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| Charles Laughton as Captain Kidd |
ABBOTT AND COSTELLO MEET CAPTAIN KIDD (1952). Director: Charles Lamont.
Seven years after playing Captain Kidd in a serious film, Charles Laughton reprised the role in this parody with Bud Abbott (Rocky) and Lou Costello (Puddin' Head). The fellows are working at the Death's Head tavern when Kidd comes in for a meal with lady pirate Ann Bonney (Hillary Brooke) -- who was a real-life Irish pirate. Bonney and Kidd argue over who gets what of the treasure that has been secreted on Skull island, and Lou winds up possessing a map that shows the location of said treasure. Unfortunately, the map keeps getting confused with a love letter sent by Lady Jane (Fran Warren) to the amorous singer, Bruce Martingale (Bill Shirley). Everyone winds up on a ship heading for the island while Lou and Kidd try to outwit each other and Bonney inexplicable finds Puddin Head's charms irresistible.
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| Laughton and Lou Costello mug |
Abbott and Costello Meet Captain Kidd starts out as a very funny comedy with everyone in good form, especially Laughton, who plays the role with perhaps just a touch more humor than before. Laughton and Lou Costello prove to be a good team in this, and poor Abbott is somewhat shunted to the side. Hillary Brooke could give decent performances in some films but there is an extra comical edge to the notion that she is actually doing scenes with the great Charles Laughton, as she is nowhere in his league as an actor. Costello sometimes overdoes his shtick, which was typical for him. Bill Shirley has a nice voice and he and Fran Warren get to warble some rather pleasant songs by Russell and Lee:
Captain Kidd, A Bachelor's Life, Tonight We Sail, Tall Pine, and
North of Nowhere, the last two being romantic ballads. The movie is cute, Laughton is terrific, but eventually it just gets too silly and too many gags are repeated ad nauseam.
Verdict: Just misses being an Abbott and Costello classic. **3/4.
This was the first time I ever saw Charles Laughton in a film. Those good Sunday morning black and white movies as I was growing up - all the Ma and Pa Kettles, the Shirley Temples, the Saints, and of course, the Abbott and Costellos - all helped give me the movie bug.
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Me, too, Chris! However, I don't think I saw this particular film until years later. I remember even back then thinking that it was a bit odd having Charles Laughton in an Abbott and Costello movie!
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