Abbott and Costello Go to Mars

Plot synopsis:
Orville (Lou Costello) is the oldest orphan at the Hideaway Orphans Home. He accidentally winds up inside a truck heading to a top-secret laboratory, where he is placed under the guidance of lab worker Lester (Bud Abbott) to help load supplies onto a rocketship. While on board with Lester, Orville hits the ignition button and the rocketship blasts off, flying across the country to New Orleans, where Mardi Gras is in progress. They exit and witness "hideous creatures", which are actually costumed celebrants, and conclude that they have successfully landed on Mars.
Meanwhile, two escaped convicts, Harry the Horse (Jack Kruschen) and Mugsy (Horace McMahon), enter the rocketship, put on the available spacesuits, and head to New Orleans to rob a bank. Lester and Orville, also clad in spacesuits, are wrongly accused of the crime and rush back to the rocketship, where Mugsy and Harry force them to launch into outer space.
After landing on Venus, the four men are quickly captured by female guards and brought to Queen Allura (Mari Blanchard), who informs him that Venus is only inhabited by women, as men were banished a long time ago. She takes more than a liking to Orville, however, and decides that he can stay if he promises to be true to her. He agrees and has Harry and Mugsy imprisoned for their crimes. Mugsy then convinces one of the female guards to flirt with Orville to prove to Queen Allura that he cannot be trusted. Orville "takes the bait" and the Queen orders all the men to leave Venus.
Upon returning to the Earth, they are lauded as heroes, and Allura, who is watching the celebration from Venus, sends a spaceship to Earth that drops a cake on Orville's head.

Tags: bleak

Review:
The early 1950's saw the start of the atomic age rocket ship film genre with ROCKET X-M and DESTINATION MOON in 1950 and WHEN WORLDS COLLIDE and FLIGHT TO MARS in 1951.
Abbott and Costello start off toward Mars but end up back on Earth during New Orleans Mardi Gras.
Eventually they flee to Venus populated by beautiful women and all's well that ends well.The production values were very good, considering that studios were rushing out poorly produced imitations of ROCKET X-M and DESTINATION MOON after their success.
Though certainly not a classic and not on the list of best A & C films, for those tiring of the same routines this film is visually exciting filled with space-age fun, beautiful models and hilarious gags.
This film has been referred to numerous times as "the worst of Abbott and Costello".
The best thing about "Go to Mars" are the special effects, which are creative and at times even ingenious; before you complain about them from a "modern" perspective, consider that they are about on the same level with those of, say, "Superman IV" - and that was made 34 years later!
Unfortunately, much like "Meet the Keystone Kops", this film gives you the impression that more time was spent on the technical tricks and effects than on providing enough funny material and routines for Abbott and Costello.
Despite the movie's title, they don't actually go to Mars, they go to Venus -- and only during the last twenty-five minutes of the film.
Before they get there they waste thirty minutes of the story by landing in New Orleans -- which they think is Mars because of all the weird Mardi Gras costumes (a painfully unfunny gag).Two escaped criminals stowaway aboard the ship and try to hi-jack the rocket after a second accidental lift-off, but the boys outwit them and the finally lands on Venus.Admittedly Venus is worth the wait; all the Venusians are gorgeous contestants from the Miss Universe Pageant, and their queen is Maria Blanchard (`She Devil').
The men were defeated long ago in a war with the females, but some of the girls miss them so badly that even Bud and Lou look go to them.
The title remains a misnomer in that Bud and Lou only THINK their comandeered rocket has landed on Mars.
By the time they wing their bumbling way to Venus, there is only 27 minutes of the film left.Probably fair to say that ABBOTT AND COSTELLO GO TO MARS was made during the downside of their career and the "Space setting" was intended to net them a new generation of fans.
Abbott and Costello Go To Mars sees the popular duo tackle a sci-fi theme that was to be so prevalent in the 50s.
The plot sees Bud & Lou as Lester and Orville respectively, who accidentally find themselves on a rocket-ship bound for Mars.
