Lost In Alaska (1952)

In 1890 San Francisco, two volunteer fireman (Bud Abbott, Lou Costello) rescue a man (Tom Ewell, SEVEN YEAR ITCH) from drowning himself. In spite of the gold mine he has in Alaska, he's despondent over being rejected by the woman (Mitzi Green) he loves. But when he receives a letter from her saying she loves him, the three return to Alaska. Except that it wasn't her who wrote the letter. This may possibly be the worst of the Abbott and Costello vehicles. I only laughed once at a gag I should have seen coming. The material feels recycled from one of the Hope and Crosby ROAD films (like THE ROAD TO UTOPIA). The only bright spots are not provided by Abbott & Costello but by former child star, Mitzi Green who sings two cute novelty numbers. The film looks like a cheap quickie, its Alaska is obviously a sound stage and I can live with that but when they meet a polar bear, it's so obviously a man in a bear suit! For the Abbott & Costello completists only. Directed by Jean Yarbrough. With Bruce Cabot and Minerva Urecal.