Little Giant (1946)

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With the profits of the Abbott & Costello films in decline, Universal decided to experiment with the comedians' standard formula. In both Little Giant and The Time of Their Lives, Bud Abbott and Lou Costello play separate characters, rather than the usual smart guy/dumb guy comedy team. In Giant,… More With the profits of the Abbott & Costello films in decline, Universal decided to experiment with the comedians' standard formula. In both Little Giant and The Time of Their Lives, Bud Abbott and Lou Costello play separate characters, rather than the usual smart guy/dumb guy comedy team. In Giant, Costello is cast as farm boy Benny Miller, a would-be salesman who goes to work for the Hercules Vacuum Cleaner company. Almost immediately running afoul of crooked general manager Morrison (Bud Abbott), bumbling Benny is about to be fired when he is convinced by a bunch of practical jokers that he has the power to read minds. His newfound self-confidence enables Benny to become Hercules' top salesman, which delights branch manager Tom Chandler (also Bud Abbott), Morrison's cousin and principal rival. About to receive a salesmanship award, Benny falls into a trap laid by Morrison and his wife (Jacqueline de Wit), who conspire to discredit Chandler by exposing Benny as a fraud. Thoroughly disillusioned, Benny returns home, only to discover that not only is he still Hercules' fair-haired boy, but that he's also replaced Morrison as general manager. Written by Richard Collins and Paul Jarrico, Little Giant is hardly typical Abbott and Costello fare, though the film contains several characteristic comedy setpieces, including an interpolation of Abbott & Costello's classic "Seven Goes Into Twenty-Eight Thirteen Times" routine. Perennial Marx Brothers foil Margaret Dumont shows up in one of the better slapstick scenes. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 31 min.
Directed By: William A. Seiter
Genres: Drama, Classics, Comedy

In Theaters: Feb 22, 1946 Wide

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Cast

            Bud Abbott as John Morrison

            Lou Costello as Benny Miller

            Brenda Joyce as Ruby

            Jacqueline de Wit as Hazel

            George Cleveland as Uncle Clarence

            Elena Verdugo as Martha Hill

            Mary Gordon as Mom Miller

            Pierre Watkin as President Van Loon

            Donald MacBride as Pullman Conductor

            George Chandler as O'Brien salesman

            Beatrice Gray as Miss King Secretary

            Lane Chandler
            
            Dorothy Christy as Wife

            Chester Conklin as Tailor

            Pat Costello
            
            Margaret Dumont as Mrs. Hendrickson

            Ralph Dunn as Man in Lower Berth

            Eunahad the Mule
            
            Edward Gargan as Policeman

            George Holmes as Hercules

            Donald Kerr
            
            Victor Kilian as Gus

            Joe Kirk
            
            Florence Lake
            
            Ethelreda Leopold
            
            Anne O'Neal
            
            Ralph Peters as Jim

            Bert Roach as Bartender

            Eddy Waller as Driver

            Mary Field
            
See full cast

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