Cover coming soon |
7.1 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 3.0 | |
Overall | 3.0 |
The Foreign Legion has had its share of soldiers who don't belong there, but it may never have had any who've upset its ranks as much as Abbott and Costello! The chaos begins in Brooklyn. Jonesy (Bud Abbott) and Max (Lou Costello) are wrestling promoters whose star fighter runs out on them. Following him to Algiers, they get more than they bargained for when they're tricked into joining the Foreign Legion. A hot time follows as the comedians--still looking for their fighter--foul up basic training, dodge desert cutthroats and chase pretty slave girls. (At an auction, Max wonders if he can buy them at $1.25 down and $1.00 a month.) No opportunity for excitement is missed. There's a beautiful French spy (Patricia Medina), a traitorous legionnair (Walter Slezak), and plenty of local color, from Arabian horsemen to dancing girls. As for Abbott and Costello, both stock and new comedy situations make the most of their talents. Whether it's a mirage, or an oasis watched over by an alligator with false teeth, it's a setup for humor--which they deliver in their customary style.
Starring: Bud Abbott, Lou Costello, Patricia Medina, Walter Slezak, Douglass DumbrilleComedy | 100% |
Adventure | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.36:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.37:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0
English SDH
Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Region A (B, C untested)
Movie | 3.0 | |
Video | 3.0 | |
Audio | 3.0 | |
Extras | 2.5 | |
Overall | 3.0 |
Lou (Lou Costello) and Bud (Bud Abbott) are wrestling promoters about to those their sure thing with the hulking Abdullah (Wee Willie Davis), who’s grown weary of their shenanigans. Returning home to Algiers, Abdullah is soon pursued by Bud and Lou, who need their moneymaker, with the boys accidentally falling into trouble with the locals, which leads them to an accidental enlistment with the Foreign Legion, soon exposed to the harsh conditions of the desert.
Utilizing an older master, the AVC encoded image (1.36:1 aspect ratio) presentation is less than ideal, offering steady softness and mild filtering throughout the viewing experience. Textures are missed, as the feature deals with unusual settings and costumes, and only basic facial surfaces remain. Delineation is acceptable. Source is in decent shape, with mild scratches and speckling, and some stretches of judder.
The 2.0 DTS-HD MA sound mix generally preserves the cartoon atmosphere of "Abbott and Costello in the Foreign Legion," handling dialogue exchanges comfortably, preserving speedy comedic rhythms and more dramatic conversations. Scoring is on the thin side, but supportive, with reasonably defined orchestral energy to prop up slapstick sequences. Sound effects are somewhat dulled.
"Abbott and Costello in the Foreign Legion" feels fairly slapdash throughout, double-dipping on routines. The whole thing plays like a long stage show, putting Abbott and Costello in different environments to see what they do, while storytelling urgency is seriously lacking. The picture has the air of a panicked studio move, pushing the feature out as fast as possible to keep pop culture relevancy intact. It has some moments that connect, and an unusual location for tomfoolery, but "Abbott and Costello in the Foreign Legion" is one of their weakest efforts.
(Still not reliable for this title)
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