Africa Screams (1949): A Wild Ride with Abbott and Costello

So, picture this: it’s a rainy Tuesday in Stockholm, 1993, and I’m huddled in front of my old TV with a massive bowl of popcorn. Africa Screams is on, and I swear I can almost hear the charming chaos of Bud Abbott and Lou Costello echoing through the room. That film is one of those chaotic comedies that leaves you giggling like crazy during the most bizarre moments.

Directed by Charles Barton, who worked on a bunch of Abbott and Costello films, Africa Screams isn’t exactly what you’d call a masterpiece, but it’s a bloody good time if you’re in the mood for some classic nonsense. I mean, Bud Abbott and Lou Costello were like the Zlatan and Henke of comedy duos back then—just two buddies who were so in sync they could make pratfalls and banter into pure art.

And then there’s this scene where they’re in the jungle with lions and for some reason, it reminded me of that time my uncle and I tried to survive a hike gone wrong in the Swedish woods. We somehow ended up half-lost, swatting at mosquitoes the size of tennis balls. But much like our heroes in the film, we made it back just fine.

Clyde Beatty also makes an appearance, and his animal act skills add an interesting twist. Although, to be honest, the plot is thinner than a crispbread (knäckebröd), it’s the sort of movie that doesn’t take itself seriously, and sometimes, that’s exactly what you need. Plus, the film captures that post-war era when comedy was about escaping reality, making everything seem light and silly.

To wrap it up, if you ever stumble across Africa Screams on one of those rainy Swedish afternoons, give it a whirl. It might not change your life, but it’ll surely entertain you for an hour or so. And isn’t that kinda the point of movies sometimes?

watch the full movie on CinemaOneMovies on YouTube – if you are from Sweden, Norway, Finland, Denmark