I don't know why, but this film always has been one I've repeatedly watched since childhood. Now, I would probably be insane if I said the musical numbers were fantastic. They're not. The opening song and "A Bachelor's Life" are definitely the best; mainly because they're parodies and work fine as such. The two romantic numbers? Not only are they poor, but they seem completely out of place. Then, there's the horrible technicolor. A&C could have worked fine in color; but this and Jack & The Beanstalk are marred by really cheap technicolor along with bad editing.
Charles Laughton's Captain Kidd is fantastically funny. A treat to see such a well groomed actor enjoy slapstick. Many A-list stars hated working with comedians. But Laughton wanted to do this. And it shows.
Then, there's Abbott & Costello. Their energy, as usual, is fantastic, but you don't see them too much. Perhaps because they co-produced the film and as a result had much on their plate. But, because their screen time isn't as great as their 40s movies, each scene with them is a comedic gem. Hilary Brooke, borrowed from their TV show, brings almost more menace than Captain Kidd as Captain Bonny. She definitely helps balance the stars.
The rest of the cast treat the film as a fun parody, resulting in great energy from all. Everyone seems relaxed and maybe too relaxed, as some of the scenes are really over the top. It's like they were directed: "This is a children's comedy. Go big!!" And they really do.
As for the special effects, they still hold up quite well. Which is odd, considering they are far better than the script. Did the script just say "Captain Kidd goes to island for Treasure, and gets mixed up with two fools?" Because half the film feels ad libbed.
Anyway, it's far from Abbott & Costello's best work, but still a fun romp for all.
Charles Laughton's Captain Kidd is fantastically funny. A treat to see such a well groomed actor enjoy slapstick. Many A-list stars hated working with comedians. But Laughton wanted to do this. And it shows.
Then, there's Abbott & Costello. Their energy, as usual, is fantastic, but you don't see them too much. Perhaps because they co-produced the film and as a result had much on their plate. But, because their screen time isn't as great as their 40s movies, each scene with them is a comedic gem. Hilary Brooke, borrowed from their TV show, brings almost more menace than Captain Kidd as Captain Bonny. She definitely helps balance the stars.
The rest of the cast treat the film as a fun parody, resulting in great energy from all. Everyone seems relaxed and maybe too relaxed, as some of the scenes are really over the top. It's like they were directed: "This is a children's comedy. Go big!!" And they really do.
As for the special effects, they still hold up quite well. Which is odd, considering they are far better than the script. Did the script just say "Captain Kidd goes to island for Treasure, and gets mixed up with two fools?" Because half the film feels ad libbed.
Anyway, it's far from Abbott & Costello's best work, but still a fun romp for all.