I don't see this film as being quite as revolutionary for A&C as some others do. Sure, A&C aren't partners in misadventures, but Abbott is there, in the person of 2 characters, both as Lou's current supervisor, with whom he interacts periodically. Some claim it's filled with pathos, in place of funny sketches. Again, I see this claim as overblown. The second half is more filled with drama, and less humor. However, it's notable that there is no music and no handsome male singer to romance the leading lady. Instead, Costello gets his girl of choice. Thus, in effect, the increase in drama partly replaces the usual musical numbers, as well as some comedy. Here are some examples of humorous sketches:
Costello has been listening to some records telling how to be a good salesman, and wants to try out what he has learned on a man who has stopped by their little store to fill his tires with air(free). Lou tries to sell him everything they have for sale, giving reasons why he would be better off with them. But, the man is resistant to all temptations. Finally, as he is about to drive off, Lou puts a box of various things in the back of his station wagon, then runs to tell his mother(Mary Gordon) he made a sale. He runs and falls over the bottom half of their Dutch door, the top half being open. Then, he realizes he didn't get paid. This prat fall through the door is repeated at the end of the film, when he wants to tell everybody that he just got engaged.
Then, there's the incident where he is in the outer office of Abbott's office, when the secretary/wife is speaking to a candidate to represent Hercules in advertisements of the Hercules vacuum cleaner. He steps out for a few minutes to get a drink of water. The secretary also steps out for a few minutes, leaving Costello to hear on the intercom Abbott say "Send that young man in". Costello assumes he means him, so he enters. Abbott is not impressed with his potential as Hercules, but tells him to undress so he can see his muscles. This he does in the office. Then the secretary and the real Hercules enter the office, and Abbott immediately hires the other candidate. Abbott runs to the closet to put his clothes on. Abbott wants to dismiss him, but his secretary talks up giving Lou a chance.
Lou gains entrance to the home of Margaret Dumont with his Hercules vacuum cleaner, and wants to demonstrate its utility. He pours a good amount of powdered charcoal on her carpet, then sweeps over it. It takes up the material on top, but leaves that which got down into the carpet. Then, he wants to demonstrate the ability of the vacuum as a blower, by putting the hose on the other end. It blows the dust it picked up from the carpet all over the room. Abbott wants to fire him, but Uncle Cleveland, who works there, suggests that he instead be reassigned from this LA area to the Stockton area, where Abbott's look alike cousin is the manager. On the overnight train to Stockton, Lou has trouble getting to his upper berth, trouble staying there and trouble undressing in the cramped quarters of his birth.
The last portion of the film is relatively lacking in humor, other than the 'sleeping pill scandal', involving Lou and Abbott's wife. Rather, its interest relies more on Lou's alternating extremes of depression and elation. He's depressed because he hasn't sold any vacuum cleaners, and because his girlfriend dispossessed him after the 'sleeping pill scandal'. Then, one day his luck changed, and he sold 9 cleaners: a new record. He's supposed to attend an evening celebration of his feat, but is late because of the 'sleeping pill scandal'. He listens at the door as Abbott belittles his accomplishment as due to increased confidence caused by the mistaken belief that he was unusual in being able to read people's minds. So, he walks out, very depressed, and makes his way toward his home in Cucamonga. On the way, he buys a bird in a cage for his mother. But, the cage is smashed and the bird escapes when he stops to help a farmer get his stubborn mule to continue pulling his 'egg buggy'. But when he gets home, he's greatly elated because his girlfriend? greets him very enthusiastically. Also there are Abbott's cousin and his secretary, his mother, and the president of the company. He receives a $10,000. bonus for showing the other salesmen the way, and is made sales manager for the Cucamonga district. In addition, Abbott has been fired, with his cousin taking his former position.
Costello has been listening to some records telling how to be a good salesman, and wants to try out what he has learned on a man who has stopped by their little store to fill his tires with air(free). Lou tries to sell him everything they have for sale, giving reasons why he would be better off with them. But, the man is resistant to all temptations. Finally, as he is about to drive off, Lou puts a box of various things in the back of his station wagon, then runs to tell his mother(Mary Gordon) he made a sale. He runs and falls over the bottom half of their Dutch door, the top half being open. Then, he realizes he didn't get paid. This prat fall through the door is repeated at the end of the film, when he wants to tell everybody that he just got engaged.
Then, there's the incident where he is in the outer office of Abbott's office, when the secretary/wife is speaking to a candidate to represent Hercules in advertisements of the Hercules vacuum cleaner. He steps out for a few minutes to get a drink of water. The secretary also steps out for a few minutes, leaving Costello to hear on the intercom Abbott say "Send that young man in". Costello assumes he means him, so he enters. Abbott is not impressed with his potential as Hercules, but tells him to undress so he can see his muscles. This he does in the office. Then the secretary and the real Hercules enter the office, and Abbott immediately hires the other candidate. Abbott runs to the closet to put his clothes on. Abbott wants to dismiss him, but his secretary talks up giving Lou a chance.
Lou gains entrance to the home of Margaret Dumont with his Hercules vacuum cleaner, and wants to demonstrate its utility. He pours a good amount of powdered charcoal on her carpet, then sweeps over it. It takes up the material on top, but leaves that which got down into the carpet. Then, he wants to demonstrate the ability of the vacuum as a blower, by putting the hose on the other end. It blows the dust it picked up from the carpet all over the room. Abbott wants to fire him, but Uncle Cleveland, who works there, suggests that he instead be reassigned from this LA area to the Stockton area, where Abbott's look alike cousin is the manager. On the overnight train to Stockton, Lou has trouble getting to his upper berth, trouble staying there and trouble undressing in the cramped quarters of his birth.
The last portion of the film is relatively lacking in humor, other than the 'sleeping pill scandal', involving Lou and Abbott's wife. Rather, its interest relies more on Lou's alternating extremes of depression and elation. He's depressed because he hasn't sold any vacuum cleaners, and because his girlfriend dispossessed him after the 'sleeping pill scandal'. Then, one day his luck changed, and he sold 9 cleaners: a new record. He's supposed to attend an evening celebration of his feat, but is late because of the 'sleeping pill scandal'. He listens at the door as Abbott belittles his accomplishment as due to increased confidence caused by the mistaken belief that he was unusual in being able to read people's minds. So, he walks out, very depressed, and makes his way toward his home in Cucamonga. On the way, he buys a bird in a cage for his mother. But, the cage is smashed and the bird escapes when he stops to help a farmer get his stubborn mule to continue pulling his 'egg buggy'. But when he gets home, he's greatly elated because his girlfriend? greets him very enthusiastically. Also there are Abbott's cousin and his secretary, his mother, and the president of the company. He receives a $10,000. bonus for showing the other salesmen the way, and is made sales manager for the Cucamonga district. In addition, Abbott has been fired, with his cousin taking his former position.