Cheap Africa Screams (Unrated) (B&W) (Video) (Charles Barton) Price

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Customer Reviews of Africa Screams (Unrated) (B&W)

Truly Brilliant
It's hard to know if the director makes the Abbott and Costello films work, or the timing of Bud and Lou. <
>If you can see the Shows Bud and Lou did on the COLGATE Comedy Hour, its clear that Lou is a brilliant Improvisor, so whilst he did seem to forget his lines on the Colgate Comedy show, he created a quick stock of lines to get back on beat. Very few teams did this kind of solid work. <
>As a side note, CALL ME BWANA seems to have some similarities to AFRICA SCREAMS, or is it the other way around? :-) <
> <
>Anyways, sketch style of humour is held together by a totally fun story, and some great actors, comic and regular. Shemp Howard does indeed do a great job in this film, and even the actor who replaced Shemp post 1955, makes a good job of his brief appearance ( his voice seems to be the basis for much animation in the 60s as well). <
>Like most of the Abbott and Costello stock, this film depends on their style, and the story works around them ( I guess), but Lou is, as usual, the centre of attention, but depends on Bud's straight man delivery for the scenes to work. And work they do. <
> <
>Immaculately timed, and well delivered, this is one of many excellent films by a great team. <
> <
>ENJOY

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One act that doen't stand test of time
I rented this mainly for my 5- and 3-year olds, who were predictably amused, though they volunteered that Abbott & Costello aren't as good as the Marx Brothers. That's putting it mildly.

I also wanted to see if they were as entertaining as I remembered them from my childhood: They aren't. I can only suppose they were an innovative act in their heyday in the '40s, when they were the biggest grossing movie comedians, but -- what can I say? -- they fail the proverbial test of time. They were fated to Trotsky's ash heap of history -- or, in this case, comedic history -- along with Eddie Cantor, Ma & Pa Kettle, Martin & Lewis, and, hopefully before long, Adam Sandler.

There's a saving grace or two, though, in this movie: One of the Three Stooges, Shemp Howard, has the best bit as a Mr. Magoo-like big game hunter, while a future Stooge, Joe Besser, who, eerily, would one day replace the deceased Howard, does his usual turn as a ludicrous sissy. If only this Abbott & Costello feature had a tenth of the classic qualities of those Three Stooges shorts that contemporaneously got so little respect!

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Classic Abbott & Costello!
Being born in Paterson NJ, I guess maybe I'm a little privy to the whole Abbott & Costello thing. I remember when channel 11 was WPIX..now it's WB11....but every Sunday morning; at 11:30AM, they'd run an Abbott & Costello film(they did this for years)and Africa Screams was one of our favorites.

Why? Well, it was classic Bud & Lou all the way. Picture Lou finding a trail of diamonds.....calling on Bud to help him carry ALL HIS MONEY! I'M GOING TO BUY POLO PONIES...OFFICE BUILDINGS!!!

I forget the name of the guy who plays Gunner, but you'll recognize him instantly as well........YOU GOTTA BUY THIS!!!!!!