Abbott and Costello Go to Mars (1953)

User Rating:

5.9/10   

Director:

Charles Lamont

Writers:

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

Release Date:

8 July 1953 (Japan)

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 | Venus | Mars | Electric Shock | Chrysler Building New York

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

Special Effects by
David S. Horsley	....	special effects

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: When Orville and Dr. Orvilla are having a slapping fight Dr. Wilson walks in and stops them. Dr. Orvilla is holding a briefcase but in the next shot Orville is holding the briefcase.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Monsterama Sci-Fi Late Night Creature Feature Show Vol. 1 (1996) (V)

Good, as are all the A&C movies

All A&C movies are classic, and I think in this one the classic routine is where Lou meets Dr. Orvilla and the slap fight ensues. This is a movie where A&C made the movie a better effort than the writers did.