A planet populated by a bevy of beauties.They were three years away from making what would be their last film together, but history dictates that the best of the film outings for Bud & Lou were long since past.
There's even a cheeky aside in favour of the ladies (the Venusian female race being contestants of Miss Universe) as the new male arrivals on Venus are compared to beefcake Adonis types on Venusian TV.Far from their best work but certainly enough good here to shoot down those "worst of the series" tags.
"Go to Mars" has been unfairly maligned as Abbott and Costello's worst film.
While it doesn't rate in their Top 10, "Go to Mars" has many funny and wonderful moments.Among the great gags: Costello asking Abbott for a nickel to go through the Lincoln Tunnel; The Statue of Liberty ducking out of the way of the rocket.
Costello's reactions to space flight are also funny.What drags the film down for me in the rankings are the following two items.
First, the "space map" the rocket scientist uses to point out Venus and Mars; How can he find the two small planets among numerous pictures of large galaxies?
Still, the comedy is classic Abbott & Costello, and the beauty queens are lovely to look at, a preposition!
Those costumed Mardi Gras characters are a real hoot and a good chance for Costello to react in his inimitable way.
First they land in New Orleans during Mardi Gras and mistakenly believe it's Mars.
Released in 1953 - This Sci-Fi/Comedy, with its weak storyline and inferior humor, was a clear indication that the end was just around the corner for Abbott & Costello's careers as one of Hollywood's most popular, slapstick comedy-duos.Following "Go To Mars", Abbott & Costello would go on to star in 4 more films together.
With all of them being big flops, "Dance With Me, Henry" would be the last, which was released in 1956.Playing characters Lester & Orville (respectively), our 2 dim-witted protagonists are menial lab-workers who are assigned to load supplies onto a high-tech rocket-ship.In a state of bewilderment Orville accidentally hits the ignition switch which immediately launches the rocket into the sky.Believing that they have actually landed on Mars (but it's really New Orleans during Mardi Gras), Orville and Lester don spacesuits and venture out of the rocket to meet the Martians (who are really just regular people wearing wild costumes).In the meantime, 2 escaped convicts, Harry the Horse and Mugsy, find the rocket and after putting on a couple of extra spacesuits, go out and rob a bank.As circumstances turn out, Lester, Orville, Harry and Mugsy, all end up together back inside the rocket and they blast off to Venus where they discover the planet to be inhabited by only scantily-clad women in high-heels.
(All men had been banished by Queen Allura long ago) Even though Venus appears to be a heavenly paradise for these men, it doesn't take long for the boys to get themselves back to Earth, where justice is finally served to Harry and Mugsy.This movie actually sounds a lot better than it really is.
While this one does not have Charles Laughton & a lot of terrible music to support the boys, it doesn't need either of them.This film actually holds up better because there is less music & more A&C comedy.
Even though there are a lot of attractive women on Venus, things slow down there.A critic when this film came out said "Go To Mars- And About Time".
It's true that they THINK they're going to Mars, but it's actually Venus.
It's interesting how they first appear in New Orleans during Mardi Gras.They think the people wearing the costumes are aliens.
The title was just a metaphor for going crazy.Onto Venus where low budget special effects made future aspects looked remarkably advanced even by today's standards.
this is another great bud Abbott and Lou Costello movie and because of all the same reasons it has great comedy in it it has good acting in it the actors in it are good it has a good story line to it everything in it is good.
so i'm sure that you will not be disappointed with bud Abbott and Lou Costello go to mars.
so make sure that you rent or buy bud Abbott and Lou Costello go to mars because it is really good.
This is, perhaps, one of the worst and most unfunny Abbott and Costello films.
And, unlike films such as Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein, this movie would ONLY appeal to younger kids.
It's pretty sad that the funniest(?) part of the film is everyone mistaking Costello ("Orville") with Dr. Orvilla--wow, that's funny.Our haggard team actually never even makes it to Mars but lands on an Amazon-infested Venus.
I'm feeling really tired and bored just thinking about it.I think this film has a respectable score on IMDb mostly because there are a lot of Abbott and Costello fans.
