Search - 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) on DVD

Shim F.
Reviewed on 2/8/2008...

Vol. 2 is just has funny has Vol.1
There are some really fuuny movie in this one.
Like "Little Giant"
BuckPrivates Come Home is really good too.

WHAT A FEAST!!

Robert C. Graham | OGMORE BY SEA, VALE OF GLAMORGAN United Kingdom | 08/05/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I purchased this set as I noticed it included my favourite A & C movie `Time of their Lives` which had never been available before on DVD. So to get 7 more movies for a price I would have happily paid for that was a great bonus.



The picture and sound quality of all of these films is outstanding and great care has been taken in perfect transfers from excellent, apparently original negative, 35mm material so it is a first class ride throughout. For A & C that is the only way to travel.



It seems a shame that some reviewers gripe about a lack of extra and should see it another way. You are buying one movie with 7 first rate features as extras - how about that for value? Remember you are paying less than $1.88 (or around £1) for each of these superb quality movies... I rest my case!



All of these series` discs play fine on my multi region players here in the UK. Even the slightest finger mark on a disc or dirty players can cause skipping and freezing (just a thought!).



In conclusion incredible value, superb quality set of movies which I recommend to anyone"

A great follow-up to volume 1!!!

Murray the Cop | Edison, NJ | 02/08/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"A perfect compliment to the first volume and a must have to any A&C fan (and at a better price than vol 1). This should keep you up in laughter for hours (however, I do not know of the quality of the video transfer).
Disc 1 - Hit the Ice,
In Society,
Here Comes the Coeds,
The Naughty Nineties.Disc 2- Little Giant,
The Time of Their Lives (my personal favorite),
Buck Private Come Home,
The Wistful Widow of Wagon Gap,
A&C Meet Jerry Seinfeld.Sit back, relax and enjoy the laughter..."

As good as the first set, maybe even better.

Brian J Hay | Sarnia, Ontario Canada | 10/16/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Some of the situations the Hollywood movie machine contrived as vehicles for their stars show their age, often badly. Many of the "chase" sequences" don't hold up at all. The runaway sailboat sequence in "Here Come the Co-eds" is an example of this. It has its moments. The close up shots of the live actors and the background footage they're superimposed on don't match each other. Details, things like wind moving fabric around, are missing. Often, the "halos" that were left around people when their images were superimposed over stock footage are still present. (It's still not always that easy to get rid of those perfectly even when with a still photograph. Ask someone who's done it.) The problems lie with the special effects. These were the state of the art in their time but are weak by current standards. This list goes on. Archival and stock footage (which was used a lot) is often grainy. Sometimes the resolution of pieces of film being matched is completely different. And so on ... Don't worry too much about all of this. Bud and Lou's comedy has too much too offer to let small technical issues stand in the way of enjoying what they did. The routines they inserted into their films are as fresh today as they were sixty years ago. The timing they had was impeccable; a lot of today's performers could learn from it. Some of the best performances of their routines captured on film are contained in this set. Every one shows how good their timing was. Watch and enjoy.



Hit the Ice ****



When Lou Costello walks into the door that bud Abbott just went through it's funny. When most duos do this it's not as funny, if it's even funny at all. That's timing. You turn on any of these movies knowing this is going to happen a lot. You expect it. You may even know it's coming. But, try to spot it coming. You can't. Their timing was that good. This film has a lot of hilarious sight gags. Lou walks into an inordinate amount of doors and walls. Watch Ginny Simms almost lose it when Lou realizes she's the one handing him his food. It was probably the closest thing to a take with her holding a straight face they could get. And the film contains a great version of "pack the grip".



In Society ***



Bud and Lou as plumbers: what trouble can they get into here? Watch and find out, but don't drink anything while the scene plays. It'll be coming up your nose when you break out laughing.



Here Come the Co-Eds ***



This one is a bit uneven. The comedy portions are excellent. Look for what's probably the best rendition of "Jonah and the Whale" on film. The basketball game is hilarious. What hurts the film are some it's musical segments. Evelyn Silverstone's (Evelyn and her Magic Violin) solo spot is fine-she was an excellent violinist-but Phil Spitalny and his All-Girl Orchestra perform material that's beyond dreadful.



The Naughty Nineties ****



"Who's on First" ...complete! The set was supposed to be silent for this. The cameramen couldn't do it. Listen for them laughing. The "mirror routine" is hilarious. And the chase at the end is zany and side splitting. One of their very best. This one is reviewed separately. It's that good.



Little Giant ****



Bud is splendid as the film's villain. He makes himself very easy to dislike. This film is more heart warming than hilarious though. That's not to say it isn't funny. Some parts are very funny. The sudden explosion of sales Lou has and his colleagues reaction to it is hilarious. He still surprises viewers constantly with the klutziness he gave to all his characters. And he proves himself as a dramatic actor. His character is one of life's victims and he's one who doesn't deserve to be. When his heart breaks the viewers' hearts break as well.



The Time of Their Lives ****



Bud has dual roles again, this time as both the hero and villain of the piece. He's brilliant in both roles. It's a good example of why Lou felt he was worth 60% of the money the team earned. He really was that good. As for Lou, well who else could be convincing as a ghost who can't figure out how to pass through walls? This film is another good example of why this pair is still finding new generations of fans.



Buck Privates Come Home ****



This film is all heart. The boys try to help a war orphan (not an unrealistic problem) but can't succeed on their own. Look for some touching scenes between Lou and the little girl and count on some fun while the film pokes fun at excessive authority. And enjoy some of the routines. Setting a table will never be the same again.



The Wistful Widow of Wagon Gap ***



This one features Marjorie Main of Ma and Pa kettle fame. She was a good comedienne and a good match to play opposite Bud and Lou. The funniest scenes in the movie are where she tries convincing (coercing) Lou into marrying her. His responses to everything she does are classic. Unfortunately some of the scenes where Lou gets to throw his weight around seem forced. Who's at fault there is hard to say but it looks like a decision made by the studio."