This Abbott and Costello film has fallen into the public domain and I can see why. It's not just because it was made by a tiny studio, but I just can't see why anyone would worry about renewing the copyright on this thing! It's a cheesy and silly mess...although I was surprised that in spite of many shortcomings, it still managed to be entertaining...especially if you just turn off your brain and enjoy it for what it is and nothing more.As far as what is to like, the most interesting thing about this film is the casting. I love odd and obscure film facts and this one sure offers some unusual casting. First, it's the only pairing of Joe Besser (who, I hate) and Shemp Howard--both of which were the 3rd Stooge. Following Curly Howard's stroke, his oldest brother, Shemp rejoined the Stooges (he'd been with them on stage in their pre-Hollywood days). After Shemp's death, the Stooges had Besser take his role--not realizing that he unfortunately is about as funny as cancer. How Besser and his very loud and effeminate shtick ever became a Stooge or regular on "The Abbott and Costello Show" has always amazed me. Second, Max and Buddy Baer both were cast as thugs working for the evil woman, Hillary Brooke. Max had been heavyweight boxing champion of the world and his son played Jethro on "Green Acres". Buddy, the larger of the two, was a pro wrestler. Third, the film features Frank Buck and Clyde Beatty as themselves. Both men were marketing geniuses. Buck was an adventurer and hunter who traveled the jungles making documentaries and fighting lions and the like before opening up his own zoo. Beatty was a big game hunter, lion tamer and circus owner. This certainly is an unusual group of fellas! Another thing I liked is the evolution of Bud Abbott. In almost all the films, he was a bit of a selfish jerk who used Lou whenever he could. However, here he is way off the deep end with greed--so much so that, for once, he got a lot of the laughs himself. His greedy disregard for others was very much like Daffy Duck's in ALI BABA BUNNY. In fact, he is the best thing about this otherwise dreary film.The final plus is that the film ended well. The ending was very unusual and offered a nice change of pace for the team.What was not to like? Well, where can I start? However, instead of focusing on everything I'll just mention a few of the major problems. The biggest one is the use of a guy in a gorilla costume--a very common (and stupid) convention of the 1940s and 50s. None of these looked the least bit convincing and this cliché really sucks, as it NEVER was funny...not even once. Even most 5 year-olds would immediately recognize the ruse, so you can't be afraid or laugh when it appears--just annoyed. I noticed that one reviewer gave this film a 9 or 10--how can you do that when some guy in a moth-eaten gorilla costume plays a prominent place in this film?! The other main problem was that at times the film was well done but others it was annoyingly unfunny because the writing was, at best, inconsistent and the production looked like it was made for $582.34. One example of bad were having Besser say or do anything--plus his part was ill-defined and unnecessary. This is somewhat the same with Brooke, as she could have been interesting but her part was both ill-defined and she just disappeared from the film. Another was how the plot seemed to morph into a remake of ROAD TO ZANZIBAR--copying so much of this film yet giving it no credit whatsoever.Overall, a very mixed bag that is mostly of value to film historians and film nuts like me, though others might be entertained by the film despite its high amount of cheese. Still, you can do better with almost any other Abbott and Costello film, so I recommend you see them first.

Wow! The usually frumpy Costello looks positively dapper in his snazzy salesman's suit at movie's start. Superior A&C comedy with good routines, productive premise, and unusual cast. The boys get to chase around the wilds of a Hollywood sound stage pretending (not very hard) to be adventuring in darkest Africa. Of course, Lou gets to do his slow-to-catch- on routine as crocodiles, gorillas, and other assorted man-eating critters nuzzle up in humorously menacing fashion. I love it, though, when that savage-looking kitten scares the be-Jesus out of him in a downtown department store, no less.And whose great idea was it to load up the cast with some real characters. Take the giant Baer brothers, Max and Buddy, for example. Together they look like they could tear down the Empire State building without a wreaking ball. Not exactly, your usual movie types, and when they start scuffling, you can almost feel the ground shake. Then too, what an inspiration to stick coke-bottle glasses on Shemp Howard of Three Stooges fame and turn him into a nearly blind big-game hunter! So, better hide the house pets. But I really am curious how little, fat comedian Joe Besser snuck on set when the movie already had a little, fat comedian who's a lot funnier. Add real life adventurers Clyde Beatty and Frank Buck, along with the always regal Hillary Brooke who glitters, as usual, but never gets in on the fun, and it all adds up to a lively and entertaining bunch of characters. Perhaps best of all, A&C are still looking fresh in their roles, and if some of the routines wheeze a bit, the boys are still able to give them the needed lift, something they did not do in the last few years before the final 1956 break-up. Sure, this kind of nonsense is not everyone's cup of tea. But I defy even the sourest sour-puss not to surrender a few chuckles as the boys bumble along Africa-style.

Of all the Abbot and Costello films, Africa Screams has always been one of my favorites. With the added supporting help of soon to be stooges Joe Besser and Shemp Howard, the laughs are fast and furious. The main problem is that the movie, for some inexplicable reason, fell into the public domain. The good part is there is no lack of exposure for this film. The bad part is the versions that make it to DVD are simply horrible transfers. I think it is a terrible shame that so many classic comedies, like Afirca Screams, Morgy and Shoo in Chatanooga Shoo Shoo and The Stooges handful of short subjects like Disorder in the Court, Malice in the Palice, etc seem to get short-changed because some suit in the copyright-renewal office fell asleep at the wheel. I hope Africa Screams someday gets the remastered restoration it deserves.

Leonard Maltin gives 3 stars to this movie, and only 1.5 star to "Abbott and Costello Go to Mars". That's strange, because not only is "Africa Screams" easily worse than "Go to Mars", it's probably one of the worst films that Abbott and Costello ever made. There are some funny moments (Lou whispering threats to the bad guys when they have their backs turned to him), a lovely leading lady (Hillary Brooke), some impressively trained animals, and some good special effects. But there are also too many tedious stretches (this is one of the longest 78 minutes you'll ever spend), and too many predictable gags (hmmm, they have made a trap for a gigantic orangutan, do you think Lou will fall in it?). In some of those gags, Lou is made to look downright retarded instead of amusingly dumb. The scene where he mugs to the camera for about 3 minutes straight because he is scared of a gorilla is more excruciating than funny. (*1/2)