Abbott and Costello Go to Mars (1953)

Director:

Charles Lamont

Writers:

D.D. Beauchamp (story)
Howard Christie (story)

Release Date:

8 July 1953 (Japan)

Genre:

Comedy | Sci-Fi | Fantasy

Tagline:

THEY'RE OUT OF THIS WORLD ON A MISGUIDED MISSLE!

Plot:

Lester and Orville accidentally launch a rocket which is supposed to fly to Mars. Instead it goes to New Orleans for Mardi Gras...

Plot Keywords:

Wrong Turn | Weightlessness | Abbott And Costello | Mars | Beautiful Woman

Cast

Bud Abbott	...	Lester
Lou Costello	...	Orville
Mari Blanchard	...	Allura
Robert Paige	...	Dr. Wilson
Horace McMahon	...	Mugsy
Martha Hyer	...	Janie Howe
Jack Kruschen	...	Harry
Joe Kirk	...	Dr. Orvilla
Jean Willes	...	Capt. Olivia
Anita Ekberg	...	Venusian Guard
James Flavin	...	First Policeman in Bank
Jackie Loughery	...	Venusian Guard (Miss U.S.A.)
Ruth Hampton	...	Handmaiden (Miss New Jersey) (as Ruth June Hampton)
Valerie Jackson	...	Handmaiden (Miss Montana)
Renate Hoy	...	Handmaiden (Miss Germany) (as Renate Huy)

Also Known As:

On to Mars
Rocket and Roll

Runtime:

77 min | Argentina:81 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Certification:

USA:Approved | Argentina:Atp | Australia:G | Finland:S | Sweden:Btl

Company:

Universal International Pictures (UI)

Trivia:

A very young Harry Shearer appears as one of the boys seen near the beginning.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Orville and Dr. Orvilla are having a slapping fight Dr. Wilson walks in and stops them. Dr. Orvilla is holding a briefcase but in the next shot Orville is holding the briefcase.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Monsterama Sci-Fi Late Night Creature Feature Show Vol. 1 (1996) (V)

Bud, Lou, rockets, and girls!!!

Bud and Lou play maintenance men who accidentally blast off in an experimental rocket. 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. Queen Maria wants Bud to be her king!

Anita Ekberg (Miss Sweden) is one of the gals, but you'll have to look quick to spot her. Sets, props, and special effects are excellent. Watch for several props which were also used in other Universal sci-fi films (the death ray device in `It Came from Outer Space' and the bullet car from `This Island Earth'). Not the funniest A & C comedy, but decidedly enjoyable for 1950s sci-fi fans. The prerecorded tape looks good.