Screenplay by Nat Curtis story by Pat Costello
Original score composed and conducted by Heinz Roemheld Original songs: Lester Lee and Bob Russell Voices: Arthur Shields (Patrick, the Harp), Mel Blanc (various animals). Starring: Bud Abbott, Lou Costello, Buddy Baer, Dorothy Ford, Barbara Brown, David Stollery, William Farnum, Shaye Cogan, James Alexander, Almira Sessions, The Johnny Conrad Dancers. 70th Anniversary Limited Edition / Street Date J/ Available from ClassicFlix / 49.95 The labor of love extends to the extras: excised scenes, background material, some words from the only surviving actor, a learned piece on the color process and a surprise guest appearance by the Creature from the Black Lagoon.ġ952 / Color / 1:37 Academy / 78 min. The feature restoration is quite an achievement for the 3-D Archive, as cine-archeology was required to understand the arcane color process ‘SuperCineColor.’ But the show’s slapstick action, clever songs and dippy dancing are finally back and looking great. Lou Costello makes a fine underdog fantasy hero, too.
It’s a case of cold-blooded, premeditated nostalgia: Abbott & Costello’s fantasy musical is innocent comedy rooted in early ’50s kiddie entertainment - a vein perfectly suited to the duo’s talents.
