"The Naughty Nineties" is one of more than a dozen comedy films that Bud Abbott and Lou Costello made during World War II. Neither of the men were eligible for military service. At 45, Abbot was too old, and although he was just 35, Costello had suffered from heart disease in early life. He died of a heart attack three days before his 53rd birthday.
But the two comedians contributed mightily to America's war effort. In one 35-day cross-country tour in 1942, they sold $85 million is war bonds. From 1942 to early 1943, they toured and performed at Army bases in the U.S. Their 1941 movie, "Buck Privates" was a huge success and propelled them to stardom. Their many films of the time, and their radio show (1942-45) surely helped keep up the spirits of many Americans on the home front during the war years.
The setting of this film is a Mississippi River paddle-wheeler that traveled the river and the Ohio tributary giving shows at ports of call along the way. The film has subplots. One is of crooked gamblers trying to take over Captain Jackson's showboat, and another is a romance. The supporting cast all are very good. The best known of the bunch is Henry Travers as Capt. Sam Jackson. Travers would become etched in filmdom memory forever in 1946 for his role as the angel, Clarence, in "It's a Wonderful Life."
But the main interest and fun in this film is the several skits and comedy scenes that Bud and Lou have. They reprise their famous "Who's on First" baseball skit with a fuller version. They first did a short version of it in the 1940 film, "One Night in the Tropics." Other hilarious scenes include the two fishing and Lou catching one after another large fish and throwing it back in as bait for an even larger one. Lou bakes a cake that leads to a room full of flying feathers. There's a cat-shooing scene in which Lou thinks the cook is killing a cat for lunch. And a frenzied chase around the boat with the bad guys is quite funny.
This is a fun and funny Abbott and Costello movie that must have garnered many laughs in 1945. It's a good family film today, and one that even the youngsters should enjoy for most of Costello's antics.
But the two comedians contributed mightily to America's war effort. In one 35-day cross-country tour in 1942, they sold $85 million is war bonds. From 1942 to early 1943, they toured and performed at Army bases in the U.S. Their 1941 movie, "Buck Privates" was a huge success and propelled them to stardom. Their many films of the time, and their radio show (1942-45) surely helped keep up the spirits of many Americans on the home front during the war years.
The setting of this film is a Mississippi River paddle-wheeler that traveled the river and the Ohio tributary giving shows at ports of call along the way. The film has subplots. One is of crooked gamblers trying to take over Captain Jackson's showboat, and another is a romance. The supporting cast all are very good. The best known of the bunch is Henry Travers as Capt. Sam Jackson. Travers would become etched in filmdom memory forever in 1946 for his role as the angel, Clarence, in "It's a Wonderful Life."
But the main interest and fun in this film is the several skits and comedy scenes that Bud and Lou have. They reprise their famous "Who's on First" baseball skit with a fuller version. They first did a short version of it in the 1940 film, "One Night in the Tropics." Other hilarious scenes include the two fishing and Lou catching one after another large fish and throwing it back in as bait for an even larger one. Lou bakes a cake that leads to a room full of flying feathers. There's a cat-shooing scene in which Lou thinks the cook is killing a cat for lunch. And a frenzied chase around the boat with the bad guys is quite funny.
This is a fun and funny Abbott and Costello movie that must have garnered many laughs in 1945. It's a good family film today, and one that even the youngsters should enjoy for most of Costello's antics.