Sunday, May 13, 2012

Abbott and Costello Meet the Vamps


 
 

The most oft-used comedy routine in film history was the man-child falling into the grasp of the femme fatale.  Harry Langdon took ownership of this routine in the 1920s, but a comedian who came to use the routine even more frequently than Langdon was Lou Costello.  Here are a few examples. 


 
Filmmakers never tired of the premise.  Even after Costello had become worn out fumbling around on a couch with these sinister ladies, other comedians were willing to hop on the couch and see what they could do.

Jerry Lewis in Artists and Models (1955)



Danny Kaye in White Christmas (1954)

 
 


Lou Costello in Hit the Ice (1943)



Jerry Lewis in Artists and Models (1955)


The tradition carries on today as vamp meets vamp in Dark Shadows (2012).


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