"Legends of Laughter: Abbott & Costello" is a blast from the past.
If you're a fan of Bud Abbott and Lou Costello, this DVD set is a treasure trove of tidbits from the comedians' careers. And a glimpse into the bygone days of the '40s and '50s in movies and television.
That's the real value in this six-disc set, which is out this week with a suggested retail price of $29.98. It's sort of like opening a time capsule and glimpsing a bygone era.
There are a couple of movies included in "Legends," and both "Africa Screams" (1949) and "Jack and the Beanstalk" (1952) are fine. But they're not among Abbott and Costello's best.
Far more interesting are audio recordings of 17 of the pair's radio show (1942-49) and 14 episodes of "The Colgate Comedy Hour" that Abbott and Costello hosted from 1951-54.
The episodes feature appearances by legends such as the Andrews Sisters, Louis Armstrong, Mel Blanc, Victor Borge, Lon Chaney Jr., Hoagy Carmichael, Marlene Dietrich, Rhonda Fleming, Erroll Flynn, Alan Hale, Hedda Hopper, Alan Ladd, Veronica Lake, Dorothy Lamour, Charles Laughton, Peggy Lee, Peter Lorre, Bela Lugosi, the Nicholas Brothers, Les Paul and Mary Ford, Jane Russell, Gale Store, Rudy Vallee and Three Stooges' Joe Besser and Shemp Howard.
Whew!
It's trite and cliched to say these are reminders of simpler times, but it's still true. Not only are there some very, very funny bits in those episodes, but 60 or 70 years later it's amazing to experience them the way our parents, grandparents and great-grandparents did.
The DVD set also includes a blooper reel from the pair's movies and TV shows; a World War II public service announcement — "The Autobiography of a Jeep"; and 20 movie trailers.
This is by no means a definitive Abbott and Costello release. But if you're a fan, it's a lot of fun.
And if you're not a fan, it might make you into one.