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"ABBOTT AND COSTELLO MEET CAPTAIN KIDD" DVD Review by Kevin Carr MOVIE: *** (out of 5 stars) DVD EXPERIENCE: * (out of 5 stars) Not Rated Studio: Warner Archives Back to DVD Review Home |  |
WHAT IT’S ABOUT
Legendary comedy team Bud Abbott and Lou Costello star in this 1952 feature, which sees them joining with Captain Kidd to search for a treasure on Skull Island. Featuring Charles Laughton as the notorious Captain Kidd, this film features musical numbers and plenty of slapstick comedy that Abbott and Costello are known for.
WHAT I LIKED
Even though I haven’t seen a ton of films from the 40s and 50s, I have enjoyed many of the older comedy teams. While Laurel and Hardy are my personal favorites, I also enjoyed the energy and fun behind the Abbott and Costello duo.
This release from Warner Archives brings this relatively forgotten picture back to availability on DVD, and that’s always neat to see. Like other Abbott and Costello pictures, it’s Costello who gets most of the spotlight against Abbott as the straight man. This films sees Costello even more on the forefront as he goes head-to-head with Charles Laughton, whose portrayal of Captain Kidd is reminiscent of his Captain Bligh from “Mutiny on the Bounty.
With a run time of only 70 minutes, this movie plays more like a long television show than a feature film, which gives it a level of energy and fun. Before the “Pirates of the Caribbean” movies took hold several years ago, these seafaring fun adventures were all but lost. It’s nice to revisit one of them again.
WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE
Back in the 50s, making a movie “fun” apparently meant you had to throw in a slew of songs. This movie has several numbers in it that really don’t fit into the flow of the story. I understand that singing pirates and sailors weren’t unheard of in the 50s, but they do take away from the more direct comedy elements.
Also, because this comes from Warner Archive, it’s a straight transfer of the film, warts and all. There’s tons of blemishes on the print, and the color is in dire need of remastering. Normally, this doesn’t bother me, especially for the black and white releases, but this was shot in color and looks like it had some real pop to it in its original print.
However, this is a result of the library series, and it’s nice to see the movie get some exposure even if it’s not pristine. In short, I’d love to have a remastered version, but a presentation with visual problems is better than no presentation at all.
DVD FEATURES
Nothing but the film.
WHO’S GOING TO LIKE THIS MOVIE
People looking for some more obscure Abbott and Costello films.
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"THE TWO MRS. CARROLLS" DVD Review by Kevin Carr MOVIE: **1/2 (out of 5 stars) BLU-RAY EXPERIENCE: * (out of 5 stars) Not Rated Studio: Warner Archives Back to DVD Review Home |  |
WHAT IT’S ABOUT
Humphrey Bogart stars as Geoffrey Carroll, an artist who isn’t quite right in the head. After meeting a woman on vacation and falling in love with her, he returns home to his wife, who no longer serves as inspiration for his art. After he poisons his wife, he marries a new one. However, when she starts to be less of an inspiration for Geoffrey, she becomes a new victim.
WHAT I LIKED
Like many of the movies of the film noir genre, this movie gets points for having some pretty dark subject matter. Murder and infidelity have always been great plot elements, and “The Two Mrs. Carrolls” presents them both in an oddly relateable manner.
The stars are really what makes the movie work, with it being short on action and thrills and heavy on the talking. Spotlighting Bogart as the lead and Barbara Stanwyck as the next victim, this film has a cast list that was dreamed of in the studio system from the 40s.
“The Two Mrs. Carrolls” isn’t greatly remembered, but it’s one of those movies that might catch my attention were I flipping through the dial on a lazy Saturday afternoon.
WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE
The biggest problems this movie has is its pacing and its flow. It seems to run quite long for as simple of a story it is. Most of the plot is revealed in dialogue, and the suspense isn’t as strong as it could be. Maybe if it were edited down a bit and tightened up, it’d have a better focus. The charisma of Bogart and Stanwyck can only go so far to make things work.
DVD FEATURES
None.
WHO’S GOING TO LIKE THIS MOVIE
Fans of lesser-known film noir.
