The Noose Hangs High (1948)
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56% of users liked it
(920 ratings)
For their first independently-produced vehicle, Bud Abbott and Lou Costello chose to appear in a remake of the 1939 Universal programmer For Love or Money. Bud and Lou are cast as Ted and Tommy, two bumbling window washers hired by gangster Mike Craig (Joseph Calleila) to collect a $50,000 gambling… More For their first independently-produced vehicle, Bud Abbott and Lou Costello chose to appear in a remake of the 1939 Universal programmer For Love or Money. Bud and Lou are cast as Ted and Tommy, two bumbling window washers hired by gangster Mike Craig (Joseph Calleila) to collect a $50,000 gambling debt. The boys manage to pick up the money, only to deliver it to the wrong person, a pretty private secretary named Carol (Cathy Downs). Ordered to retrieve the money within 24 hours "or else," Ted and Tommy trace the cash to Carol, who has mistakenly distributed it amongst the entries in a mailing list. As our heroes desperately concoct methods of escaping Craig's wrath, eccentric gambler Julius Caesar McBride (Leon Errol), the man who "never loses," comes to the rescue. Despite its seeming complexity, the plot exists merely as a peg on which to hang several of Abbott and Costello's best routines, including "Bet you 10 dollars you're not here," "Hole in the Wall," "Packing and unpacking," "Getting Arrested," and, best of all, "Mudder and Fodder." Beyond the seven credited actors, the huge unbilled supporting cast includes such reliable laugh-getters as Benny Rubin, Murray Leonard, Elvia Allman, Herb Vigran, Fred Kelsey, James Flavin, Lyle Latell, Isabel Randolph and Paul Maxey. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Directed By
- Charles Barton
- Written By
- Harry Brown
- Genres
- Drama, Classics, Comedy
Unrated,
- In Theaters
- Apr 5, 1948 Wide
- On DVD
- May 17, 2005
- Studio
- MGM
Critic Reviews
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David Nusair, Reel Film Reviews
...generally emphasizes juvenile, incredibly broad instances of comedy...
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
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Cast
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Lou Costello
as Homer Hinchcliffe
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Bud Abbott
as Ted Higgins
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Cathy Downs
as Carol Scott
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Joseph Calleia
as Mike Craig
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Leon Errol
as Julius Caesar McBride
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Mike Mazurki
as Chuck
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Jack Overman
as Joe
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Fritz Feld
as Psychiatrist
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Elvia Allman
as Bit
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Louis Austin
as Woman on Street
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Ellen Corby
as Miss Van Buren's Maid
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Jimmie Dodd
as Messenger
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Pat Flaherty
as Tough Driver
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James Flavin
as Traffic Cop
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Bess Flowers
as Patient
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Arno Frey
as Headwaiter
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Ben Hall
as Messenger
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Alvin Hammer
as Tipster
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Russell Hicks
as Manager
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Fred Kelsey
as Cop
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Joe Kirk
as Gangster
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Lyle Latell
as Workman
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Murray Leonard
as Crazy Dentist
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James Logan
as Valet
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Jerry Marlowe
as Cashier
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Vera Martin
as Elevator Girl
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Paul Maxey
as Jewel Proprietor
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Ralph Montgomery
as Waiter
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Isabel Randolph
as Miss Van Buren
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Minerva Urecal
as Husky Woman
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Herb Vigran
as Man with Coat
- Tim Wallace Murphy
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Ben Welden
as Stewart
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Chalky Williams
as Cab Driver
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Matt Willis
as Gangster
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Frank O'Connor
as Postman
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Benny Rubin
as Chinese
- Fred Browne
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Irmgard Dawson
as Girl
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Sandra Spence
as Dentist's Assistant
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Harry Brown
as Upson
