Lawbolisted Powerful

Pluskylang Great Film overall

Noutions Good movie, but best of all time? Hardly . . .

Sarita Rafferty There are moments that feel comical, some horrific, and some downright inspiring but the tonal shifts hardly matter as the end results come to a film that's perfect for this time.

JohnHowardReid Associate producer: Alex Gottlieb. Copyright 26 October 1942 by Universal Pictures Co., Inc. New York opening at Loew's Criterion: 2 December 1942. U.S. release: 6 November 1942. Australian release: 13 July 1944 (sic). 8 reels. 6,934 feet. 77 minutes.SYNOPSIS: A couple of dumb soda-jerks try their hand at being detectives.NOTES: Universal's top-grossing domestic release of 1942, pipping another Abbott & Costello feature also produced by Gottlieb and directed by Kenton, Pardon My Sarong.COMMENT: Having kidded the Gothic mystery genre in Hold That Ghost (1941), it was inevitable that Abbott and Costello should turn to the straight detective thriller for further inspiration. After some clever opening titles where they are seen in silhouette, Abbott and Costello do not re-appear for ten minutes or so while the script lays the groundwork for what appears to be an elaborate plot. But when our heroes do come on, they stay on! The plot is virtually forgotten and no further attempt is made to whet our appetites as to the identity of the killer - beyond a rapid series of close-ups before the broadcast - whose motives, when he is revealed, remain somewhat obscure. Nonetheless, despite the directors' failure to generate much atmosphere and his generally lead-footed approach, A&C are in good form and run through just about every one of their standard routines. And there is a stand-out climax which despite its obvious studio construction, is a real seat-gripper. A good support cast help Abbott and Costello with the laughs, particularly William Bendix as an even dumber detective than Lou. We also enjoyed Walter Tetley's chiselling elevator boy. He makes a great stooge for Lou and it's a shame he's not used after his two opening scenes. John Grant has supplied the boys with some classic vaudeville routines, including the disappearing water-jet and the famous "Alexander 2222" in which a wonderful collection of goofy oddballs manage to place crazy, long-distance calls whilst the dumbfounded Lou can't even get connected to the broadcasting studio across the street. A pity the direction is so flat, Lou is forced to extract all the humor virtually unaided. Fortunately an appropriate who-done-it atmosphere is occasionally created by Charles Van Enger's moodily noirish lighting. Skinner's music helps too, especially in the satirically observed broadcast scenes. A good effort, but it could have been richer and funnier with less flat-footed direction.

Michael_Elliott Who Done It? (1942) *** (out of 4) Chick Larkin (Bud Abbott) and Mervin Milgrim (Lou Costello) are two idiot soda jerks working in a building that's the home of some of the most famous radio mysteries in the world. When a man turns up dead on one of the broadcasts the two pretend to be detectives so that they can solve the case and get into the radio business.WHO DONE IT? is without question the best of the early Abbott and Costello movies at Universal. This is true for several reasons but the biggest is the fact that the studio finally had enough confidence in them that they didn't need to add musical guests and numbers to the movies. Instead of music we're instead treated to several more jokes and there's no question that it really pays off and sends the duo into a new level of filmmaking.There are many very funny gags throughout the film but one of the highlights is a sequence where Costello believes he's being shot and stabbed but he's too dumb to realize he just hit a switch to a radio broadcast. There are some other very funny moments at the expense of two real detectives and this leads to William Bendix and Costello having some nice moments together. Both Abbott and Costello are in fine form with their comic timing perfect together. They're also greeted to a nice supporting cast including Patrick Knowles, Louise Allbritton and Mary Wickes.Fans of Abbott and Costello are certainly going to be entertained by this film but even non-fans should enjoy the actual mystery of the story and the various gags paying homage to the days when radio was king.

SimonJack This is the first Abbott and Costello movie made in which Bud and Lou are center stage throughout, and with no music or dance numbers. While I enjoyed the talented musical entertainment in their earlier films, "Who Done It?" puts the whole weight of the movie on the shoulders of the comedy team. And, they rise to the occasion with more hijinks, antics and buffoonery than in any of their earlier films. I've also noticed in the last couple of films, that the script has Lou with more one-liners of humor. He especially has several zingers here with homonyms and oronyms. This is supposed to be a comedy mystery, but it doesn't quite feel that way. The mix of the two genres works in the Thin Man, Charlie Chan and similar films. But the comedy is too much here for anyone to even begin taking a murder or two seriously. Bud plays Chick Larkin and Lou plays Mervin Q. Milgrim. The supporting cast are all along for the ride, and do well. Two of them stand out and play well against Lou's buffoonery. William Bendix, as detective Brannigan is a close match for Lou. William Gargan plays Lt. Lou Morgan, who's just a notch above Brannigan in smarts. These four spend a good portion of the film in chasing and hiding scenes – all with hilarious mishaps along the way. Not all of them happen to Lou. It even has a sequence in which Lou mimics silent screen comedian Harold Lloyd. He often had nail-biting scenes when he dangled from flag poles atop skyscrapers, or clung to ledges 30 stories above ground. Well, Lou's scenes make a good copy. Bud and Lou also ape their famous "Who's on First" skit with a similar one, "Watt's a Volt." It's funny but can't reach the level of the original. This movie takes place in a fictitious broadcasting building. So the boys have a field day in various rooms with stage props for sound effects. A very funny sequence has Lou going on stage in a theater with an acrobatic troupe. Remember, this is 1942, way before commercial television was developed at the end of the decade. While radio listeners couldn't see the action, the live audience could. The theater audience loved the comedy of the acrobats as much as they seemed to enjoy it taking over their routines. I can just imagine what the rehearsals must have been like for some of these screwball sequences. I highly recommend this film as one the whole family will enjoy.

AaronCapenBanner Abbott & Costello play two soda jerks(old-fashioned term) named Chick Larkin & Mervin Milgrim who have a great idea for a radio mystery show they are big fans of. Patrick Knowles and Louise Albritten play bickering love interests who can't come to an agreement over his employment, leaving a big opportunity for the guys. Unfortunately, the station manager is murdered in a live radio broadcast, and Chick & Mervin are prime suspects, so they decide to investigate the murder themselves, and unmask the real culprit. Very funny comedy is briskly paced, with no musical numbers for a (welcome) change; the focus is on the comedy, with many memorable and clever scenes, like "Volts & Watts", and the madcap chase finale.