Abbott & Costello: Naughty Nineties (1945)

Classic routines

Perhaps not their best movie but a favorite of A&C fans because it contains some of their classic routines, including the "Who's on First" bit. There is also a great schtick where Lou is looking through a porthole, his face covered in shaving cream, and Joe Sawyer looks out, also lathered up, and thinks he's seeing his own image in a mirror. The weird thing is they don't look anything alike. The picture has something to do with the boys working on a riverboat and getting involved with gamblers, but the plot is its least important concern. The ending is classic A&C slapstick shenanigans. Fun to watch. July 10, 2006

ONE OF THE TEAM'S BEST FILMS

THE NAUGHTY NINETIES
Universal Pictures
Release Date(s):
June 20, 1945 (New York City, New York)
July 6, 1945
Runtime: 76 minutes

Director:
Jean Yarbrough

Producer:
John Grant
Edumund L. Hartmann

Writing Credits:
John Grant
Edmund L. Hartmann

Cast:
Bud Abbott.......Dexter Broadhurst
Lou Costello.....Sebastian Dinwiddle
Alan Curtis......Crawford
Rita Johnson.....Bonita Farrell
Henry Travers....Captain Sam Jackson
Lois Collier.....Caroline Jackson
Joe Sawyer.......Bailey
Joe Kirk.........Croupin
Milt Bronson.....Gambler
Edward Gargan....Saloon Bartender
John Hamilton....Sheriff
Sam McDaniel.....Matt
Jack Norton......Drunk
Barbara Pepper...Girl at Golden Cage
Emmett Vogan.....Citizen
Lillian Yarbo....Effie

Cinematography by:
George Robinson

Film Editing by:
Arthur Hilton

Art Direction:
John B. Goodman

Set Decortation:
Russell A. Gausman

Costume Design by:
Vera West

Other Crew:
Edgar Fairchild....musicial director

Plot Summary:

Dexter Broadhurst is a handsome stage actor and Sebastian Dinwiddle is a worker on a Mississippi river boat in the 1890s. Card sharks win the river boat from Captain Sam Jackson in a card game and change it into a floating gambling house. The boys try to help the Captain regain ownership of the boat by beating the card sharks at their own game.

ROUTINES & HILARIOUS MOMENTS:
Who's On First
Fishing Routine
Cat Burger
Roulette Table

Trivia (from imdb.com): (1)Contains the famous "WHO'S ON FIRST" routine. The routine began life as part of Abbott and Costello's burlesque act, then it debuted in their first film "ONE NIGHT IN THE TROPICS" (1940), though none of the previous incarnations were as lengthly as the one in this movie.
(2)The only baseball defensive position NOT mentioned in the "WHO'S ON FIRST" routine: Right Field.(3)The scene of Abbott and Costello doing their classic "WHO'S ON FIRST" routine is run continuously at the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York. It is regarded as the best version of this routine in existence.(4)Listen closely during the "WHO'S ON FIRST" routine. The laughter that can be heard faintly belongs to the film crew and director. After numerous takes trying to eliminate it, the power of Abbott and Costello to elicit laughter during this sequence proved too strong. The director had no choice but leaving the giggling in.(5)Lou Costello recycles the "Lifesavers Candy" routine Groucho Marx used in the Marx Brothers' hit "HORSE FEATHERS"(1932).(6)The boat used as the show boat "River Queen" in this production was also used as the "Cotton Palace" in "SHOW BOAT" (1936).

Goofs (from imdb.com): Anachronisms: The movie is set in the 1890s, but several of the "period" songs played were written in the 1900s. Revealing Mistakes: At one point in the "WHO'S ON FIRST" routine, Costello forgets Abbott's character's name (Dexter Broadhurst): he say, "Stay on third base, Misterrrrr..." and quickly glances off-camera while someone obviously mouthed or wrote the correct name, as Costello hurriedly says "Broadhurst". September 30, 2005

Definitely one of their best!

This film is one of the very best Abbott and Costello made. The level of talent among people who worked with them was often phenomenal. Rita Johnson is flawless while trying to slip Lou a mickey. (There was likely several takes done on this bit though. There's a few times where she looks like she's about to lose it and crack up.) Joe Sawyer was a formidable straight man. The "mirror routine" he and Lou play is a classic. The "dream sequence" he plays with the pair is only slightly less funny. "Feathers in the Cake" is hysterical. The way the potholder gets into the cake is what makes this one work. Lou's nonchalance makes it a believable accident. The three way play between Sam McDaniel, Lou and Bud when Lou gets the "cat patties" is a masterstroke of comic timing. Lois Collier was a wonderful singer. She didn't get many opportunities to show it but this film is an exception. People who can listen to her sing "On a Sunday Afternoon" (by Harry von Tilzer) and not smile may not have a heart.

For all the talent around them the best moments are played out when Bud and Lou are together. The Naughty Nineties contains full versions of some of their best routines, many of which were probably also done on stage. The "money exchange" is worth backing through in frame by frame to see if it's for real. Their sleight of hand is astounding. Going through it again and again and again doesn't betray any edits, probably because there aren't any. Watching Lou misinterpret Bud's stage directions while trying to sing "My Bonnie" is one of the crowing jewels of the film. Bud contentedly eating while Lou gets sicker and sicker at the thought of eating cute little pussycats is hilarious. That Bud could seem oblivious to what Lou was doing and make it believable showcases the qualities that defined him as probably the greatest "straight man" ever. When Lou Costello trips over something (or walks into a door) it's always a surprise. No matter how many times you watch the footage you never see it coming. When Bud lets a door close behind him and Lou walks into it there's never a sense that it's been rehearsed. The chase sequence that rounds out the film is the height of slapstick zaniness. It makes use of a few effects but mostly they're kept to a minimum. The result is a classic that's as funny as it ever was. The misunderstanding that brings about "Who's on First" is a bit that may never be matched. This was supposed to be shot with no background noise. It didn't work. They needed cameramen to film the piece and nobody could shut them up. It ended up working for the best. Listening to the cameramen crack up is cause to laugh on its own. Wisely, Director Jean Yarborough and the producers realized they had something that was as good as anything could be and left it intact.

This film stands apart from the rest because it's one of Abbott and Costello's few films that depends less on special effects and more on live action. Most of their feature films contain at least one grand chase sequence that made full use of the technology of the time. For their time, those effects were great. Sixty years later that technology is showing its age. The comedy of Bud and Lou is doing the opposite. Special effects and technology get old. Timing and craftsmanship never does. These two did much of this as naturally on stage as they did it on film. They were masters! This film, perhaps more than any other, provides a record of what that would have been like.

This review pertains to the transfer available on Best of Abbott and Costello: Volume II. The transfer to the DVD is good. The print that was used appears to have been in good shape. Picture quality is clear and crisp and the audio track is fine. The inclusion of this film helps make this set an excellent value. October 16, 2004

I'm asking you, Who's on First?

This was the film that had the Who's on First routine and it is worth it just for that. The rest of the movie is not that bad centering on a riverboat and gambling November 21, 2003

One of the Best

This is indeed one of the best pictures made by Abbott and Costello. The Naughty Nineties has a superb storyline tailor-made for Bud & Lou.If you are thinking about watching this by all means do. This one will keep you in stitches from the beginning to the very end. One of the best scenes in the movie
is where the boys are in the Bad-guy's room when he is sleeping. He sleep-walks and mistakes Lou for an Indian and works him over.
But Lou has revenge before he ever leaves the room! May 3, 2002

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