Unlimitedia Sick Product of a Sick System

Brainsbell The story-telling is good with flashbacks.The film is both funny and heartbreaking. You smile in a scene and get a soulcrushing revelation in the next.

Portia Hilton Blistering performances.

Caryl It is a whirlwind of delight --- attractive actors, stunning couture, spectacular sets and outrageous parties. It's a feast for the eyes. But what really makes this dramedy work is the acting.

johcafra 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.

John T. Ryan 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!

Kenneth Eagle Spirit Abbott and Costello's talents shine in the happily childish version of "Jack and the Beanstalk". The use of sepia tone and colour, the music and choreography, song and dance, the crossing over of players from one role to another, plus various other aspects of this very fine movie make it obvious that techniques and styles used for "The Wizard of Oz" are being toyed with here. And that works right well for our intrepid duo. There are certain other things involved that make this movie a treat for me ... Buddy Baer's, Max Baer Jr. of "The Beverly Hillbillies" uncle, appearance as the cop and the giant. Pat Costello, Lou's brother, having been involved in the writing of the script. These things help make this film fun. It does, however, have it's down side. I do think that the choreography is poorly done. But the cute tunes and accompanying vocals help detract from the rather sloppy dance numbers. Some of the players, the couple in love ( prince and princess ) to be precise, aren't very good at their trade. But these things are a small price to pay for an otherwise throughly enjoyable walk down the yellow brick ... er, I mean ... climb up the beanstalk.

capricorn9 Just purchased this film on DVD along with their Africa Screams for $4.99! While it does turn out to be the full 81 minute version it is a very bad print It is still worth having in a collection and a joy to watch. Abbott looks tired though but a surprise to see Costello jumping around and carrying on, although I know a lot of it was stunt work. The disc also has a cute trivia section and BIOS. The above review mentions the giant as Max Baer Sr (Jethro's father) but the IMDb lists him as Buddy Baer, Max's brother. Of course the change from sepia to colour is very reminiscent of Oz and watching it one could almost think it was made around the same time, but it's 1952!