Movies

This Abbott and Costello thing is already turning out to be much harder work than the Norman Wisdom and Morecambe & Wise projects. In Hold That Ghost they come into possession of an Old Dark House with a gangster's fortune hidden in it. The Andrews Sisters and Ted Lewis appear at the beginning and end of the film, with no connection to the story. Lewis's archaic music-hall schtick is hard to get. Joan Davis as Lou's girl-foil really peps things up. I had seen Buck Privates enough times so I skipped it, but endured the rest of the trilogy, In the Navy and Keep 'em Flying. These films are factory-made variety revues, a boy meets girl formula with songs. A&C are reduced to comedy relief in their own films, which are intense militaristic propaganda. Large production numbers portray military life as joyful and heroic. High budget, but not very good as movies. Navy was more enjoyable thanks to a couple of good money-counting bits, and the bizarre Hawaiian Style number by the Andrewses - bongo belts, fringe blouses and Hawaiian Chant, boogie woogie style. Flying was not, to my mind, improved by Martha Raye as twins.

Patty Andrews hamming it up in a Bongo Belt