Jack and the Beanstalk - Abbott and Costello | clown ministry | Reviews

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Bud Abbott and Lou Costello - Jack and the Beanstalk - digitally remastered - DVD
Jack and the Beanstalk is one of the only two films that Abbott and Costello made in color. It is a children’s movie that adults can enjoy as well. The beginning and ending of the movie are filmed in black and white, with Bud and Lou playing their typical characters, Bud Abbott bossing around and taking advantage of Lou Costello—although that changes slightly at the end of the movie—with Bud having Lou work as a babysitter for an obnoxious child, who hits Lou on the head and launches the main part of the movie, with Lou dreaming in color of the story of Jack and the Beanstalk.

In his dream, Lou is Jack, who foolishly trades the family cow to the greedy town butcher, Mr. Dinklepuss (Bud Abbott) for a few worthless beans. True to the story, the beans grow into a magic beanstalk overnight, allowing Lou to climb the beanstalk to rescue the Princess and Prince (typical ‘starcrossed’ romance that slows the plot down slightly) from the evil Giant (by the same actor who earlier was the large beat cop that intimidated Lou in the ‘waking’ world).

As you would expect, all ends happily ever after. The movie, although definitely a children’s movie, is entertaining Abbott and Costello in its’ own right at well. There are several funny scenes, good verbal jousting between Jack and Mr. Dinklepuss. Recommended, especially if you have chidlren; my five-year-old son was frightened of the scenes with the giant, but now that he’s 7, he likes the film without reservation.