There has to be some kind of reality in comedy and many of Bud & Lou's movies had no basis in reality at all.This "Mars" outing has little to recommend it to their fans..
This Abbott and Costello movie is good.
Coincidentally two escaped criminals see what is happening and understand it better than Lester and Orville and decide to take advantage.It has been years since I last watched an Abbott & Costello film and I decided recently to record some of the various movie channels and watch them.
'Abbott and Costello Go To Mars', but land on Venus instead..
The film was definitely one of A+C's wort of all time.The ending is at an all time worse, where the Venus women are attracted to Bud and Lou after they were defeated in a war against the females.
As the rocket is in New York we see them go through Lincoln Tunnel and go pass the Statue of Liberty before it lands in New Orleans during the Mardi Gras.Bud and Lou think they really are in Mars because of the weird costumes.
Two escaped criminals get on to the rocket and this time the ship again blasts off and they all end up in Venus, a planet run by beautiful women.
I think the science here was a bit off, even in them days it would had been known the planet was full of carbon dioxide and a dense atmosphere.The production values in the film are quiet good, the film is not as bad as feared then again it is not really that funny with some of the jokes just being a riff on their who's on third shtick.I doubt the film will gain any new Abbot and Costello fans and is unlikely to restore the duo's reputation as funny-men..
Abbott & Costello play Lester & Orville, who somehow are on a top secret rocket-ship project.
Two equally bumbling bank robbers named Mugsy & Harry force their way on board the ship, which does take off for outer space, though Venus, not Mars, which is inhabited by beautiful women who have banished the men, making these four guys both feared but welcome.
The less than dynamic duo are accidently launched into space ,and first come down near New Orleans in Mardi Gras time ,while believing they are actually on Mars .
This is the best segment of the movie as they mistake the elaborate Mardi Gras costumes as signs of alien life.When eventually they do make the space voyage they have two escaped convicts on board and discover that Venus is a planet ruled by women .
There are some good scenes early on --the Mardi Gras scenes,a sequence involving slow motion speech and a less than speeding bullet etc .On arrival on Venus the movie becomes bogged down and not even the presence of several beauty queens of the day can lift the spiritsTired and lacking any inspiration ,this is routine and one for die hard fans only.
"Abbott and Costello Go To Mars" is one of the better remembered films from my childhood, along with their romp with Frankenstein, and other Million Dollar Movie favorites like "Godzilla" and "King Kong".
It's pure and simple fun, and doesn't use a lot of scientific mumbo jumbo to explain space flight, unless you rely on the comments by a couple of Orville's (Costello) young friends in the opening scene.The fact that the boys never do get to Mars is easily overlooked, particularly as they get sidetracked by a couple of bank robbers and take off for Venus.
Universal could have done a lot worse than populating the movie with an array of Miss Universe contestants.The funniest bit for me was probably meant to be serious; as the boys take off in their rocket for the second time, Dr. Wilson (Robert Paige) needs only about one second on a slide rule device to determine the ship is heading to Venus - huh, how'd he do that?
After having liked Abbott and Costello meet The Invisible Man.I was keen on seeing how this film would be.And,to my very pleasant surprise,i found this to be a very strong comedy,with some great laugh-out-loud moments.
The plot:Orville and Lester are two technicians that are doing a final check up on a rocket the is going to to be sent to Mars.(Though neither of them realise that there are two escaped prisoners hiding in the rocket.)Whilst doing the check up,one of them accidentally presses the ignition button!When they eventually land,they discover that they have "landed on Mars".Where,everyone is very tall,and they all have spinning heads,and very long necks (though this is actually people in costume,for the New Orleans Mardi Gras festival.)Due to seeing all of these terrifying things,Orville and Lester quickly rush back to the rocket,where they are held at gun-point,by the escaped prisoners who have been hiding in the ship.The prisoners explain to them that they are still on earth,and,they are then forced by the prisoners to re-start the rocket,and are told to program it to go to Mars.When they decide to land,they all realise the they have not landed on Mars,but,have actually landed on Venus.Luclay everyone becomes very happy,when they all find out the Venus is a planet that is only populated by stunning super-model looking girls!!.Though all of them star to feel a bit uneasy,when they find out why there are no men on the planet...
