione Gingold , and Eva Gabor
Director: Charles Walters , Vincente Minnelli , and Robert Z. Leonard
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Musicals & Performing Arts | Genres | DVD | Video

( B ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

Special Editions | Fully Loaded DVDs | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

Best Picture Oscar Collection - Drama (Amadeus/Casablanca Special Edition/Driving Miss Daisy/The Life of Emile Zola/Mrs. Miniver)
The Classic Musicals Collection - Broadway to Hollywood (Easter Parade Two Disc Special Edition / The Band Wagon Two Disc Special Edition / Bells Are Ringing / Finian's Rainbow / Brigadoon)
Classic Musicals Collection - The Cole Porter Gift Set (High Society / Kiss Me Kate / Les Girls / Broadway Melody of 1940 / Silk Stockings)
Studio Classics - Best Picture Collection (Sunrise / How Green Was My Valley / Gentleman's Agreement / All About Eve)
Classic Musicals from the Dream Factory, Vol. 1 (Ziegfeld Follies / Till the Clouds Roll By / Three Little Words / Summer Stock / It's Always Fair Weather)

ASIN: B0006V6TO4
Release Date: 2005-02-08

Customer Reviews:

Excellent!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.......2006-03-20

Give me any of the musicals anytime. These performances are like a thing in the past. Some of these production companies should take a look at the old to bring back the Glitz!!!!!!!!!!!

The Best of Classic Comedy Teams, Vol. 1 & 2

Average customer rating:

The Best of Classic Comedy Teams, Vol. 1 & 2
Starring: Steve Allen , Stan Laurel , Oliver Hardy , Groucho Marx , and Harpo Marx
Director: David Bergman
Manufacturer: Good Times Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Television | Genres | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $9.99 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

( B ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

Mixed Nuts: America's Love Affair with Comedy Teams from Burns and Allen to Belushi and Aykroyd
Vaudeville
The Best of the Burns and Allen Show, Vol. 1 and 2
The Best of Victor Borge Act One and Two
The Colgate Comedy Hour - Martin & Lewis

ASIN: B0001OGVV2
Release Date: 2004-06-01

Description

CLASSIC COMEDY TEAMS The Greatest Comedy Teams Deliver Great Laughs Steve Allen hosts this compilation of classic scenes starring the screen's greatest comedy teams, following them from their roots in vaudeville, burlesque, and nightclubs to their verbal and visual gems on film and TV. Meet early pioneers like Amos & Andy, Wheeler & Woolsey, and Clark & McCullough, and come to the Hal Roach Studios, where Our Gang and Laurel & Hardy successfully made the transition to talking pictures. See Stan and Ollie's first pairing, the Three Stooges with straightman Ted Healy, the uncut version of Abbott & Costello's "Who's on First?," and rare footage of the Marx Brothers, Hope & Crosby, and Burns & Allen. From the silent antics of the Keystone Kops to the early live TV appearances of Martin & Lewis, this one-of-a-kind documentary offers teamwork of the funniest kind, with entertainment for families and collectors alike. Produced by SANDY OLIVERI & PAUL HARRIS Directed by DAVID BERGMAN A MOVIETIME INC./BERGMAN-HARRIS PRODUCTION Approximately 110 minutes Color and Black & White UTOPIA See Laurel and Hardy in Their Final Film In their final film, Laurel and Hardy inherit a yacht docked in Marseille and an island in the South Seas, but when they try to sail one to the other, they are shipwrecked on a nameless atoll that rises out of the Pacific. Accompanied by chef Antoine (Max Elloy), a "stateless man," and Giovanni Copini (Adriano Rimoldi), a stowaway, Stan and Ollie establish a tropical paradise using Daniel Defoe's Robinson Crusoe as their guide. Soon, Eden gets its Eve in the form of Chérie Lamour (Suzy Delair), a vivacious French singer fleeing a failed romance, who brings an unwelcome note of temptation and competition into their little island fraternity. Also known as Atoll K, Escapade, and Robinson Crusoeland, the film was shot in France in 1950, but its release was delayed for several years due to the controversy surrounding blacklisted codirector John Berry. EXPLOITATION PRODUCTIONS INCORPORATED Presents STAN LAUREL * OLIVER HARDY "UTOPIA" Also in the Cast SUZY DELAIR * M. ELLOY * M. DALMATOFF * A. RIMOLDI Screenplay J. KLORER * F. KOHNER * R. WHEELER * P. TELLINI Directed and Based on an Idea by LEO JOANNON Dialogue JOHN KLORER * MONTY COLLINS * I. KLOUCOWSKY Gags by MONTY COLLINS Music by PAUL MISRAKI Approximately 83 minutes Black and White

