Odelecol Pretty good movie overall. First half was nothing special but it got better as it went along.

Humaira Grant It’s not bad or unwatchable but despite the amplitude of the spectacle, the end result is underwhelming.

Usamah Harvey The film's masterful storytelling did its job. The message was clear. No need to overdo.

Sameer Callahan It really made me laugh, but for some moments I was tearing up because I could relate so much.

wes-connors In the 17th century, "Death's Head Tavern" waiters Bud Abbott (as Rocky Stonebridge) and Lou Costello (as Oliver "Puddin' head" Feathergill) meet blustery Charles Laughton (as Captain Kidd) and his tall blonde rival Hillary Brooke (as Captain Bonney). Abbott and Lou Costello accidentally obtain a treasure map and use it to join Mr. Laughton and the pirates on a trip to "Skull Island" with young lovers Bill Shirley (as Bruce Martingale) and Fran Warren (as Lady Jane) also venturing forward. This noisy, cluttered musical comedy captures the box office stars and their big name guest at low tide.*** Abbott and Costello Meet Captain Kidd (12/27/52) Charles Lamont ~ Lou Costello, Charles Laughton, Bud Abbott, Hillary Brooke

Robert J. Maxwell Abbott and Costello had made a lot of money for Universal Studios. They first peaked in the early 40s, then there was a refractory period, then they began to meet Universal's monsters one by one and the money rolled in again until their final decline in the 50s. The studio was apparently reluctant to fund their meeting with Captain Kidd, Kidd not being one of their copyrighted monsters or anything, and besides there was the expense of hiring Charles Laughton as the Bad Captain, and shooting the thing in color.The gags are mostly obvious and rather lame. Perhaps the best is when Costello believes he has Laughton handcuffed and begins to insult him to his face. Laughton briefly wipes his nose and returns his hand to its cuffed position but Costello has noticed the movement out of the corner of his eye, and his laughter gradually turns to tears.A more typical gag: Laughton throws Costello out the door, Costello bumps into a waiter carrying a tray of silverware, and Costello, waiter, and silverware go crashing to the deck, all tangled up. The musical interludes are instantly forgettable. The ex vaudeville team seem as tired as the gags, although Laughton seems to be enjoying himself immensely.I used to get a charge out of all the Abbott and Costello movies when I was a child and, from time to time, find myself in a mood receptive to "Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein," which has some suspenseful moments and is coherently structured. That's relatively speaking.For the most part, their movies are best left to the kids under the age of ten, if they can be prodded into watching an old black-and-white comedy.

Spondonman I taped this off UK TV in 1988 – the washed out condition of the print even then made it look as if it could be from 300 years ago, but recently seeing the even more degraded copy TCM US is showing made me think it really was! How did this get into such a state – the wobbly cheap colour and choppy copies from multiple TV dupes haven't helped to be sure, but it all makes it a bit of an ordeal to sit through without rose-tinted glasses on.At the cutely named Death's Head Tavern Bud & Lou unwittingly join forces with Charles Laughton playing Captain Kidd on the track of a treasure island – much fun is made of the map of Skull Island continually getting mixed up with Lou's supposed My Darling Darling Darling love letter. Add a deliberately devilish Leif Erickson as a sidekick for Laughton and elegant Hilary Brook as a pantomime Captain Bonney for something good to look at and you have the main crew. There's plenty of lusty non-pc songs, maybe too many but some not too bad and all well sung, my favourite being the romantic Speak To Me sung by the corny romantic leads on the pirate ship. It was the 2nd of the two films A&C did for Warners in 1952 (this was Bud's choice, Jack was Lou's), and was amazingly successful noisy slapstick at the time; the reason given by Laughton as to why he accepted the role was to learn how to do double takes from Costello. He generally hammed it up nicely and he and the boys in particular seemed to enjoy themselves, but it all seemed a bit too laboured at times.For anyone new who might be interested in A&C this is not the film to start with, unless you're under 10 years old. And yet … I still end up watching this jolly nonsense every five years or so, never mind the grotty condition.

Venturedp I'm a huge fan of A&C and realized that the Captain Kidd story was not part of my collection. I have noticed from other comments that the viewing copies of both Jack and The Beanstalk and A&C Meet Captain Kidd are horrendous...I did get to see the Jack and the Beanstalk..and was appalled at the transfer. My being a cinematographer here in Hollywood I know that if these films were brought to a decent telecine house that amazing improvements can be made to the original color. It's a matter of getting the original negative from the print to start with then having a good colorist to work on it! So that being said...if anyone knows if and when the A&C Meet Captain Kidd will be on DVD...or if it has already been out there. I would love to see it. Noticed that Rio Rita is not available on DVD either. Also is A&C Meet Captain Kidd public domain?