Abbott and Costello Go to Mars (1953)

Director:

Charles Lamont

Writers:

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

Release Date:

April 1953 (USA)

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:

Mardi Gras | Electric Shock | Mirror | Misleading Title | Brooklyn Bridge

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)
Jeanne Thompson	...	Handmaiden (Miss Louisiana)
Jeri Miller	...	Venusian Guard (Miss Welcom to Long Beach)
Judy Hatula	...	Guard (Miss Michigan)
Elsa Edsman	...	Handmaiden (Miss Hawaii) (as Elza Edsman)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Bobby Barber	...	Bit Role (uncredited)
Stanley Blystone	...	Bit Role (uncredited)
Milt Bronson	...	Announcer (uncredited)
Ralph Brooks	...	Bank Employee (uncredited)
Ken Christy	...	Police Lieutenant (uncredited)
Juanita Close	...	Bit Role (uncredited)
Russ Conway	...	Second Policeman at bank (uncredited)
Barry Curtis	...	Boy (uncredited)
Harold DeGarro	...	Tall Cop (uncredited)
Dudley Dickerson	...	Bank Janitor (uncredited)
Lester Dorr	...	Customer (uncredited)
Jane Easton	...	Javelin Thrower (uncredited)
Hal Forrest	...	Dr. Nedring (uncredited)
Ed Fury	...	Perfect Man (uncredited)
Harold Goodwin	...	Dr. Coleman (uncredited)
Tim Graham	...	Mr. Lucas, Bank Cashier (uncredited)
Douglas Henderson	...	Announcer (uncredited)
Donald Kerr	...	Bank Employee (uncredited)
Harry Lang	...	French Waiter (uncredited)
Rex Lease	...	Police Sergeant (uncredited)
Scott Lee	...	Policeman #1 (uncredited)
Grace Lenard	...	French Girl in Restaurant (uncredited)
Hank Mann	...	Clothing Store Clerk (uncredited)
Frank Marlowe	...	Bartender (uncredited)
Saul Martell	...	Jules (uncredited)
Patti McKay	...	Venusian Guard (uncredited)
William Newell	...	Drunk (uncredited)
Paul Newlan	...	Traffic Cop (uncredited)
Helen Noyes	...	Miss Frances Planey (uncredited)
Gloria Pall	...	Tall Girl in New York (uncredited)
Gregg Palmer	...	Radio Announcer (uncredited) (voice)
Syd Saylor	...	Man at Fountain (uncredited)
Cora Shannon	...	Bit Role (uncredited)
Harry Shearer	...	Boy (uncredited)
Jack Shutta	...	Grogan, Bank Guard (uncredited)
Carl Sklover	...	Bit ROle (uncredited)
Robert Stevenson	...	Observer (uncredited)
Helen Strohm	...	Girl (uncredited)
Brick Sullivan	...	Policeman (uncredited)
Jack Tesler	...	Dr. Holtz (uncredited)
Ricki Van Dusen	...	Girl (uncredited)
Dale Van Sickel	...	Policeman #2 (uncredited)
Stanley Waxman	...	Second Announcer (uncredited)
Sally Yarnell	...	Bit Role (uncredited)
Betty Yeaton	...	Contortionist (uncredited)

Directed by
Charles Lamont

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
D.D. Beauchamp		story and screenplay
Howard Christie		story
John Grant		screenplay

Produced by
Howard Christie	....	producer

Original Music by
Henry Mancini		(uncredited)
Milton Rosen		(uncredited)
Herman Stein		(uncredited)

Cinematography by
Clifford Stine

Film Editing by
Russell F. Schoengarth

Art Direction by
Robert F. Boyle
Alexander Golitzen

Set Decoration by
Russell A. Gausman
Julia Heron

Costume Design by
Leah Rhodes

Makeup Department
Joan St. Oegger	....	hair stylist
Bud Westmore	....	makeup department head

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
William Holland	....	assistant director

Sound Department
Leslie I. Carey	....	sound
Robert Pritchard	....	sound

Visual Effects by
David S. Horsley	....	special photography

Stunts
Vic Parks	....	stunt double (uncredited)

Music Department
Joseph Gershenson	....	musical director
Frank Skinner	....	composer: stock music (uncredited)
Alexander Tansman	....	composer: stock music (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Universal International Pictures (UI)

Distributors

• Universal Pictures (1953) (USA) (theatrical)
• MCA/Universal Home Video (1994) (USA) (VHS)
• Doperfilme (Portugal)
• Universal Home Entertainment (2004) (USA) (DVD)

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: They actually go to Venus.

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Is It Real?: Life on Mars" (2006)

Out of the World Comedy

Nicely cast comedy infringing on Science Fiction. It would have been better had a bit more money were spent, upgrading the production. Still, the comedy is classic Abbott & Costello, and the beauty queens are lovely to look at, a preposition! I used to be a professional photographer, so beauty is good to behold. I gave this a good 6, wish it could be higher.