Africa Screams

"Have you seen a short fat man and a tall thin man running through the jungle?"

"No. I don't want to either."

Stanley Livington (Costello) and Buzz Johnson (Abbott) work in the book department of Klopper's Department Store.  Buzz is always looking for an angle, while Stanley is terrified of all animals.  Stanley is approached by thugs Grappler (M. Baer) and Boots (Baer) and Buzz is approached by Diana Emerson (Brooke) about the book "Dark Safari".  They do not carry the book, but the buyers are specifically interested in a map contained in the book.  Stanley has read the book, so they hire him to draw the map.

Diana is planning a safari to Africa to find a rare animal.  Lion tamer Clyde Beatty is leading the expedition, and Buzz convinces Diana to take them along as well.  Diana and her thugs are actually looking for diamonds, but are using Beatty to make the trip look like a legitimate safari.  They also drag along Diana's butler Joe (Besser) and near-sighted hunter Gunner (Howard).  Can Stanley and Buzz survive the dangers of Africa and their own party?


I grew up watching this film, but hadn't seen it in years.  It is still enjoyable years today.

The film, written by Earl Baldwin, sticks to the usual formula for Abbott and Costello films: Abbott is the shady idea man and Costello is the bumbling fool.  This time they are co-workers and Costello's Stanley is afraid of animals and Abbott's Buzz wants to find an easy way to get rich.  They are directed by Charles Barton, who directed all of their films starting in 1946.

They are joined by Hillary Brooke, who would later star on their TV show The Abbott and Costello Show and their film Abbott and Costello Meet Captain Kidd.  She was Costello's love interest in both.  Comedian Joe Besser also was a member of The Abbott and Costello Show.  Here Brooke is the villain, while Besser is her whiny butler.  Besser would later become a member of the Three Stooges, replacing Shemp Howard.  Howard has a small role in this film as Gunner, the near-sighted hunter.

Boxers Max Baer and Buddy Baer appear as Diana's henchmen.  Buddy Baer also appeared in Abbott and Costello's Jack and the Beanstalk as the Giant.  Lion tamer Clyde Beatty appears as himself, and provided the lions for the film.  Frank Buck was an big game hunter / animal collector and author, and occasional actor / director, and appears in this film as himself.

The film is funny and has a great cast, but the sets are low budget.  It doesn't distract from the performances, but it doesn't help the film.

Another funny film by Abbott and Costello!

Africa Screams (1949) 79 minutes
Director: Charles Barton
Starring: Bud Abbott as Buzz Johnson
Lou Costello as Stanley Livington
Clyde Beatty as Himself
Frank Buck as Himself
Max Baer as Grappler McCoy
Buddy Baer as Boots Wilson
Hillary Brooke as Diana Emerson
Shemp Howard as Gunner
Joe Besser as Harry