Customer Reviews

Abbott & Costello: Wistful Widow of Wagon Gap [VHS]

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4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
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Classic western spoof with Bud and Lou. The film was inspired by a real-life law. The film opens with the title: "MONTANA-IN THE DAYS WHEN MEN WHERE MEN. WITH TWO EXCEPTIONS". The two exceptions of course are Abbott and Costello playing travelling salesmen 'DUKE EGAN & CHESTER WHOOLEY". When the duo arrive in the town of Wagon Gap, Lou is accused of killing the town drunk and gambler "HAWKINS". Put on trial the team is sentenced to take care and provide NOT ONLY the "WIDOW HAWKINS" (Marjorie Main - of the 'MA & PA KETTLE' series of movies), but for his brood of SEVEN children. Later, Costello is commissioned to the job of the town sheriff, since NO ONE wants to kill him for fear of inheriting the 'HAWKINS' clan. Look carefully at one of the co-stars. He is Gordon Jones who later co-starred with the team once again on their 1950s TV series - 'THE ABBOTT & COSTELLO SHOW'.

WORTH THE MONEY
WHO DINT LOVE THIS SHOW , THIS SHOW WAS GREAT
I LOVE THIS VHS, BRINGS BACK LAUGHTER AND MEMORYS AND YOU NEVER GET BORED WITH IT,

THE WISTUFL WIDOW OF WAGON GAP (1947)
Universal Pictures.
Release Date(s): October 8, 1947.
Runtime: 78 minutes.

Director:
Charles Barton

Producer:
Robert Arthur

Writing Credits:
D.D. Beauchamp
William Bowers
John Grant
Robert Lees
Frederic I. Rinaldo

Cast:
Bud Abbott....Duke Egan
Lou Costello....Chester Wooley
Marjorie Main....Widow Hawkins
Audrey Young....Juanita Hawkins
George Cleveland....Judge Benbow
Gordon Jones.....Jake Frame
William Ching....Jim Simpson
Peter M. Thompson....Phil (as Peter Thompson)
Olin Howlin....Undertaker (scenes deleted)
Bill Clauson....Matt Hawkins
Pamela Wells....Sarah Hawkins
Bill O'Leary....Billy Hawkins
Paul Dunn.....Lincoln Hawkins
Diane Florentine....Sally Hawkins
Jimmy Bates.....Jefferson Hawkins
Rex Lease....Hank
Glenn Strange....Lefty
Edmund Cobb....Lem
Dewey Robinson....Miner
Emmett Lynn.....Old Codger (uncredited)
Iris Adrian....Dance Hall Hostess (scenes deleted)
Charles King....Gunman (uncredited)
Edward Piel, Sr. ....Townsman (uncredited)
Lee 'Lasses' White....Shotgun Rider (uncredited)
Gilda Feldrais....Hostess (uncredited)
Billy Engle....Undertaker's Helper (scenes deleted)
David Sharpe....Man thrown off saloon balcony (uncredited)
Frank Hagney....Barfly (uncredited)
Harry Evans....Card Dealer (uncredited)
Frank Marlo....Cowboy (uncredited)
Ethan Laidlaw....Cowboy (uncredited)
Jerry Jerome....Cowboy (uncredited)

Music by:
Walter Schumann

Cinematography by:
Charles Van Enger

Film Editing by:
Frank Gross

Other Crew:
Norman Abbott....dialogue director

Plot Summary:

Duke Egan and Chester Wooley are salesmen who look to expand their business in the wild west. They try their luck in the rough town of Wagon Gap. They are mistaken as the murderers of Mr. Hawkins. According to the law of the state, the boys are responsible for the widow of the deceased. Chester ends up living a life of slavery to take care of the widow and her many kids, while Duke takes it easy because of his (alleged) bad back. The good people of Wagon Gap make Chester sheriff because the corrupt men of the town fear inheriting the responsibility of the widow. The boys rescue a gold shipment, expose the criminals, and help clean up the town of Wagon Gap.

Trivia (imdb.com):(1)The film was originally written for James Stewart(1908-1997), but when he couldn't commit to it, it was refashioned for Bud Abbott and Lou Costello, with Costello playing the part intended for Stewart.(2)Lou Costello's father, a western-film buff, died during the production of this movie, and as a tribute Lou listed him in the credits as Associate Producer Sebastian Cristillo.(3)The story was based on an actual law in effect in Montana in the 1880s, which stated that a man who killed another man was responsible for the care and support of his victim's family.(4)This was the only feature film to be adapted into the Abbott and Costello comic book.

Barton ties up film in a small but enjoyable package, Main is hilarious as is Lou. Another Bud and Lou winner.

This movie is for die-hard Abbott and Costello fans only. My wife thinks it's "cute," but to me the film is strained. The story has Costello blamed for the death of the town drunk, and under Montana law he must provide for the widow and children. But not much is made of this, and the rest is strictly by the numbers.

This film is set in Montana. A stagecoach stops 3 miles from Wagon Gap, a dangerous town. Two salesmen walk the rest of the way. Chester shoots his pistol. "Nice Shooting!" But things look bad until the Citizen's Committee intervene. There will be a trial in the saloon. Montana law said anybody who killed a man in a duel becomes responsible for the upkeep of the dead man's widow and children. "That's the way I'd have done it." The bread is passed around, then soup is served. [This must be one of the funniest scenes.] Can that dog spell? Can Duke win in a poker game? "He needs the rest."

Will a message be garbled in the retelling? Does anyone want Chester's job? Sheriff Wooley finds new power and respect. But there is a rumor about wealth for Widow Hawkins. Will there be a chase? Will the gold shipment be saved? Can the sheriff capture the gang? Will the townspeople unite to clean out the town? Does money make a person desirable? Would the Widow have a better choice? The ending is like a parody on the classic western films of the past.
What films will the boys parody next?