As two of the highest grossing and most popular entertainers of the mid-century film industry, comic greats Bud Abbott and Lou Costello made over 30 films between 1940 and 1956. Their comedies offered an essential balm to the American public following the sorrows of the Great Depression and provided the hope of laughter as the nation prepared for, participated in, and demobilized after World War II. This is the first book to focus in detail on the immensely popular wartime films of Abbott and Costello, discussing the production, content, and reception of 18 films within the context of wartime events on the home front and abroad. The films covered include the service comedies ""Buck Privates"", ""In the Navy"", and ""Keep 'Em Flying""; more mainstream comic relief films such as ""Pardon My Sarong"" and ""Who Done It?""; and post-war experiments such as ""Little Giant"" and ""The Time of Their Lives"". While each film is covered in-depth, the entire output of the team is given a thorough critical treatment, including their work on stage, radio, and television. Of particular interest to fans and collectors are the book's illustrations, which feature 122 original, studio-produced Abbott and Costello photo stills and lobby cards from the author's personal collection, many of which represent outtakes or deleted scenes.

Foreword by: Chris Costello