Who Done It? is Abbott and Costello's take on the B-mystery. My favorite part about it is the setting: a radio studio. I like Old Time Radio, and there's a good bit of stuff here that appeals to me. Another thing that appeals: No musical numbers. This one's straight comedy all the way.Bud and Lou are hapless soda jerks who want to be radio writers. When a man is killed on the air, they become hapless investigators in an attempt to solve the crime and get jobs as writers. The cops are not amused.
Lots of burlesque routines are used, and the guys are right on the timing, as ever. There's a joking bit where they tune in a radio and hear "Who's on First," and they don't like it. Considering that it's a lot better than the "Watts and Volts" routine from earlier in the movie, that's hard to believe. If you like pratfalls and slapstick, the movie's full of those, just one thing after another. Fans of Bud and Lou will be happy. If you're not a fan, though, you won't be happy.
Great cast in this one, including William Gargan, William Bendix, and Mary Wickes. Some nicely effective B&W photography, too. Not the best of the Abbott and Costello movies, but it's right up there.
5 comments:
Abbott and Costello's movies make me laugh. I haven't seen one in a long time. Time to remedy that!
I have never heard of this one.
I saw this as a kid but not in many decades.
Loved Abbott and Costello as a kid but they don't do much for me now. Kinda like The 3 Stooges.
Also among the cast is Walter Tetley, who has his best bit role in a movie as the wiseguy elevator operator.
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