weezeralfalfa
This is one of a small group of Hollywood films produced in the '40s and early '50s that were completely comical treatments of classical European pirates of bygone centuries. These usually featured one well established star of both physical and verbal comedy, or in the present case, a pair of such. Other examples include: "The Princess and the Pirate", featuring Bob Hope, and "Double Crossbones", featuring Don O'Connor. They are otherwise all quite different from each other in their details. These other two include only one song by a principal actor, and one of these was dubbed. In contrast, the present film includes half a dozen songs, sung by 3 featured singers, and often a chorus included. Thus, it's really a musical pirate farce, rather than a simple farce. All of the songs were composed special for this film by the team of Bob Russell and Lester Lee. I'm no A & C expert, but my impression is that their Universal films usually included a number of songs sung by others or themselves. Thus, this rare Warner production is simply following this successful formula. Leif Erickson was primarily an actor, as in this film, but before he became an actor, he was a singer and trombonist. Thus, he is one of the lead singers in several group sings....This is your one chance to see and hear sing the big band singer Fran Warren, in a Hollywood film. She and singer/actor Bill Shirley, are the featured romantic couple(other than the farcical 'romance' between short 'Puddin Head'(Lou) and taller Captain Bonney(Hillary Brooke). Their romance and their love songs may seem out of step with the rest of the film, but I'm sure they were included to provide an occasional respite from the general mayhem, and to add a bit of class to an otherwise classless knockabout experience. Universal frequently used this formula in the Don O'Connor/Peggy Ryan films during the war years, with a couple of songs by their highbrow singing specialists, mixed with the otherwise jive and comical songs and skits. They sing two love songs: the excellent "Speak to Me of the Tall Pine", while on the ship, and later "North of Nowhere" on Skull Island. In both cases, Fran began, and Bill finished. The second one wasn't as good, and was interrupted several times by the shenanigans of others.When Kidd's pirate crew lands at the infamous pirate hangout of Tortuga, while the others are drinking and making out with the local whores, Bill starts the rousing "A Bachelor's Life", quite appropriate for the situation, later accompanied by various others. When Kidd's crew are ready to sail to Skull Island to dig up a buried treasure chest, the group sings the appropriate rousing song "Tonight We Sail". At the ending is another brief group sing of "Away Ay Aye Ay", as the crew celebrate their finding of the treasure and victory over the scheming Kidd, and prepare to sail home. Lou is now strutting around as captain, while a cursing Laughton hangs upside.Casting Chalres Laughton as a blustery buffoon version of Kidd was a stroke of genius. Some years earlier he had played Kidd in "Captain Kidd", and he had played a sadistic version of Captain Bligh to the hilt, back in the '30s. Here, he provides the simple main plot of the story in going to the small uninhabited tropical Skull Island to dig up a treasure chest. This is a repeat of the burial and digging up of a treasure chest, accompanied by a skull, in "Captain Kidd". It's also perhaps a reference to the much better received Disney version of "Treasure Island", filmed just a couple of years earlier.Laughton provides an entertaining blend of bluster and buffoonery, mostly in combination with the meek counter-conniving A & C, and Hillary Brooke, as Anne Bonney, to make the film work.Speaking of Hillary, her Anne Bonney must have had elevator shoes, as she is listed as only 5'6", yet usually towers over the 5'5" Lou, and usually looks a bit taller than the listed 5'8 Bud and Laughton. The commonly shown drawing of Anne Bonney has her looking willowy. However, Hillary exhibited none of Anne's reported fiery personality, nor presumed Irish accent. Rather, she retained her trademark rather regal demeanor, with cultured British accent, serving as A & C's scheming aid and Lou's love interest. She cultivated her fake British accent early in her career to help distinguish her from competing actress hopefuls. It worked better than she imagined, resulting in her generally being cast as fairly regal. Even A & C, infamous for their off-screen practical jokes, reportedly exempted her from their foolery.As for A & C, as might be expected in a pirate farce, they emphasize physical slapstick comedy more than verbal comedy. This bothers some A & C aficionados, but it doesn't bother me. If you're weary of all those predictable straight pirate yarns, usually with mangled or no historical basis, check out some of the slapstick-dominated ones. This includes the recent animated "The Pirates: Band of Misfits". The Hope-dominated film is generally considered to be the best of the lot, with Virginia Mayo as his princess, to be saved. Although an older film, it's Technicolor, sets, and costumes are particularly gorgeous.
crispy_comments
One of the least funny "comedies" I've ever seen. I can't believe the IMDb rating for this is so close to that of the original "Captain Kidd" (1945). I like Charles Laughton but this is just beneath him. If you want to see him in a truly funny, witty comedy, check out "Ruggles Of Red Gap" (1935).Fran Warren's singing is just about the only highlight here. I was quite annoyed when one of her songs was interrupted for more stupid gags. Her romantic subplot and "characterization" (haha) is practically non-existent, but at least her musical numbers (as forgettable as the songs are) provide a respite from the rest of the idiocy.I'm not big on Abbott and Costello, but I assume this is near the end of their career, and they've done better work? They'd never be so famous if "Meet Captain Kidd" was typical for them, right? Recommended if you enjoy obvious physical "humour", childish slapstick, lame running gags (more like, tired limping gags), just plain bad writing, amateurish directing/editing, and what seems like a constant background noise of pirates yelling along with a clunky musical score which seems to desperately implore, "laugh here! please? are we having fun yet?" I almost feel sorry for this movie. But I feel sorrier for myself and anyone else who tries to get through it.I've read that Warner's done some grand restoration which they're planning to release on DVD. Although I normally hate to see films deteriorate like this one has, not taken care of over the years ...this is SUCH a bad movie, I can't help feeling it's not worth the time and expense! So many better movies deserve rescuing more than this piece of crap. But I suppose A&C are bankable names and even their weakest (to put it kindly) stuff will sell... which is all Warner Bros. cares about. I hope my review encourages some people to save their money. Arrggh, mateys! Hide your loot from those cutthroats who would rob you! And remember, my "clever" pirate reference just now, is more hilarious than all the jokes in "Meet Captain Kidd", put together. Yes, it's THAT BAD.
NativeTexan
Abbot and Costello, Without question the greatest comedy team ever, take no prisoners in this mix of Treasure Island, Captain Kidd, Mutiny on the Bounty, Kidnapped! and a few other maritime classics. Oscar-winner Charles Laughton, most of whose roles were comedic in the well-bred English way (not the music hall way!) had no qualms about working with the great Abbot and Costello in this hilarious homage to all those pictures about sailing on the high seas.
