GamerTab That was an excellent one.

Voxitype Good films always raise compelling questions, whether the format is fiction or documentary fact.

Logan By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.

Scarlet The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.

JohnHowardReid Copyright 4 December 1941 by Universal Pictures Co., Inc. New York opening at Loew's Criterion: 4 March 1942. U.S. release: 13 February 1942. Australian release: 24 September 1942. 7,859 feet. 87 minutes.SYNOPSIS: An author of dime-novel westerns who pretends to be a real cowboy is in danger of being exposed as a fake. So he books himself into a dude ranch in Arizona to learn about the real thing. A pretty cowgirl whom he bumps into at a rodeo has something to do with this decision. On arrival at the Lazy S, however, he discovers he has a rival for the lady's affections. Matters are further complicated by the town gambler who kidnaps the ranch foreman in order to prevent him competing in the local rodeo.COMMENT: Beautifully photographed and directed with some element of visual style - particularly in its spectacular action climax which incorporates some good stunts excitingly filmed with running inserts on actual locations (though process screen inserts and equally obvious undercranking don't help). Dick Foran gets to sing a couple of songs, including the beautiful melody "I'll Remember April", as well as joining a jostling parade for the rousing title tune (reminds us of Rio Rita). Anne Gwynne makes an attractively personable heroine and is effectively doubled for her stunts. The agreeable Johnny Mack Brown is also on hand. Helping out with the singing chores are the wonderful Ella Fitzgerald and the so-called Merry Macs. The support players headed by Richard Lane, Douglass Dumbrille and Samuel S. Hinds include a number of our firm favorites. The movie is colorful, very slickly produced and often most effectively staged. The script on which the musical numbers are pegged is pleasantly light, the songs themselves are appealing, the players ingratiating. The only thing mostly missing is fun. Abbott and Costello are a couple of damp squibs. Their material is a wet blanket of tired slapstick and verbal bullying. Not only are their puns weak and unfunny, but their gauche, unstylish slapstick fails to strike even the mildest of sparks. Worse, obvious doubles and stuntmen substitute for the oafish comics whenever there's any real work to be done, as in the bronco-busting sequence.

weezeralfalfa As with many of the early films of Abbott and Costello this one is composed of 3 basic elements: 1) a budding romance, with its ups and downs 2) several lead singers, with songs dispersed through the film 3)comedy, mainly involving Bud Abbott and Lou Costello(A&C): the nominal leads. This was the last of 5 A&C films that Arthur Lubin directed. He would go on to direct most of the 'Francis the Talking Mule' comedy series, about a decade later.Along with several other A&C films, Dick Foran is the romantic lead, getting involved with pretty Anne Gwynne, and doing some singing. With her help, he's in the process of metamorphosing from a fake cowboy and writer of western novels into a real singing cowboy. Thus, he sings "Give Me my Saddle", "I'll Remember April", and "Ride 'Em Cowboy". Surprisingly, Ella Fitzgerald makes 2 cameo appearances, singing "A-Tisket A-Tasket", and "Rockin' and Reeli'",neither of which has anything to do with cowboys. The Merry Macs, consisting of 3 men and a young woman, sing several songs.The film begins with Foran , as 'Bronco' Bob Mitchell, a popular writer of western novels, being honored at a rodeo on Long Island. He's been recently criticized as never having been in the West, and not being a cowboy. He wants to show that he can ride a horse, even though he's never been on one. All goes well, until A&C accidentally let a bull out of its pen, spooking his horse, which dumps him. Anne comes to his rescue, but sustains a bad ankle sprain which knocks her out of the competition for the best female performer. Fortan takes a liking to her, and signs up as a long-term guest at her father's dude ranch in Arizona. He hopes this experience will transform him into a real cowboy, along with romancing Anne.A&C, who are selling peanuts and hotdogs at the rodeo have a series of misadventures with the customers and their boss. They run onto the train that will take Foran and Anne to Arizona just as it is taking off(What about tickets?). All get on the ranch bus. A&C are tentatively hired, but unclear what they can do. Lou is given the task of milking a cow, with occasional coaching from Bud. But Lou is a very poor student, and at the end still has no idea how to do it, pumping the tail like a hand pump. The boys encounter an open store run by Indians. Lou tries out using the bow and arrow, and puts it through the center of a heart drawn on a nearby tent. The Indians say that means he proposed to someone inside. But, Lou isn't interested, and runs away. For the remainder of the film, the Indians pursue him to make him marry her. A&C try out the ranch swimming pool, which has both high and low diving boards. However, when Lou tries to use the low board, he gets hammered on the head with people bouncing in the high board(A very poor arrangement!). Of course, he can't swim.A&C have a time with a fake Indian placed in their room. When they are out, a real Indian looking identical takes it's place(why?). Lou has a dream where he goes to Bud dressed as a doctor to tell about his fear of Indians. Lou then changes into Indian dress. The nurse looks like Anne, except she's dressed as an Indian maiden. Then , Custer and gang show up on one end of his bed, while Sitting Bull and gang show up on the other side, and shoot at each other, with him in the middle.Somehow, Lou ends up on an infamous bucking bronco, and actually stays on for a long time, never being thrown. Good stunt double work, presumably. He should have been in the rodeo! Bud gets on the bronco with Lou, but without a saddle, and somehow stays on until the end.In all, a fun experience, especially for kids. See it on the DVD set The Best of Abbott and Costello, Vol.1.

