Don't listen to the negative reviews

It isn't all that great, actually. Really cheesy and very predicable of how certain scenes are gonna turn play out. However, I guess that's the charm of it all, because I would consider this one of my guilty pleasures.

The film may be flawed, but its message is not.

.Like the great film, it's made with a great deal of visible affection both in front of and behind the camera.

Released in 1955 - With its inferior and hokey-looking visual effects, along with its very silly story-line, I could never say that this Abbott & Costello vehicle amounted to being anything but that of a second-rate (and very unremarkable) bit of slapstick comedy.Set in the year 1912, Bud & Lou play characters Harry Pierce and Willie Piper (respectively) who are presently residents of NYC.Before he realizes what's happened, Willie is promptly swindled, by fast-talking shyster, Joe Gorman, out of the $5,000 that he's holding onto for his aunt.The slimy Gorman, and his seductive accomplice, Leota Van Cleef, cleverly persuade Willie that he'll make millions being the proud owner of the Phenomenal Motion Pictures studio, situated on the outskirts of the city.It doesn't take long for his buddy, Harry, to convince the naive Willie that he's been royally scammed. And, with that, our 2 buddies head out to L.A. where they believe Gorman has high-tailed it with the $5,000.Upon arriving in L.A., Willie inadvertently becomes Amalgamated Pictures' star stuntman and before long swindler Joe Gorman is discovered working for the same production company under an assumed name and flimsy disguise.Needless to say, a high-speed chase involving 8 Keystone cops gets underway where justice is finally served over the return of Willie's $5,000.Filmed in b&w, this picture has a running time of only 80 minutes and it also features a cameo appearance by pioneering, silent-era, comedy director, Mack Sennett.

As that famous silent film comedian Charlie Chaplin said, Lou Costello had pathos and its unfortunate that he and Abbott did not meet up with the Keystone Kops when they were in their prime.The setting is at the beginning of the film industry and the boys get taken by conman Fred Clark and his moll Lynn Bari. Never mind that they're in pursuit of Clark and Bari and their pursuit takes them out to the new film colony of Hollywood. It's one of those Clark Kent/Superman situations where Clark puts on a rug and adopts and accent and Costello keeps thinking he's seen him some where, but he's not sure. Which would make Costello brighter than Lois Lane or Jimmy Olsen who never had a clue.The worm turned somewhat in Abbott And Costello Meet The Keystone Kops because Abbott gets to take the hits and falls. That might have been at Lou's instigation, but quite frankly it doesn't work though it does show Bud's versatility.Several original Keystone Kops join in the final chase scene and Mack Sennett himself makes an appearance here to give it that ring of authority. Not the best of their films, sadly their best days were left in the Forties.

Good movies about the early days of movies are scarce, which is strange and disappointing considering what a wealth of good material exists about that era. Peter Bogdanovich's NICKLEODEON started off pretty well but descended into trite soap opera before it finished. One of the best movies about silent movies is this one, maybe because it has a real feel for the time and the characters and presents them with a certain degree of authenticity. All that aside it's also a lot of fun. Bud and Lou are on form, the supporting cast (especially the great Fred Clark) is good, and the stunts are funny and well executed with nary a CG shot in sight. One of the best things about it is the lively musical score, in part by an uncredited Henry Mancini who recycled some of it for the chase scenes in Blake Edwards THE GREAT RACE. Recommended for slapstick fans.

Let me start by saying that I am a huge fan of Abbott and Costello and don't dislike any of their movies. This is not one of their very best but is enjoyable nonetheless. The coolest part of the film is the fact that it's centered around the movie business and pays homage to the silent comedies of years before. There is a cameo by Mack Sennett and of course, the 50's remakes of the Keystone Kops! Bud and Lou are two pals turned hobos after they are tricked into "buying" Edison theater. After they are tricked, they pursue the crook and end up working in the Hollywood movie scene. In their later movies, Bud Abbottt's persona changed a lot and it is seen here. He becomes a lot nastier, more gruff, and starts to take more of a part in the physical aspect of the comedy. Although I enjoy his earlier years a bit more, it's all good. Lou is unchanging and as amusing as ever. Also, I think Fred Clark deserves credit as the villain (especially in his "cover" of the flamboyant Sergei Toumanoff!). Without him, the whole burglar gag wouldn't have worked at all. Finally, the ending chase sequence is great! The use of the zany Keystone Kops is wonderful and the 50's versions of the icons do a great job. Look for the part where Bud and Lou ride through the stack of hay. Hilarious!! Well worth a look for A&C fan as well as fans of classic comedy.