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As Good As It Gets

a film so unique, intoxicating and bizarre that it not only demands another viewing, but is also forgivable as a satirical comedy where the jokes eventually take the back seat.

The film creates a perfect balance between action and depth of basic needs, in the midst of an infertile atmosphere.

Actress is magnificent and exudes a hypnotic screen presence in this affecting drama.

Another typical Abbott and Costello movie. That means corny but funny jokes and routines, unrealistic subplots, and outre antics. In this one they end up at a dude ranch that is in trouble financially. They get hired on and the laughs start. The cow milking scene is just to funny for words. One subplot has a western writer who can't ride, rope, or shoot, but everyone else does. He costs the one who will become his love interest a sure fire win in a rodeo that would have saved her dad' dude ranch. Feeling guilty he also goes to the ranch to try and make good. Another subplot is the newspaper man who is trying to expose the writer as the fraud he is. Then of course you have poor, old Lou. He shoots an arrow into the heart on an Indian girls tent. This means he has to marry her according to tribal law. Out comes this very fine looking woman. As you would expect she is not the one and her sister is not a goodun. So off and on through out the film there very funny spots with Lou and the indians trying to capture him for the wedding. Then there is local bookie who tries to make sure the dude ranch loses by capturing the writer, who has been training in secret with the girl rider, and the number two rider for the ranch. The two guys break loose, make it to the rodeo in time, though number two is wounded, the writer makes his riding event and as usual the guy gets the girl, Lou gets the squaw, the ranch is saved. Well I am sure you get the idea. :)

RIDE 'EM COWBOY (Universal, 1942), directed by Arthur Lubin, places the popular comedy team of Bud Abbott and Lou Costello in another funny outing, literally, this time set at a dude ranch surrounded by cowboys, Indians, an assortment Universal stock players, and several fine tunes. It also marked the motion picture debut of vocalist, Ella Fitzgerald (appearing as Ruby), singing her signature song, "A Tisket, A Tasket (My Little Yellow Basket)" while resident cowboy star, Johnny Mack Brown, takes time out showing Bud and Lou the ropes in between time of his own Universal western series of the time.In a story presented on two levels, the first goes to title character "Broncho Bob" Mitchell (Dick Foran), author of best selling western novels, making his introduction as the feature attraction of Greater New York Bennett Rodeo. In spite of his fame and fortune, Martin Manny (Charles Lane), his severest critic, who doubts him to be "a great western hero," intends on exposing him in his next column. Manny's suspicions are proved correct when a bull breaks away, causing Bob to fall from his horse and cover his face in fear while cowgirl Ann Shaw (Anne Gwynne) steps in to bulldog the bull by the horns. Her heroic deed causes her leg injury that keeps her from riding in the finals to win that $1,000 grand prize. The second level moves to pals, Duke (Bud Abbott) and Willoughby (Lou Costello), working as hot dog/ peanut vendors whose antics get them in trouble with the boss (Wade Boteler). After their latest antic, Duke and Willoughby take refuge in a cattle car taking them to the same train as Ann and Broncho Bob while bound for Arizona. While at the Lazy S Ranch in Gower Gulch owned by Ann's father (Samuel S. Hinds), Duke and Willoughby obtain work as hired hands for foreman, Bruce "Alabam" Corman (Johnny Mack Brown) while Ann helps Bob's cowboy hero reputation by training him to ride a horse for the upcoming Frontier Day Celebration before some unexpected situations take place.During the course of its 86 minutes, there's time out for music. Songs by Don Rays and Gene DePaul include: "Give Me My Saddle" (sung by Dick Foran); "Wake Up Jacob" (sung by The Merry Macs); "A Tisket, a Tasket" (sung by Ella Fitzgerald/ music and lyrics by Fitzgerald and Al Feldman); "Beside the Rio Tonto Shore" (sung by The Merry Macs); "I'll Remember April" (sung by Dick Foran); "Rockin' and Reelin'" (The Merry Macs) and "Ride 'Em Cowboy" (sung by chorus). While song interludes might become intrusive for those interested in catching those Abbott and Costello routines, some of them work out quite well, in fact, almost working their way as highlights. Aside from Ella Fitzgerald's aforementioned "A Tisket a Tasket," the impressive tune of "I'll Remember April," was one that usually got edited out of commercial television presentations to provide for some paid advertising during its 90 minute time slot. This haunting number introduced by Foran singing it to Gwynne during a mountain moonlight ride is quite impressive, even more so with cowboy/ cowgirl chorus crooning beautifully in the background. The Merry Macs perform their numbers in true 1940s jive style while one notable sequence, featuring three black tap dancers, is presented too briefly, leaving indication of a show stopping number ending up on the cutting room floor.While Costello's ad-libs and outbursts might come across as forced sometimes, whatever weakness RIDE 'EM COWBOY may have are redeemed by some fine comedy routines, ranging from Abbott and Costello's abridged reworking their poker game routine introduced in BUCK PRIVATES (1941); Costello's attempt to go swimming while wearing a type of bathing suit unseen since the Mack Sennett silent comedy days; Bud and Lou's entanglement with Indians (lead by Douglass Dumbrille as Jake Rainwater); Costello avoiding marriage to Moonbeam (Jody Gilbert), an overweight Indian Girl; to that great climatic chase between Indians on horseback after Bud and Lou in their jalopy, to laugh-filled results. The amusing "The Crazy House" skit, enacted as part of a dream sequence, originally introduced by Abbott and Costello in their burlesque days, was actually used to better advantage in their 1950s television episode titled "Peace and Quiet" from THE ABBOTT AND COSTELLO SHOW. Interestingly, "Crazy House," immediately following the "I'll Remember April" number, turned out to be another cut segment from most television prints during the 1960s and 70s. RIDE 'EM COWBOY, distributed to home video and later DVD, had its share of cable TV broadcasts over the years, namely the Comedy Channel (late 1980s); American Movie Classics (2001) and Turner Classic Movies where it premiered July 25, 2010. While not essentially a western, RIDE 'EM COWBOY will sure to please any Abbott and Costello devotees whether they'd be riding horses, milking cows, or time out for others in the spotlight with song and dance. (***)

