he was established as one of Universal's most efficient directors. So it was with surprise and reluctance that Lamont received his new assignment: Abbott and Costello movies. These comedy features were moneymakers for the studio but had no prestige at all, and Lamont bristled at what seemed to be a backward career move. His Universal bosses explained their need for a good comedy director who could do the job indefinitely, and Lamont came to realize that "Abbott and Costello were my future." Lamont remained with the team until the studio cut them loose in 1955. Lamont also directed Universal's successful Ma and Pa Kettle comedies; his last film was the final Francis the Talking Mule comedy, Francis in the Haunted House (1956). Lamont died of pneumonia in Woodland Hills, Los Angeles in 1993 at age 98. Selected filmography Short subjects ZorroThe Big Game (1923)Don't Play Hookey (1923)Mama's Baby Boy (1923)Hats (1924)Her City Sport (1924)Raisin' Cain (1925)Maid in Morocco (1925)Sea Scamps (1926)My Kid (1926)Brunettes Prefer Gentlemen (1927)Scared Silly (1927)Misplaced Husbands (1928)The Crazy Nut (1929)Fake Flappers (1929)Dance with Me (1930)Don't Get Excited (1930)My Kid (1931)Fast and Furious (1931)The Pie-Covered Wagon (1932)War Babies (1932) (one of eight Baby Burlesks films with Shirley Temple, 1932–33)Merrily Yours (1933)Pardon my Pups (1934)Managed Money (1934)The Gold Ghost (1934)Allez Oop (1934)Palooka from Paducah (1935)Hayseed Romance (1935)Tars and Stripes (1935)The E-Flat Man (1935)Restless Knights (1935)Three on a Limb (1936)Grand Slam Opera (1936)Love Nest on Wheels (1937)Playing the Ponies (1937)Jail Bait (1937)Ditto (1937)The Wrong Miss Wright (1937)Calling All Doctors (1937) Feature films Sons of Steel (1934)Circumstantial Evidence (1935)The Lady in Scarlet (1935)Tomorrow's Youth (1935)A Shot in the Dark (1935)False Pretenses (1935)The Dark Hour (1936)Bulldog Edition (1936)Below the Deadline (1936)Lady Luck (1936)Ring Around the Moon (1936)Wallaby Jim of the Islands (1937)Shadows Over Shanghai (1938)Slander House (1938)Cipher Bureau (1938)International Crime (1938)Long Shot (1939)Verbena Tragica (1939)Unexpected Father (1939)Pride of the Navy (1939)Panama Patrol (1939)Inside Information (1939)Give Us Wings (1940)Oh Johnny, How You Can Love (1940)San Antonio Rose (1941)Road Agent (1941)You're Telling Me (1942)Get Hep to Love (1942)Don't Get Personal (1942)It Comes Up Love (1942)Almost Married (1942)Top Man (1943)When Johnny Comes Marching Home (1943)Mister Big (1943)Hit the Ice (1943)Bowery to Broadway (1944)Chip Off the Old Block (1944)The Merry Monahans (1944)Salome Where She Danced (1945)Frontier Gal (1945)Slave Girl (1947)The Untamed Breed (1948)Ma and Pa Kettle (1949)Bagdad (1949)Ma and Pa Kettle Go to Town (1950)Abbott and Costello in the Foreign Legion (1950)Curtain Call at Cactus Creek