Abbott and Costello In The Foreign Legion (1950)

Between meeting Dracula and the Invisible Man, Abbott and Costello took time out to cavort on existing sets on Universal’s backlot, but they could well have done with some scriptwriting help. The duo were also beginning to show their age physically, and Lou, in particular, was starting to look a little grotesque.

Because he refuses to throw a wrestling match, Abdullah (Wee Willie Harris) heads for his home in Algeria. The promoters, Jonesy (Abbott) and Lou (Costello) go after him to bring him back to the United States.

No sooner do the pair arrive in Algeria than a spy reports their presence to Hamud El Khalid (Douglass Dumbrille), desert sheikh and cousin of Abdullah.

While trying to elude Hamud’s assassins, Jonesy and Lou find themselves in a slave market and unwittingly outbid Hamud for six beautiful girls, including Nicole (Patricia Medina), who really is a French secret agent.

The hapless duo are then tricked by Sgt. Axmann (Walter Slezak) into signing up as fighters in the Foreign Legion.

The title says it all, and it plays like a Bing-and-Bob reject. The target audience for this outing seems younger than usual, and small fry will certainly enjoy all those mirage gags. Adults might not be quite so undemanding.

Jonesy (Bud Jones)
Bud Abbott
Lou Hotchkiss
Lou Costello
Nicole Dupre
Patricia Medina
Sgt. Axmann
Walter Slezak
Sheik Hamud El Khalid
Douglass Dumbrille
Hassam
Leon Belasco
Frankie
Marc Lawrence
Abou Ben
Tor Johnson
Abdullah
Wee Willie Davis
Bertram the Magnificent
Sammy Menacker
Ali Ami
Jack Raymond

Director
Charles Lamont