Blu ray review: Jack and the Beanstalk (1952)
In the early 1950s, Bud Abbott and Lou Costello signed on to do a couple of indie productions to be shot in color. Costello’s company produced one, Jack and the Beanstalk (1952), while Abbott’s company produced another, Abbott and Costello Meet Captain Kidd (1954). Classic Flix and the 3-D Archive have beautifully restored Jack and the Beanstalk and released it to blu ray with a wealth of special features. It hasn’t looked or sounded this good since its initial release.
It is the classic story, but with Costello as Jack and Abbott as the wily Mr. Dinklepuss who initially cheats Jack into taking the “magic beans” and then wants to follow him up the beanstalk to steal the giant's valuables. However, the story is bracketed by typical Abbott and Costello comedy with the boys playing their usual screen characters. Shot in sepia tone, these scenes have the boys getting a job as babysitters where a conk on the head causes Lou to dream himself into the fairytale. Once the dream begins, the sepia changes to color. When that part of the story concludes, and we return to babysitter Lou, it is sepia again - - essentially the same structure as The Wizard of Oz (1939).
Everyone certainly realizes that Abbott and Costello are one of the top comedy teams in the entire history of motion pictures. If nothing else, most people are familiar with their classic Who’s on First wordplay routine. Bud and Lou had already appeared in several classic comedies at their home studio, including Buck Privates, Who Done It, and Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein. By the 1950s, they were investigating opportunities in television and exploring other areas for their movies.
Jack and the Beanstalk not only presents the great comedy of Abbott and Costello, but it is also a delightful family movie with color and songs that holds up well today. All ages will be entertained. And with a sharp, eye-popping restored blu ray, the experience is even greater.
The new blu ray has a wealth of special features. They include:
A newly recorded feature introduction by Lou's youngest daughter, Chris Costello
Audio commentary by Abbott and Costello expert Ron Palumbo, with recollections from Jack and the Beanstalk co-star David Stollery, who plays the child they are babysitting.
Newly discovered footage of Abbott and Costello performing "Who's on First" on December 2, 1940, a version of the routine never before seen.
Imperfect Spectrum: A Brief History of Cinecolor, the coloring process used by this production
Climbing the Scales: The Music of Jack and the Beanstalk by Ray Faiola
Promotion and Publicity by Ron Palumbo with photos and footage of Bud and Lou's April 1952 tour including the world premiere in Paterson, NJ.
Deleted scenes footage and photos by Ron Palumbo including a clip from the only surviving 35mm Jack and the Beanstalk color camera negative
Restored 1954 live television appearance with the Frankenstein Monster (Glenn Strange) and Creature from the Black Lagoon (Ben Chapman)
Jack and the Beanstalk radio sketch from 1945 with Rudy Vallee and on-screen photo gallery by Shane Fleming
Behind the scenes production photos by Chip Ordway including pre-production Kodachrome wardrobe test photos
Posters, pressbook and lobby cards photo gallery by Chip Ordway
Abbott and Costello Trailers - 18 rare original “Coming Attraction” previews including the Jack and the Beanstalk SuperCinecolor trailer and Abbott and Costello Meet Captain Kidd
All of this makes this 70th Anniversay blu ray special a must for anyone and everyone. It is an addition to your home video library that will be enjoyed by all ages and for many more years.
The blu ray is available at this link: BEANSTALK