Abbott and Costello Go to Mars, starring Bud Abbott and Lou Costello

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Bud Abbott and Lou Costello Go to Mars

Abbott and Costello Go to Mars (1953) starring Bud Abbott, Lou Costello

Abbott and Costello Go to Mars is not one of the better-known Abbott and Costello movies, which is too bad. It’s more of a children’s film, similar to Jack and the Beanstalk - but with some ‘eye candy’ for the adults as well. The basic premise is that Orville (Lou Costello) is the oldest orphan at an orphanage, who is assigned to help Lester (Bud Abbott) load equipment onto an experimental spaceship. Predictably enough, they accidentally launch into space; unpredictably enough, they land back on Earth in New Orleans, and mistake the annual Mardi Gras parade for an alien civilization on Mars. Two thieves run across the abandoned spaceship, don the same style spacesuits that Abbott and Costello are wearing to protect themselves from the ‘alien’ atmosphere—leading to Bud and Lou being accused of the crime. All four make it back to the spaceship, and blast off again, with a funny zero gravity fight scene.

The ship eventually lands—this time on Venus, where they find a civilization of beautiful women (played by various Miss Universe contestants). But, all doesn’t end well for our heroes, and they end up back on Earth, with the criminals in jail.

Trivia for Abbott and Costello Go to Mars

A very young Harry Shearer (The Simpsons) appears as one of the boys seen near the beginning.
Despite the title, Abbott and Costello never come close to Mars - Venus, yes, but not Mars.