Jack and the Beanstalk (1952)

First, the Goodtimes DVD release of this film is the one to get for people who have never seen this film before or have seen poor quality transfers of it. Very excellent quality and I am someone who had never seen this movie before--but it's hard for me to imagine there being a better print out there. So a big thumbs up to Goodtimes video for that.As for the film itself, I'm usually not one for cute and whimsical vehicles turned out by my favorite comedians. "Snow White and the Three Stooges" for instance is a prime example of cute and whimsy gone all wrong--but fortunately, this film doesn't reach that low level.While it's not prime A & C, "Jack and the Beanstalk" managed to hold my attention and I didn't find myself staring at my wristwatch waiting for the film to end. And the performances by all the actors involved were good enough--although by the closing minutes of the film I was left to wonder what happened to the Giant's housekeeper that Costello becomes infatuated with. One minute we see her leaving the Giant's castle with the cow, then she's never seen again--kind of odd. Overall, while I prefer my A & C a little more edgier & not geared towards kids so much, "Jack and the Beanstalk" is not a film that embarrasses the duo--a pleasant little vehicle that should delight the kids and maybe entertain the adults as well. 6 stars

C'mon, lighten up. This was for the kids in the matinée.Even when he acts in character Bud is the consummate straight man.Lou looks like he enjoys himself. He sings quite well. He and Buddy Baer (not quite a giant but close enough to count) do their own stunts.The musical score is excellent, with lyrics at times both thoughtful and hilarious.Mel Blanc and Arthur Shields lend their voices. Dorothy Ford lends her unique perspective.Of course it looks like a cartoon. It was supposed to.You can't get the genius of "Who's On First?" in every clip of a very long-running vaudeville act.For the very young at heart.

WE CAN WELL remember having seen this picture as part of the local businessmen's neighborhood Christmas show for the kids. It was at the old Ogden Theatre; which was located at 53rd & Marshfield in Chicago. This would be circa 1960; so it was obviously not a new release.HAVING BEEN WELL acquainted with the style and routines that made up Abbott & Costello's repertoire, we were somewhat disappointed with this movie. There seemed to be an emptiness about the whole storyline. And besides, we were used to the likes of HPLD THAT GHOST, RIO RITA and ABBOTT & COSTELLO MEET FRANKENSTEIN; not to mention the ABBOTT & COSTELLO TV Show. Where were landlord Mr. Fields (Sidney Fields), Mike the Cop (Gordon Jones) and Roberta (Hillary Brooke)? THIS METHOD OF introducing a two leveled story, with one foot in the real world and the other firmly planted in the nursery rhyme domain, was just too much to ask a kid to assimilate in the space of an hour and a half. After all, we wanted more of the likes pf 'Who's On First' and the old horse 'Mudder & Fodder' type of routines.WELL, YEARS LATER and after having once again viewed this movie, we find that it is a much better A & C vehicle than our memories had classified it. Perhaps we could chalk it all up to our reluctant maturation process as being at the central cause of this turn about; but none the less, this is neither a cheapie, nor an attempt to ca$h in on the A & C name. Nor is it a sad sort of feature, which at once exploits a great team's waning fame; while aiding in accelerating the decline of a fading star quality act. (In much the same manner as those pictures that Laurel & Hardy did at 20th Century-Fox).THE TRUTH BE told, JACK IN THE BEANSTALK (Exclusive Productions/Warner Brothers, 1952) was an excellent sojourn for this funny twosome into the genre of the Movie Musical. Oh, sure, many of their most successful comedies were also musicals, like RIO RITA or BUCK PRIVATES; but this is the first musical that really starred them in the primary roles; without other, more musically inclined performers.IN SHORT, THIS A & C movie was a fine mixture of A & C comedy and top notch original music and songs. WE CAN ONLY surmise that this was better as a musical comedy for an older crowd; not those snotty nosed little urchins at that free Christmas Show!

For us, an Abbott and Costello movie is something you have to be in the mood for. I'm very happy I recorded this -- my wife remembered it from when she was young, but I had never seen it. The family wanted to watch something not too serious before bed and this was selected.Our daughter has watched many of the old movies with us -- always complaining in the beginning, but most often coming around. She mostly ignored this in the beginning, preferring to check her email, but she started enjoying herself -- many times laughing out loud to the zaniness.It's wonderful to think you can have a fun evening with a 55yr old. The mono-colour introduction that blends into the full-colour fairy tale. It's a fun twist of a story that everyone is familiar with, that includes a little song and a little dance, along with everything you expect Lou and Bud to delivery.Watch it with your children and have a very fun evening!