Abbott and Costello Go To Mars (1953)

Country of Origin: USA
Year of Production: 1953
Running Times: 77m
Length:
Format: 35mm
Colour Format: black and white
Ratio: 1.37:1
Sound: mono

DIRECTION

Director: Charles Lamont

PRODUCTION
Production Company: Universal
Producer: Howard Christie

SCRIPT
Script: John Grant, D.D. Beauchamp
Story: Howard Christie, D.D. Beauchamp

DIRECTION
Assistant Director: William Holland

PHOTOGRAPHY
Director of Photography: Clifford Stine

EDITING AND POSTPRODUCTION
Editor: Russell F. Schoengarth

MUSIC
Music: Henry Mancini ; Milton Rosen ; Frank Skinner , Herman Stein
Musical Director: Joseph Gershenson

SOUND
Sound: Leslie I. Carey, Robert Pritchard

MAKE UP ANDCOSTUMES
Make Up Department Head: Bud Westmore
Hair: Joan St Oegger
Costume Designers: Leah Rhodes

SPECIAL EFFECTS
Special Photographic Effects: David S. Horsley

DESIGN AND SET CONSTRUCTION
Production Designer: Alexander Golitzen, Robert Boyle
Set Decorators: Russell A. Gausman, Julia Heron

CAST

Bud Abbott (Lester)
Lou Costello (Orville)
Robert Paige (Dr Wilson)
Martha Hyer (Janie)
Mari Blanchard (Allura)
Horace McMahon (Mugsy)
Jack Tesler (Dr Holtz)
Jack Kruschen (Harry)
Joe Kirk (Dr Orvilla (Orville?))
Jean Willes (Captain)

UNCREDITED CAST

Harold Goodwin (Dr Coleman)
Hal Forrest (Dr Nedring)
James Flavin, Russ Conway (policemen in bank)
Syd Saylor (man at fountain)
Anita Ekberg, Jackie Loughery, Jeri Miller, Patti McKay (Venusian guards)
Ruth June Hampton, Judy Hatula, Jeanne Thompson, ValerieJackson, Rennate Huy (Renate Hoy?), Elza Edsman (handmaidens)
Paul Newlan (traffic cop)
Tim Graham (cashier)
Ken Christy (police officer)
Grace Lenard (French girl in restaurant)
William Newell (drunk)
Harry Lang (French waiter)
Helen Noyes (Miss Pliny (Patty?))
Robert Forrest (observer)
Dudley Dickerson (porter)
Rex Lease (police sergeant)
Lester Dorr (customer)
Scott Lee, Dale Van Sickel (policemen)
Gloria Paul (tall girl)
Frank Marlowe (bartender)
Barry Curtis (boy)
Helen Strohm (girl)
Harold De Garro (tall cop)
Jack Shutta (guard)
Jane Easton (javelin thrower)
Rickey Van Dusen (girl)
Betty Yeaton (contortionist)
Harry Shearer (boy)
Stanley Blystone
Carl Sklover
Bobby Barber
Sally Yarnell
Juanita Close
Cora Shannon
Milt Bronson (announcer)
Douglas Henderson (announcer)
Saul Martell
Stanley Waxman (second announcer)

Fooling about in a space rocket, Lester and Orville accidentally manage to launch the ship and crash land in New Orleans during the Mardi Gras, mistaking the costumed revelers for Martians. Forced by criminals to set the rocket off on its voyages again, they land on Venus and find an all-female subterranean society ruled over by Queen Allura.

Actually, they go to Venus by way of New Orleans and never get to Mars at all, but either way, this is just another crock from cinema's most painfully unfunny duo. Absolutely the worst of a particularly awful series of films, Abbott and Costello Go To Mars is irredeemably shoddy in just about every department and makes even their other films look impressive. Tacky settings, self-conscious posturing from the wooden Miss Universe contestants and a limp, second hand plot (there's even an escapade with an escaped criminal, a staple of this kind of low budget slapstick) simply conspire to make a truly painful viewing experience. It may not be the duo's worst film (that singular honour surely belongs to the execrable Lost in Alaska (1952)) but it's certainly a long way from their very best work.

Portugal
Theatrical Distributor: Doperfilme

USA
Theatrical Distributor: Universal International Pictures
Video Distributor: MCA

Finland
Rating: S

Sweden
Rating: Btl

1953
August
3: Sweden - theatrical release

September
11: Finland - theatrical release

December
14: Denmark - theatrical release

1955
July
11: Portugal - theatrical release

1974
February
28: UK - television broadcast (on ITV (Thames Television))

August
11: UK - television broadcast (on ITV (Grampian Television))

December
11: UK - television broadcast (on ITV (Southern Television))

1975
June
3: UK - television broadcast (on ITV (Border))
21: UK - television broadcast (on ITV (Tyne Tees Television))

October
2: UK - television broadcast (on ITV (Thames Television))

December
4: UK - television broadcast (on ITV (ATV))

1976
March
11: UK - television broadcast (on ITV (Westward TV))

May
1: UK - television broadcast (on (Scottish TV))

December
10: UK - television broadcast (on ITV (Ulster TV))

1977
May
26: UK - television broadcast (on ITV (Thames Television))

1978
August
17: UK - television broadcast (on ITV (Scottish TV))
31: UK - television broadcast (on ITV (Southern Television))

September
28: UK - television broadcast (on ITV (Tyne Tees Television))

They're too wild for one world!

Abbott e Costello Vão para Marte - Portugese title
Abbott en Costello gaan naar Mars - Dutch title
Abbott ja Costello matkalla Marsiin - Finnish title
Abbott y Costello en Venus - Chilean title
On To Mars
Rocket and Roll
Viaggio al pianeta Venere - Italian title

SEE ALSO
Cat Women of the Moon (1953)
Fire Maidens from Outer Space (1956)

FOOTAGE INCLUDED IN
World of Abbott and Costello, The (1965)

BOOKS

Aurum Film Encyclopaedia: Science Fiction p.136
credits, review

Creature Features Strikes Again p.10
credits, review

Cult Flicks and Trash Pics p.1
credits, review

The Encyclopedia of Fantastic Film p.1
credits

Hoffman's Guide to Science Fiction, Horror and Fantasy Movies p.14
credits, review

Horror and Science Fiction Films I pp.13-14
credits

Reference Guide to Fantastic Films p.1
credits

Science Fiction and Fantasy Film Handbook p.10
credits, review

Science Fiction Film Source Book p.20
credits, review

Science Fiction, Horror and Fantasy Film and Television Credits II p.731
credits

KEYWORDS

space travel, venus, aliens, spaceships

Last Updated: 29 June, 2009