Well obviously not close to that brilliant offering from Stan & Ollie, but this is a nice genre attempt from Bud & Lou.The guys here are peanut vendors at a rodeo show, after accidentally burning their boss's foot they hide away on a train heading west. They end up at the Lazy S ranch and get work despite the fact that they clearly have no idea what they are letting themselves into.That's as much as you need to know really, there is the usual mix up of songs, love interest, and pure mania that goes with the decent films from the boys considerably large CV. A running plot strand of the guys on the run from Indian's because Lou has accidentally got engaged to a squaw, makes for some great and humorous scenes, but the stand out sequence takes place at a swimming pool, wonderfully funny part of the film. The film isn't really one to win new fans to the comedic talent of the pair because the running time could be too long for some with this brand of humour, but for those already converted, the film sits nicely up at the top with the best of their work.A-ticket, a-tasket, a green and yellow basket! 7/10

When Universal found they had a gold mine in two burlesque comedians named Bud Abbott and Lou Costello they rushed them into film after film. In the early years of their Unviersal contract the boys did film after film. Since Universal did most of it's product on the cheap for a major studio Bud and Lou became major moneymakers. Have you ever noticed that in their earliest films while they are top billed, Bud and Lou are extraneous to the plot. There's usually some romantic story plot and always some musical entertainment. Ride 'Em Cowboy fits this formula perfectly. Dick Foran who appeared in three Abbott and Costello films in this period is a western story writer who's publicity agent has made him a western superhero. Foran sings real nice, but he can barely ride a horse. Anne Gwynne, daughter of a dude ranch owner, learns the truth and spurns him. But the smitten Foran is determined to make himself all the cowboy she expects of him.Dick Foran who had done some singing cowboy films at Warner Brothers in the Thirties was now at Universal and he had a pleasant singing voice and an easy manner that never intruded on the comedy of Bud and Lou. A big hit song for the World War II years, I'll Remember April, was introduced by him in this film.And if Foran introducing a hit song wasn't enough, Universal got the Merry Macs to perform a few numbers and Ella Fitzgerald reprised her A Tisket A Tasket hit from the mid thirties. Something for everyone.But after all this is Bud and Lou's film and they have some good moments themselves. Funniest I think is Costello trying to break a horse and he literally ropes Abbott along for the ride.Douglass Dumbrille plays an Indian chief. For me, just the sight of the polished villainous Mr. Cedar of Mr. Deeds Goes to Town in an Indian suit is funny enough. But Costello shoots an arrow through the painted heart of his daughter's tepee which in that tribe is a marriage proposal. Costello is going to be wed to an Indian princess who looks like Rosie O'Donnell. He balks at the prospect and a running gag throughout the film is Dumbrille and the tribe chasing Costello to get him to the altar in a bow and arrow wedding. This same gag with the same principal players is used in their later film Lost in a Harem for MGM.This is one of my favorite Abbott and Costello films and when you get to see it, it will be a favorite of your's as well.