Les joyeux pirates

Charles Laughton did a badly edited biographical film of Captain Kidd in 1945 although his performance as the cockney captain with aspirations to class is memorable. We don't often get a second crack at roles when they don't become mega-hits, but Laughton got it and made the most of it.

Laughton got one here although he had to take on Abbott and Costello as co-stars. But I will say that the distinguished Mr. Laughton more than held his own with those two burlesque comics. Especially when you consider that his co-stars names were in the title of the film.

Of course it was fans of A&C who went to see the film, but you get your audiences from where they come. Check Laughton's deadpan face when he's doing the old handcuff gag where Costello thinks he's got Captain Kidd cuffed behind his back and helpless. They did the same routine on their television show with Gordon Jones as Mike the Cop and the results are just as hilarious.

Speaking of the television show, Hillary Brooke from the cast of their show is also on hand as Laughton's rival, Captain Bonnie. Fran Warren and Bill Shirley have a great pair of voices, too bad the songs that they got to sing in the film aren't worthy of them.

Abbott and Costello were on a downward slide of their careers, but this film does hearken back to their early days at Universal when they were grinding out a whole bunch of comedy gems.

But the thing that has always gotten me about this film is the way Charles Laughton just dove right in to the slapstick spirit of this movie. Costello was known for not getting along with several of his co-stars, many of them had less than kind things to say. But according to observers, Laughton got along just fine with the boys.

You can tell by the side splitting results.

Considering that Abbott and Costello had done "Meet The Invisible Man" the previous year, this film was a big comedown for them. But then again, considering that around the same period they also did "Comin' Round The Mountain" and "Lost In Alaska", maybe "Meet Captain Kidd" was par for the course. The saddest part here (apart maybe from all the singing that at times makes you feel as if you're watching a second-rate musical) is to observe how few verbal elements have remained in A&C's comedy; instead, their humor has been reduced to the lowbrow, unsophisticated slapstick of mugging, dumb misunderstandings, and people falling down or getting hit with shovels. But sometimes A&C's talent still comes through and the film can make you laugh in spite of yourself. Charles Laughton is loud, bombastic and takes a lot of bumps, to generally unfunny effect; Hillary Brooke is downright sexy as a female captain, and is without a doubt the brightest spot of this movie. (**)

I am an admirer of Charles Laughton,who I regard as the finest ever British screen actor.This is often viewed as the nadir of his movie career but it did seem to me he entered into the spirit of proceedings admirably,mugging energetically and taking pratfalls with the best of them Bud and Lou will satisfy their fans but win no new devotees in a movie slowed down by stultifyingly bad musical interludes and the colour is garish and ugly

Laughton,seemingly relishing the chance to play a variant on the pantomime villains he doubtless enjoyed watching in the theatre as a child,is the main reason to give this the time of day

This curiosity bears a title liable to raise eyebrows when discerning viewers notice it among Charles Laughton's credits and are too squeamish to investigate any further; the knowledge that Laughton made it simply so that he could afford to purchase a painting increasing their trepidation. But if you are rash enough to actually watch it Laughton seems to be actively enjoying himself.

Although every expense has plainly been spared, it was the top grosser of 1953, benefits from being photographed in colour by veteran cameraman Stanley Cortez; while Laughton is well matched by Hillary Brooke giving a lusty, thigh-slapping portrayal of Anne Bonney in tight britches and principal boy boots.

Rocky and Oliver `Puddin' are happy go-luck folk in a port town. When they try to deliver a love letter from Lady Jane to sailor Bruce they get trapped on the ship of Captain Kidd. Kidd's treasure map gets mixed with Bruce's love letter and Oliver finds himself in a whole heap of hot water.

The story doesn't really matter – every A&C film has a silly setup for them to do their stuff, what does matter is the comedy. Here fans (of whom I'm one) will be happy that A&C are their usual selves despite looking older and fuller around the waist. Their routines are good and Captain Kidd gets involved well.

The problem with the film is that it moves away from the values of their older films. The Technicolour is pretty horrible and actually takes away from the film – making it feel like a gaudy matinee C-movie instead of a comedy classic. What is worse is the tonne of poor musical numbers – they really slow down the comedy, in fact they seem to take up most of the film. The romance element is also dull. However fans will be happy with both A&C's performances and Charles Laughton, who could easily have looked done hi nose at this, joins in really well and hams it up.

Overall this is not one of their best, but Abbot and Costello fans will enjoy their antics, but feel free to fast forward all the songs.