The Best of Abbott & Costello Volume 1

Volume 1 of The Best of Abbott & Costello features eight early movies of the legendary comic duo, beginning with their very first teaming on film. Each of these movies was released between 1940 and 1942. Since, obviously, neither Bud nor Lou nor probably anyone else of significance featured in connection with these movies are still alive, there is no commentary. 

Nor are there any other of the special featurettes normally associated with movies today such bloopers, deleted scenes, behind-the-camera documentaries. Therefore, The Best of Abbott & Costello Volume I must rest solely upon the strength of the actual movies. Have you ever stopped to think about how many DVDs you would probably never buy if they didn’t have cool special features?

Fortunately, most of the movies on The Best of Abbott & Costello Volume 1 can stand on their own. The primary exception is the lead-off movie, and Bud & Lou’s first teaming on film, One Night in the Tropics. The reason that this movie is less than standard A&C fair is because it’s really not a Bud & Lou movie at all. They are merely supporting comic relief in a larger romantic comedy story that just isn’t very entertaining. 

There is the big plus of hearing the Who’s on First routine, but it is very truncated. Fortunately, the entire routine would eventually show up in a later movie The Naughty Nineties. One Night in the Tropics is certainly not a bad movie and I would even say it’s not the worst Abbott & Costello movie ever, but it is most notable in their canon for being their introduction to film audiences.