Abbott and Costello Meet Captain Kidd

Abbott and Costello Meet Captain Kidd
Theatrical release poster
Directed byCharles Lamont
Written byHoward Dimsdale
John Grant
Produced byAlex Gottlieb
StarringBud Abbott
Lou Costello
Charles Laughton
Hillary Brooke
Leif Erickson
Fran Warren
CinematographyStanley Cortez
Edited byEdward Mann
Music byRaoul Kraushaar
Production
company
Distributed byWarner Bros. Pictures
Release dates
  • December 17, 1952 (1952-12-17) (Chicago)[1]
  • December 24, 1952 (1952-12-24) (Los Angeles)[2]
Running time
70 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$701,688[3]
Box office$2 million (U.S.)[4]

Abbott and Costello Meet Captain Kidd is a 1952 American comedy film directed by Charles Lamont and starring the comedy team of Abbott and Costello along with Charles Laughton, who reprised his role as the infamous pirate from the 1945 film Captain Kidd. It was the second film shot in SuperCinecolor, a three-color version of the two-color Cinecolor process that utilized an Eastmancolor negative, as Cinecolor did not offer three-color origination, only two-color origination via bipack.

Plot

On their way to their jobs at the Death's Head Tavern, Oliver "Puddin' Head" Johnson and Rocky Stonebridge encounter Lady Jane, who asks them to bring a love note to the tavern singer, Bruce Martingale.

At the tavern, the notorious Captain Kidd dines with Captain Anne Bonney, a female pirate. She complains that Kidd raided ships in her territory and demands her share of the treasure. Kidd informs Bonney that he has hidden the amassed treasure on Skull Island, and that he has the only map showing its exact location. He agrees to take her, with her ship following close behind in the event of a double-cross. But as Oliver nervously waits on them, he inadvertently switches Lady Jane's love note with Kidd's map. Rocky discovers the mistake and negotiates with Kidd to take them along and share the treasure in exchange for the map. Kidd ostensibly agrees, but he intends to kill Oliver and Rocky once he takes possession of the map.

The voyage begins with the addition of Bruce, who has been shanghaied. Kidd unsuccessfully attempts to regain the map throughout the entire voyage. Meanwhile, Bonney mistakenly believes that Lady Jane's love note was written to Oliver and becomes intrigued. During the voyage, Kidd raids an English ship carrying Lady Jane and kidnaps her.

When the ships reach Skull Island, Oliver and Rocky dig to find the treasure. Kidd arrogantly declares his plans to kill them along with Captain Bonney, who alerts the others to Kidd's true intentions and signals her crew to attack. Bonney's crew wins the fight, the treasure is recovered and Kidd becomes her prisoner.

Cast

Production

Abbott and Costello Meet Captain Kidd was filmed from February 27 through March 25, 1952.[5] As Universal Pictures would not spend the extra money to produce the film in color, Abbott and Costello opted to produce it themselves. Using a contractual agreement with Universal that permitted them to create one independent film per year, they produced the film using Abbott's company, Woodley Productions.[5]

Charles Laughton, at a low period in his career, was paid just $25,000.[6] On April 6, 1952, shortly after filming was completed, Abbott and Costello hosted an episode of the Colgate Comedy Hour with Laughton as a guest.[7] Later that year, the three men filmed a two-minute commercial for Christmas Seals.[8]

The handcuff scene first performed in Who Done It? (1942) is recycled in the film. In this version, Captain Kidd demonstrates to Oliver how handcuffs should be worn by latching them on himself.[5]

Release

Abbott and Costello Meet Captain Kidd premiered in Chicago on December 17, 1952, with Abbott and Costello appearing in person.[1]

The film was rereleased in 1960 by RKO Pictures.

Reception

Critic Grace Kingsley of the Los Angeles Times wrote: "Charles Laughton is here debuting in slapstick, and adds prodigiously to the fun, in fact may be said almost to steal the picture. ... Many of the gags are blase, but there are some fresh ones, too. It's a good take-off on pirate screen yarns any way, and Laughton, besides his slapsticking, adds some amusing satirical touches."[2]

Home media

The film, along with Rio Rita, was released on DVD format on April 1, 2011 through the Warner Archive Collection.

References

  1. 1 2 Hopper, Hedda (December 1, 1952). "Mature to Start His Sixth Picture of Year". Chicago Tribune. p. 11, Part 3.
  2. 1 2 Kingsley, Grace (December 25, 1952). "Abbott, Costello Vie with Laughton in Farce". Los Angeles Times. p. 16, Part II.
  3. ↑ Furmanek p 231.
  4. ↑ "Top Grossers of 1953". Variety. 193 (6): 10–11. January 13, 1954.
  5. 1 2 3 Furmanek, Bob and Ron Palumbo (1991). Abbott and Costello in Hollywood. New York: Perigee Books. ISBN 0-399-51605-0
  6. ↑ "Charles Laughton". Hollywood Greats. Series 2. Episode 5. August 31, 1978. 29 minutes in.
  7. ↑ "Television Review: Television Followup Comment". Variety. April 9, 1952. p. 42. ProQuest 962787014. Bud Abbott and Lou Costello came up with one of their better television stints of the season as stars of NBC-TV's 'Colgate Comedy Hour' Sunday night (6). In the usual A&C idiom, the comics stressed their knockabout slapsticking while building almost an hour-long plug for the N. Y. opening this week of their latest film, 'Jack and the Beanstalk.' For once, though, the show had some entertaining moments for other than the rabid A&C fans, [...] Charles Laughton, in the top guest spot, entered into the spirit by gaging it up with the comics, to the point of even taking a pratfall for his walkoff. He negated most of his impact, though, by swinging into a dramatically legit recitation of the Gettysburg Address in the middle of the sketch. He did a good job on it, but the buildup certainly didn't motivate its inclusion.
  8. ↑ "Abbott and Costello Are Sparking Screen Actors' Xmas Seal Campaign". The Hollywood Reporter. November 20, 1952. p. 9. ProQuest 338113828. The National Tuberculosis Assn. has named Bud Abbott and Lou Costello co-chairmen of a screen stars' special committee to spur the sale of 1952 Christmas Seals. [...] Bud and Lou and Charles Laughton, who appear together in 'Abbott and Costello Meet Captain Kidd,' will be seen soon in the annual Christmas Seal short.
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