View on the film:The main thing that i feel makes the film very strong is the great screenplay by John Grant and D.D. Beauchamp (who also co created the story with Howard Christie.)Which has lots of strong comedy set-ups,the really suit the great cast in the film (the Mardi Gras bank robbery and the Venus lie detector being two of the highlights.)And,the story is also surprisingly quite original,with having them not get to Mars at all in the film,but instead setting it in New Orleans and on Venus!Final view on the film:A great comedy,with fun performances and a very interesting story..
The thing that let the film down however, is that the scenes on planet Venus were stupid and unrealistic and Miss.
Despite all of these good qualities, and some of the funniest sight gags in any A&C movie, the film also has lots of stale dialogue and the boys look quite tired.
And why the movie wasn't called "Abbott and Costello Go to Venus" will always be a mystery.
Still, it's much better than some of their worst films (e.g., Mexican Hayride, Jack and the Beanstalk, A&C Meet Captain Kidd), and when "The End" flashes up on the screen, true fans won't feel like they've wasted their time..
Bud and Lou finally decide to invade outer space and interplanetary relations will never be the same after Abbott and Costello Go To Mars.
They arrive at New Orleans during Mardi Gras and think they're on Mars because of all the colorfully costumed people.
That being done they go right back to the rocket ship and take off again this time with two escaped convicts, Horace McMahon and Jack Kruschen, who have just robbed a bank.Then they arrive on Venus where the planet is populated by Amazons, men having been expelled hundreds of years ago.
Upon landing, they discover that Venus hosts only beautiful young women(played by Miss Universe contestants).
As a kid I loved watching the Abbott and Costello films on a Sunday afternoon T V, back in the 70's.
Abbott and Costello Go to Mars ages well.
In one of their better 1950s features, Bud Abbott and Lou Costello are headed on a little interplanetary trip.
But first, there's a little sidebar where the lovable duo land their spaceship in New Orleans in the middle of Mardi Gras--and of course, Bud and Lou think they have landed on Mars.Meanwhile, 2 crooks who just busted out of the clink, find their way onboard the ship, steal a ray gun and hold up a bank and clothing store.
Certainly, these are the best looking "aliens" you will come across in a Hollywood movie.And the pleasing aesthetics of the planet Venus lead to Bud, Lou and the crooks getting banished back to Earth, where they receive a heroes welcome and a ticker tape parade.Overall, while the title of this film is rather confusing--maybe someone at Universal thought that "Abbott and Costello go to Venus" didn't have a great ring to it.
If Abbott and Costello lived on Mars and women lived on Venus, the women would make a bomb because this movie is so heinous..
They think they are on Mars for about half an hour because that's where the space ship was making its destination as before dumb Lou hit the button that made them crash, right in the middle of the Louisiana bayou.
Bud and Lou's space suits go in great with the Mardi Gras crowd, and the laughs come fast and furious.
The arrival of two escaped bank robbers who disguise themselves in space suits then proceed to rob a bank results in Bud and Lou being chased and the spaceship with the two robbers aboard taking off and ending up on Venus.
When Lou kisses one of the women goodbye, a curse from the queen turns her back into her real age, a funny visual to watch as she becomes an old hag in gold lame' with certain body parts changing location to reflect her true age.Having been around for well over a decade in the 1950's, by this time, Abbott and Costello were still popular but adults who enjoyed their hijinks during World War II were staying away.
Not Abbott and Costello's very best but a funny enough one any way.
When the two land near New Orleans during Mardi Gras they start seeing the people in the strange costumes that are typical for the time.
Such was the realm of our subject today, A & C GO TO MARS.THAT THE COMEDY Team of Bud Abbott & Lou Costello had been boffo at the old Box Office had been a well known Hollywood axiom for some years.