dougdoepke Lively A&C. The gags fly fast and furious as the boys invade a dude ranch that'll never be the same. There, the boys practice the patented Costello double-takes, knock-about, and word play— for example, "Ever had your palm read?"— and we fans know what happens next because of double meanings. Then there are lots of antics with Chief Yowlatchie and tribe, as Costello shows why he was a cavalry school flunk-out. And what a bang-up finale in that nifty little car that takes on the whole San Fernando Valley, both forwards and backwards.Also, there's lovely Anne Gwynne as blonde eye candy in her cowgirl getup, along with Dick Foran and Johnny Mack Brown who're doing something or other. And shouldn't forget the many mellow sounds of the 40's, including some lively hep-cat leg shaking. And isn't that the legendary Ella Fitzgerald making a movie debut. Too bad we don't see more of her swinging style.No real plot, just a couple intrigues for the boys to hang their hats on. Too bad this is director Lubin's last A&C film. He really knows how to mix the comic brew. Then too, it's still early for the boys and movies, so the duo appears really motivated. No, the comedy's nothing to write home about; but it is worth tapping out a happily positive review.

wes-connors New York hot dog vendors Bud Abbott and Lou Costello (as Duke and Willoughby) cause trouble at a rodeo, them move out west for real, first disguised as cows and then as cowboys. This was the inevitable "western" take on the "Abbott & Costello" franchise, and it catches the duo appearing still fresh, and with the formula working well. With their "poker game" probably best known, the vaudeville routines seem not to have been tapped out, and the material is chosen well. And, new comedy bits are blended in well.The inoffensive lovers are singing cowboy Dick Foran (as "Bronco Bob" Mitchell) and pretty cowgirl Anne Gwynne (as Anne Shaw).Ella Fitzgerald drops in, to sing her hit "A-Tisket, A-Tasket" (1938). Western hero Johnny Mack Brown (as "Alabam'" Brewster) also lends some support. But, the highlight is seeing Ms. Fitzgerald and The Merry Macs do a 1940s jive called "Rockin' and Reelin'" (a tune Chuck Berry might have enjoyed). It's guaranteed to pop your top. Merry Mac brothers Joe, Ted, and Judd McMichael (herein complimented by Mary Lou Cook) were an excellent vocal group, best known for their later hit "Mairzy Doats" (1944).******* Ride 'Em Cowboy (2/13/42) Arthur Lubin ~ Lou Costello, Bud Abbott, Dick Foran, Anne Gwynne