Abbott and Costello Meet the Mummy

(1955)**

Abbott and Costello are stranded in Egypt without any means to get home. Upon learning that a mummy has been discovered by an archaeologist, who intends to bring his find to America, the bumbling duo approach him in an effort to get hired, which would earn them a free trip home. Unfortunately the discovery of the mummy has created quite a stir among the denizens of Egypt. The locals who worship the mummy do not want it taken away; a group of crooks want the mummy because it contains valuable jewels; and law enforcement get involved when the professor vanishes. As Abbott and Costello become unwitting targets of these various mummy pursuers, the mummy, of course, comes to life scaring the daylights out of the famous comedic team.


Yes, at one point there are 3 mummies, don't ask

Abbott and Costello made 37 films together and although ‘Abbott and Costello Meets the Mummy’ is only the second film I’ve ever seen featuring the famous duo, I’m already tired of their humor. I can’t imagine watching 35 additional films that use the same routines over and over again. In this film, for example, there are only so many times Costello can see the mummy, scream, run into Abbott and get berated for imagining things (see Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein for the same repetitive gag). There are only so many times that Costello can lean up against a wall that spins him into a secret lair while Abbott keeps talking unaware that Costello has disappeared (see Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein for the same repetitive gag). And so on. I must admit that Costello’s expression of fear (think deer in the headlights) never gets old for me, but the rest of the film is amateurish, poorly acted, rarely funny, and entirely predictable. Even at 80 minutes it felt overlong. This is the second to last film the two ever made together. There are a few other A&C ‘monster films’ including Abbott and Costello Meet Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Abbott and Costello Meet the Killer, Boris Karloff, and Abbott and Costello Meet the Invisible Man but they appear to be out of print (woo-hoo!). I must admit that I’m intrigued by ‘Abbott and Costello go to Mars’.



I'm Richard Deacon!

The best part was seeing a young, thin, Richard Deacon. You know, Lumpy’s father, "Fred Rutherford" on Leave it to Beaver? Anyone? Damn I’m getting old.