This could be under "Classics" and "Comedies" but only one at a time. Personally, I prefer Abbott & Costello. Hold That Ghost is probably my favorite but all 3 teams have great movies. So, who do you consider the best classic comedy team and why?

I haven't seen much Laurel & Hardy to make a decision about them. Between the Marx Bros & Abbott & Costello, I'll have to pick A&C. Much as I like Groucho seperate from his sibs, the Marx Bros film are great but I can't sit through them again for very long. I do enjoy Bud & Lou meeting the monsters or whenever Lou gets himself into a jam (which is most of the time) or when he makes good (gets the girl, the money, etc) which often means someone is using him (though he never learns from this misuse). It's their predictable routine but I never tire from it. Then there's the classic "Who's on first?" set-up which I still enjoy no matter how many times I've heard it before.

I haven't responded to this before because it's an enormous question worthy of a thesis. I enjoy all three of the classic teams (you left out the Stooges...too low-brow?), but all of them have some goodies and some stinkers.

Until we get some more responses, I'll just say that my fave Marx Bros. are Horse Feathers and Duck Soup. They are both completely insane, and neither is over 70 minutes, so even if you have a low threshold for Depression-era puns, you'll laugh yourself silly with those two. Just thinking about Groucho's Biology lecture concerning the white phagocytes in between the spitwad-shooting contest, while Chico asks "when are ya gonna cut the watermelon?" makes me all happy, but hell, you already know I'm weird.

My favorite A&C is Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein which is both a comedy and horror classic with not only Frankenstein's Monster (Glenn Strange), but Count Dracula (Bela Lugosi), the Wolfman (Lon Chaney, Jr.) and the Invisible Man (Vincent Price)! For some reason, these idiots want Costello's idiot brain. The Time of Their Lives, which involves Bud and Lou as Revolutionary War-era ghosts in the 1940s trying to make amends for an earlier mix-up, is their other film which really stands out to me. Yes, it's funny, but it's also a highly creative fantasy, and once again, it's got scares! Anybody who wants to see a terrific version of "Who's on First?" is hereby directed to The Naughty Nineties, a cute riverboat gambling flick which is completely upstaged by the hilarious routine performed on the stage of the riverboat.

I enjoy L&H, but their shorts (i.e. The Music Box) tend to be even better than their features. I guess my favorite full-lengths are Way Out West, a funny western which is aided by the anomoly of the pair on an important mission in the Old West, and Sons of the Desert, which I first saw over 40 years ago at my elementary school! Once a week, we used to have 10 cent movie shows after school. You'd get a bag of popcorn, sit on the floor, and watch a flick! This one had L&H telling their wives stories so they could sneak off to a lodge convention. Needless to say, they get screwed (although I didn't know that word back then ), and not in any good way.

I figured Mark would get in on this one. I agree on Horse Feathers. The football game and the bar recruiting scene are my favorite parts. I left the Stooges out for 2 reasons. One, because they are associated more with television, and two, because most people would simply say the Stooges and move on. I never enjoyed Laurel and Hardy and I was practically raised on Abbott and Costello. Now that you've mentioned it, I haven't seen A&C Meet Frankenstein in about 15 years. I remember it was also fantastic, including Vincent Price's little cameo.

Bye the way Mark? Out of curiosity, Have you ever seen You'll Find Out (1940)? It starred Kay Kaiser and his College of Musical Knowledge including Ish Kabibble. What made it interesting was the cast of aging classic actors including Karloff, Lugosi, and Lorre. I won't go into detail about the plot in case you have seen it but it's in the style of Abbott and Costello horror/comedies. It used to play regularly on AMC in the early 90's and my father remembered it from growing up in the 50's. If you haven't seen it, give it a try. I think you may find it enjoyable.

I'm sorry I haven't responded earlier, P-Bro , but I haven't been hanging out too much at my Baby over here lately. This moving/not being able to find a house has gotten me stressed out, but I want to make sure that you know that i haven't forgotten you.

No, I haven't seen You'll Find Out, although my ex-movie editor discussed it with me years ago. I'm familiar with Ish Kabibble from seven other movies, and Kay Kyser was in six of those, so I'm familiar with him and his band too. The combo of the three stars is intriguing, so I'll be sure to watch it ASAP and check back with you.

On another note, I just watched Duck Soup with my wife Brenda and my daughter Sarah, and I was laughing OUT LOUD so much at the crazy ending (the war scenes where Groucho keeps changing his uniform every other scene, and he ends up with a water pitcher on his head that Harpo draws his likeness on ) that my wife got uncontrollably happy. She says I don't laugh out loud enough, so I guess I need to watch the last 10 minutes of Duck Soup more often. Her favorite part is the mirror scene.

i hate abbott & costello,the only funny thing they do is[who's on first]now on the other hand talkin bout classic,it doesn't get any better than the marx bros.those guys are nuts and the team of laurel & hardy are second to none,i'm surprised no one mentioned the three stooges[love em].

quote:

it doesn't get any better than the marx bros.those guys are nuts and the team of laurel & hardy are second to none

Baseball is the best sport, hands down. I love football. It is easily the best sport!

I'd wager that you have never seen an Abbott & Costello movie. Next time you're in Blockbuster, walk right by Weekend at Bernie's while resisting the urge to pick it up yet again, and try Hold That Ghost (1941). That's 1941 as in the year that the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor. Was it over you ask? Hell no! We sent in Affleck and he swiftly took his revenge.

i seen enought of thier work to know they stink,oh and as for[weekend at birney's]that stinks too...can i go now?

abbott and costello

WHO"S ON FIRST?

quote:

Originally posted by mark f:



My favorite A&C is Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein which is both a comedy and horror classic with not only Frankenstein's Monster (Glenn Strange), but Count Dracula (Bela Lugosi), the Wolfman (Lon Chaney, Jr.) and the Invisible Man (Vincent Price)! For some reason, these idiots want Costello's idiot brain.

As a rule I don't have much patients for all these guys, but if I had to pick on duo it would definitely be A&C.
I find there humor faster (for lack of better word) and not so old. (sorry if I am offending anyone.)
anyway, I did enjoy the Frankenstein + A&C movie that mark mentioned.
I think comedy and horror is the best combination ever.


http://www.tophorrormoviesclub.com/