Abbott & Costello, Joan Davis - "Hold That Ghost" - The Blue Danube Dance Sequence

[From "Kovacs Corner" on YouTube.com] - From a now very seldom seen 1941 film starring Abbott & Costello, "Hold That Ghost", this is the slapstick mime dance sequence between Lou and film and early television comedic actress Joan Davis. Joan's height of TV popularity came in the early 1950's with her starring role in "I Married Joan". Co-starring actor Jim Backus, it was a not-so-thinly veiled attempt at copying the huge success of another female lead screwball comedy, "I Love Lucy".

Category:

Comedy

Tags:

• Bud
• Abbott
• Lou
• Costello
• Joan
• Davis
• The
• Blue
• Danube
• Johann
• Strauss
• II
• dance
• waltz
• conga
• mime
• pratfalls
• slapstick
• piano

[nollethepain]

when he slips on water is the best part!!!!!

[rolko52]

@nollethepain - It also does not appear to be a stunt double. I wouldn't want to know how many bruises Lou incurred over his lifetime on the stage, TV, and movies.

[MrSnider58]

Lewis and Martin did a movie called Scared Stiff Can anyone remeber what other two comedians did a movie similer to it and who where they

[rolko52]

@MrSnider58 Bela Lugosi starred in the 1952 film "Bela Lugosi Meets a Brooklyn Gorilla". It also co-sarred Duke Mitchell (as the Dean Martin side of the duo) and Sammy Petrillo (as of course Jerry Lewis).

[LABorden]

I love it when he destroys that piano! Crack's me up every time! What a great movie!

[rolko52]

@LABorden I admit that breakaway pianos are funny, but Lou's skill with his pratfalls and facial reactions make the comedy work so much more.

[18CaStRaDoMiS89]

My favorite Abbot & Costello movie hands down.

[EarlSnohomish]

My 9-year old niece loves A&C. "Hold That Ghost" is one of her favorites, as a matter of fact.

IMO, it's our responsibility as "old timers" to show the younger generations the things that we loved as children. Not that everything back then was great, of course, but Abbott and Costello movies are always worth seeing.

Thanks for posting it!

[EvangelistEvan]

What's the movie they were in where they fell down a water well or something and died and came back as ghosts?

[edwardjames50]

@horarwgt ~ I agree with you; Joan Davis was fabulous. At least WE haven't forgotten her!

[edwardjames50]

@MrSnider58 ~ "Scared Stiff" is a remake of the 1940 "The Ghost Breakers," which starred Bob Hope and Paulette Goddard.

[edwardjames50]

@rolko52 ~ His brother sometimes stunt-doubled for Lou, but you're right, not here.

[horarwgt]

This just shows what can be done comedically in less than three minutes. If one had to pick out the best gag, it's the elbows bit -- perfectly heightened by the Stooge-like sound effects. It's truly unfortunate that Joan Davis -- who died far too young 50 years ago this year -- has been so sadly forgotten. After vaudeville, she appeared in many movies (mostly in the '40s), usually in supporting roles, became a radio sensation and then an early '50s TV hit. A heart attack felled her at age 53.

[libertas1776]

Loved this! Lou Costello is funny, but Joan Davis is the best! Thanks for posting this!

[chefrustdog]

i loved these movies growing up as a kid. i watched them for the first time in the 70s,on sunday mornings with my grandfather. some weeks TV38 would show sherlock holmes or charlie chan.

[CiroandSteven]

And Joan Davis has a facebook page too!

[SuperHartline]

Joan Davis was a huge comic talent. She had great legs, but her face was used for comedic purposes. That's why the great singer of semi classical songs, Grace Moore couldn't make it in movies. No one get over her strong resemblance to Davis, and thus they couldn't take her singing seriously. Superhartline