Lou On His Own

 

 

 (themoviedb.org)

THE 30 FOOT BRIDE OF CANDY ROCK-1959-Small town rubbish collector inventor Artie Pinsetter (Lou Costello), a "world famous scientist who isn't famous yet", is in love with Emmy Lou (Dorothy Provine; THE BONNIE PARKER STORY (1958)) who's uncle the grouchy mayor Raven Rossiter (Gale Gordon) doesn't like Artie and won't allow them to get married until he thinks Emmy is pregnant. 

Unfortunately, Emmy wanders into a strange mist and grows to 30 feet tall! Rossiter is trying to run for governor and is followed around by a TV reporter (Peter Leeds) which helps Artie when he needs Rossiter's help. The mayor is also head of The Boosters, a club Artie would like to join. Other boosters include Charles Lane, Doodles Weaver, Bobby Barber and Joey Faye. Eventually Emmy gets mad and invades the town. Later, a goofy army patrol thinks Emmy is from Mars and orders missiles to destroy her. Artie's computer-like machine Max turns the army into a confederate army and then into cavemen. It also makes Artie airborne. Max cures Emmy's gigantism but then shrinks her out of existence. But in the end, Emmy is cured and Artie becomes a hero. Also with Will Wright and Veola Vonn. 

This was the last role for comedian Lou Costello (and his only starring role without Bud Abbott) and was released about 5 months after his death in 1959. While it's not very good with old gags and some situations that are supposed to be funny but don't succeed, Costello tries hard and shows that if given the right material he probably would have made it as a solo performer. 

Director Sidney Miller (also an actor) didn't really seem to have a grasp as to what was going on. Lead actress Provine was also in RIOT IN JUVENILE HALL the same year and later co-starred in two short lived TV series “The Alaskans” and 'The Roaring 20's”.

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Plumber Lou

 

 (imdb)

GE THEATER PRESENTS "BLAZE OF GLORY"-1958-Plumber Carl Andrews (Lou Costello) is forced by jewel thief boss Favier (Jonathan Harris) to retrieve some stolen diamonds that were accidentally dropped down a hotel sink. Andrews outwits them with the help of Harris' female assistant (Joyce Jameson) and a blow torch. 

It's a so-so comedy but Costello's performance brings it up a notch and shows he probably would have succeeded as a solo performer (unfortunately, he died the next year). Lurene Tuttle (MA BARKER'S KILLER BROOD) is his wife and Olan Soule is a desk clerk. Future president Ronald Reagan is the host. 

Director Don Weis worked in TV almost his entire career doing everything from “The Jack Benny Program” and “The Andy Griffith Show” to “Alfred Hitchcock Presents” and “The Twilight Zone”, only occasionally stepping out to do a feature film (THE GENE KRUPA STORY, THE GHOST IN THE INVISIBLE BIKINI). Costello's ex-partner Bud Abbott would also appear on GE Theater (but in a dramatic role) in 1961. 

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Hey Abbott?

WAGON TRAIN-"The Tobias Jones Story"-1958-This episode of the long running western about a wagon train crossing the western plains to California features the only dramatic role by comedian Lou Costello! He plays Toby Jones, a drunken itinerant who stows away on a wagon with a little girl name Midge (Beverley Washburn) who's devoted to Toby like a daughter to a father. Due to his drinking the wagon master Seth Adams (star Ward Bond) has Midge stay with Mrs. Folsom (June Clayworth) and her mean, abusive husband (Morris Ankrum). Things don't work out too well as Toby's drinking gets him into a lot of trouble. It comes to a head when Folsom is stabbed to death (with Toby's knife) and 10,000 dollars is stolen. The would be settlers want to string Toby up but Adams makes sure cooler heads prevail. Except Toby feels it would be better for him, Midge and everyone else if he was dead. Of course Toby is innocent and it's up to Adams to find out the truth. This episode also features Peter Breck as a rabble rousing cowboy and Harry Von Zell (who wrote the script) as a level headed easterner. The story itself is typical of the time but Costello is very good in the serious role. It was directed by Herschel Daugherty. Lou Costello made one more filmed appearance the next year in his only solo effort THE 50 FOOT BRIDE OF CANDY ROCK. He died of a heart attack at age 52 before it was released. Ten years later Beverley Washburn would co-star as one of the Merrye sisters in Jack Hills' SPIDER BABY! TV and radio announcer Harry von Zell was featured on THE BURNS AND ALLEN SHOW at the time.

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