Keep 'Em Flying (1941)

62% of users liked it
(356 ratings)

Having joined the army in Buck Privates and the navy in In the Navy, Bud Abbott and Lou Costello signed up with Air Force in Keep 'Em Flying. Abbott and Costello play Blackie and Heathcliff, carnival workers who are fired from their jobs along with their pal, reckless stunt pilot Jinx Roberts (Dick… More Having joined the army in Buck Privates and the navy in In the Navy, Bud Abbott and Lou Costello signed up with Air Force in Keep 'Em Flying. Abbott and Costello play Blackie and Heathcliff, carnival workers who are fired from their jobs along with their pal, reckless stunt pilot Jinx Roberts (Dick Foran). When Jinx joins the Army Air Corps-the better to be nearer pretty USO singer Linda Joyce (Carol Bruce)-Blackie and Heathcliff loyally join up as well, obtaining low-echelon ground crew jobs. While Jinx tries to cure Linda's brother Jim (Charles Lang) of his fear of flying, Heathcliff pursues a romance with wisecracking waitress Gloria Phelps (Martha Raye), never quite catching on that Gloria has an identitical-twin sister (also Martha Raye). A bit too plot-heavy for its own good, Keep 'Em Flying is at its best when concentrating on Abbott & Costello, who in addition to performing their patented cross-talk routines participate in a zany runaway-torpedo chase and a gratuitous but amusing episode in a spooky carnival funhouse. As a bonus, Costello gets to do a bit of "straight" acting, and he's quite good at it. Deleted scenes include a comedy magic act (later restaged in Abbott & Costello's Lost in a Harem) and a wild episode at a skating rink (reworked two years later in Hit the Ice). ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 26 min.
Directed By: Arthur Lubin
Genres: Musical & Performing Arts, Classics, Comedy

In Theaters: Nov 28, 1941 Wide

Critic Reviews

Steve Crum, Video-Reviewmaster.com
Fun WWII Bud and Lou at their Universal peak.

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Cast

            Bud Abbott as Blackie Benson

            Lou Costello as Heathcliffe

            Martha Raye as Lillibelle Bolton

            Carol Bruce as Linda Joyce

            Dick Foran as Jinx Roberts

            William Gargan as Craig Morrison

            Charles Lang as Jim Joyce

            Truman Bradley as Butch

            Loring Smith as Major Barstow

            Richard Crane as Cadet Stevens

            William B. Davidson as McGonigal

            William Forrest as Captain

            Scotty Groves
            
            Samuel S. Hinds
            
            Earl Hodgins as Attendant

            Charles King Jr.
            
            Doris Lloyd as Lady With Lipstick

            Gene O'Donnell as Radio Control Operator

            Regis Parton as Cadet

            Frank Penny as Spealer

            Marcia Ralston as USO Girl

            James Seay as Lieutenant

            Mickey Simpson as Deputy

            Stanley Smith as Cadet

            Harry Strang as Truck Driver

            Janet Warren
            
            Philip Warren as Pilot

            Carleton Young as Orchestra Leader

            Harold Daniels as Announcer

            James H. Horne
            
            Virginia Engels as Hat Check Girl

            Dorothy Darrell
            
            Princess Luana as Herself

            Paul Scott as Doctor

            Emil VanHorn as Man In Gorilla Suit
See full cast

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