Average customer rating:

I'll tell you what
SECOND BEST, BUT STILL A WINNER
A Really good movie
Best Ever!
Yet another DVD I got for Christmas!

101 Dalmatians (Limited Issue)
Starring: Rod Taylor , Betty Lou Gerson , Cate Bauer , Lisa Daniels , and Ben Wright
Director: Clyde Geronimi , Hamilton Luske , and Wolfgang Reitherman
Manufacturer: Walt Disney Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Animation | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

3-6 Years | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

7-9 Years | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

Adapted from Books | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

Family Films | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

Feature Films | Animation | Genres | DVD | Video

All Disney Titles | Disney Home Entertainment | Stores | DVD | Video

Animated Movies | Disney Home Entertainment | Stores | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $14.99 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

The Jungle Book (Limited Issue)
Pinocchio (Disney Gold Classic Collection)
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (Disney Special Platinum Edition)
Beauty and the Beast (Disney Special Platinum Edition)
Lady and the Tramp (50th Anniversary Edition) (Platinum Edition)

Accessories:

101 Dalmatians Animated Storybook Print Studio Bundle

ASIN: B00001QEE3
Release Date: 1999-11-09

Amazon.com

Back in 1961, Walt Disney got a little hip with 101 Dalmatians, making use of that flat Saturday morning cartoon style that had become so popular. The result is a kitschy change in animation and story. Pongo and Perdita are two lonely dalmatians who meet cute in a London park and arrange for their pet humans to marry so they can live together and raise a family. They become proud parents of 15 pups, who are stolen by the dastardly Cruella De Vil, who wants to make a fur coat out of them. Cruella has become the most popular villain in all of Disney; she's flamboyantly nasty and lots of fun. But it's the dalmatians who shine in this endearing classic, particularly those precocious pups. Telling the story from the dogs' point of view is a clever conceit, a fundamental flaw of the live-action remake. --Bill Desowitz

Customer Reviews:

I'll tell you what.......2007-02-17

I have been wanting this cartoon forever in a day. once I recieved it. I played it. back to back as a matter of fact i think i'll go stick it in right now. Hold on a minute.........................There it goes now I'm happy again.

SECOND BEST, BUT STILL A WINNER.......2006-06-19

second best of winning, this movie is far one of the best animations from disney studios...

it has its charm... sad moments... cool things that happen...

in my side im cool having all this old dvds that you can watch them as many times as you want...

that's all!!!

this is on my top favorites!!! :P

A Really good movie.......2006-05-16

I loved the animated version of 101 Dalmatinas. I would love to get a copy of the script. The live action 101 Dalmatinas movie was OK. But 102 Dalmatinas stinks ! I need a script so I can remake it in live action.

Best Ever!.......2006-03-15

Everyone nags on this film for stupid little pointless things like smoking, however, this is probably one of the greatest Disney films of all time!

Yet another DVD I got for Christmas!.......2006-01-04

Where my gifter managed to get an original and brand new copy of this one I have no idea, the bottomline is that it is now part of my collection and I am here to say what I think of it. It could have been improved. It's major flaw other than the relatively crude animation is the characters, rather unlikeable heroes and hilarious villains that you strongly wish would win in the end since they are more likeable than those known as heroes. The story doesn't change much from scene to scene, 15 dalmatian puppies have been kidnapped and must find their way home by going from place to place avoiding Cruella DeVil and her henchmen.

Recommended? Not really, it has it's moments of warmth, but otherwise, it isn't one of Disney's greatest films.

DVD:

DVD

DVD

DVD

Inspector Morse: Dead on Time - Collection Set

Home Alone/Home Alone 2: Lost in New York

Ninja Scroll

DVD: Tokyo Decadence

Poldark - Series 2 - Part 1