As in most early Abbott and Costello films, there is a developing romantic couple who often served as singers. Here, we have Marian Hutton, sister of the more famous Betty Hutton, who appeared in several films, usually as a singer. Here, she is both singer and actress, playing a taxi driver who gets somewhat mixed up in A&C's doings. She hits it off with Kirby Grant, whom she meets at a costume ball. Kirby had done some singing and violin playing in his early career, but is mostly remembered as Sky King in the TV serial. While they dance at the ball, Marian sings "No Bout Adoubt It"(that's right),sounding much like her sister, but without her frequent demonstrative delivery. Later, while wandering in a garden, she sings "My Dreams Are Getting Better All the Time". While they are leisurely canoeing on a shady lake, Kirby sings "What a Change in the Weather." ....Also, Ann Gillis, who plays the daughter of a society matron, sings "Rehearsin'", while bathing beauties bounce colorful balls around the edge of a swimming pool. Ann's film career was mainly concentrated as a child actress.
The boys, as supposed plumbers, are called to fix a leaking faucet in the bedroom bathroom of wealthy Van Cleve(Thurston Hall) while he is supposed to be sleeping. They have no idea how to go about it. Their useless efforts only make the problem 1000X worse. Soon, the bathroom and bedroom are flooded, and when Mr. Van Cleve opens the bathroom door, the boys come out with a surge inside the bathtub!
Later, Mrs. Van Cleve writes a letter of protest to the boys, but just then receives an invitation to another gala, which she mixes up with her note and sends the invitation to the boys. They are elated at the invitation, figuring they will meet many wealthy people who will have many bathrooms that need fixing. Upon arrival at Mrs. Winthrop's, they steal a couple of suitcases and put on the tux and top hat they find. Mrs. Winthrop talks about a painting called 'The Plunger' that will be unveiled. Lou thinks she means a plumber's plunger, but Abbott clues him in that, in this context, it refers to a habitual gambler.
Now, a Mr. Drexel shows up, who loaned the boys some money to start their business. He wants them to help him steal the valuable painting, but they refuse. Drexel's accomplice, the chauffeur Marlow, uses knife throwing to try to scare the boys into helping them, but this fails. Mrs. Winthrop announces that the painting has disappeared. Mrs. Winthrop's daughter accuses the boys, along with Marian, of stealing it.(She's jealous of Kirby's attention to Marian). The boys see the two get into a car with a rolled up paper. They get on a nearby hook and ladder(?)and chase the two. They have quite an adventure, weaving through traffic, etc.. , before slamming into the Winthrop mansion, blowing out part of a wall. They deliver the painting, but......an unexpected ending. For me, this chase sequence is the funniest part of the film, along with their initial plumbing problems.
Much has been written about the Bagel Street scene, in which Lou asks various pedestrians for directions to Bagel Street, and the conversation soon turns to an unpleasant experience they had with the straw hats he is supposed to deliver, and they destroy the hat he is wearing....In another scene, they are dusting the furniture, apparently in a room, when the truck they are in moves off with the door open, causing the couch they are on to slide out the back, onto its wheels(?), and go flying down the inclined street.
In summary, an amusing film, with the usual A&C personas.
The boys, as supposed plumbers, are called to fix a leaking faucet in the bedroom bathroom of wealthy Van Cleve(Thurston Hall) while he is supposed to be sleeping. They have no idea how to go about it. Their useless efforts only make the problem 1000X worse. Soon, the bathroom and bedroom are flooded, and when Mr. Van Cleve opens the bathroom door, the boys come out with a surge inside the bathtub!
Later, Mrs. Van Cleve writes a letter of protest to the boys, but just then receives an invitation to another gala, which she mixes up with her note and sends the invitation to the boys. They are elated at the invitation, figuring they will meet many wealthy people who will have many bathrooms that need fixing. Upon arrival at Mrs. Winthrop's, they steal a couple of suitcases and put on the tux and top hat they find. Mrs. Winthrop talks about a painting called 'The Plunger' that will be unveiled. Lou thinks she means a plumber's plunger, but Abbott clues him in that, in this context, it refers to a habitual gambler.
Now, a Mr. Drexel shows up, who loaned the boys some money to start their business. He wants them to help him steal the valuable painting, but they refuse. Drexel's accomplice, the chauffeur Marlow, uses knife throwing to try to scare the boys into helping them, but this fails. Mrs. Winthrop announces that the painting has disappeared. Mrs. Winthrop's daughter accuses the boys, along with Marian, of stealing it.(She's jealous of Kirby's attention to Marian). The boys see the two get into a car with a rolled up paper. They get on a nearby hook and ladder(?)and chase the two. They have quite an adventure, weaving through traffic, etc.. , before slamming into the Winthrop mansion, blowing out part of a wall. They deliver the painting, but......an unexpected ending. For me, this chase sequence is the funniest part of the film, along with their initial plumbing problems.
Much has been written about the Bagel Street scene, in which Lou asks various pedestrians for directions to Bagel Street, and the conversation soon turns to an unpleasant experience they had with the straw hats he is supposed to deliver, and they destroy the hat he is wearing....In another scene, they are dusting the furniture, apparently in a room, when the truck they are in moves off with the door open, causing the couch they are on to slide out the back, onto its wheels(?), and go flying down the inclined street.
In summary, an amusing film, with the usual A&C personas.