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Bud Abbott, Lou Costello, Buddy Baer, Dorothy Ford, Shaye Cogan ... see more see more... , James Alexander , Barbara Brown , David Stollery , William Farnum , Johnny Conrad and Dancers , Joe Kirk

In 1952, the comedy team of Abbott and Costello entered into a joint agreement with producer Alex Gottlieb and Warner Brothers, whereby two color musical comedies would be produced: Bud Abbott would s... read more read more...erve as producer--owner of one of the films, while Lou Costello would do same for the other. Costello's contribution to this agreement was Jack and the Beanstalk, a kiddie-matinee adaptation of the famed fairy tale. Constructed along the lines of The Wizard of Oz, the film begins in black and white. Jack (Costello) is a professional baby-sitter, while Dink (Abbott) is Jack's "agent." After a run-in with a gargantuan cop (Buddy Baer) and a statuesque waitress (Dorothy Ford), Jack and Dink show up at the home of Eloise Larkin (Shaye Cogan), there to look after Eloise's troublesome nephew Donald (David Stollery) while the girl and her boyfriend Arthur Royal (James Alexander) rehearse at their community theatre. While reading the story of Jack and the Beanstalk to the bratty Donald, Jack falls asleep, and begins dreaming himself, and his cohorts, into the story as the impoverished boy sent out to sell the family cow. While en route to town with his cow, he encounters a shady butcher (Abbott) who bilks him out of his broken-down bovine for the price of a few 'magic' beans. In keeping with the traditional tale, Jack plants the beans and from them a magnificent vine grows and reaches into the clouds. Along with the butcher, Jack climbs into a fantastic world inhabited by a terrifying giant (Baer) and other magical creatures, including a gold egg-laying hen, a singing harp, and a distressed prince and princess. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Flixster Users

47% liked it

379 ratings

Critics

43% liked it

7 critics

G, 1 hr. 18 min.

Directed by: Jean Yarbrough

Release Date: April 12, 1952

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DVD Release Date: March 30, 1999

 

Stats: 45 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (45)

  • SirPant
    March 22, 2012
    SirPant
    Being a fan of the old classic American comedies, I'd looked forward to my first Abbott & Costello as I'd heard nothing but good things. After reading up on them though, it looks as though Jack and the Beanstalk wasn't the best place for me to start. A relief and a disappointment... read more, I do hope their other films are better than this, I'm sure they are because you can't get much worse than this. I understand though that this was part of a two picture deal along with Abbott and Costello Meet Captain Kidd that was made for kids, so I'm not giving up yet!
  • trisarahtops22
    February 7, 2011
    trisarahtops22
    Weird, but not in a good way. I guess I'm just not a fan of Abbott and Costello humor.
  • threefolddado
    November 23, 2008
    threefolddado
    Bits of brilliant comedy, combined with moments of supremely bad special effects and embarrassingly unfunny jokes.
  • jackass001
    December 7, 2011
    jackass001
    based on the fairy tales which in another starring bud abbott and lou costello in public domain movie with "jack and the beanstalk" version (one with costello became named jack of his role) and there both black and white / color it like movie "the wizard of oz" (1939). there also... read more funniest performance by bud abbott and lou costello with buddy baer as the giant from the beanstalk scene. i like one of rest of the whole movie except i like one with sword fight and chasing with the giant scene and one thing that my least favorite with make-up cow that very disgusting one. "africa screams" (1949) is so much better funny movie with bud abbott and lou costello than this one.
  • moviegirl50
    November 16, 2008
    moviegirl50
    This is an ok movie with Abbott and Costello...the fun of it is I liked it as a kid and it was nice watching the story unfold.
  • moviezgirl
    June 17, 2008
    moviezgirl
    Enjoy the musical portions of the film as Lou Costello does a touch of singing and dancing. The comedy of Abbott and Costello never gets old and this movie will have everyone laughing.

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Critic Reviews

Steve Crum
November 1, 2004
Steve Crum, Kansas City Kansan

Even as kids movie, weak A&C.

Phil Hall
July 23, 2004
Phil Hall, Film Threat

Fee, fi, fo, flop! Full Review

Ken Hanke
August 14, 2003
Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)

Bud and Lou running on fumes.

August 8, 2006
New York Times

Click to read the article Full Review

Emanuel Levy
August 22, 2005
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com

No review available.

Daniel M. Kimmel
February 8, 2004
Daniel M. Kimmel, Worcester Telegram & Gazette

No review available.

Tony Toscano
December 9, 2002
Tony Toscano, Talking Pictures (U.S.)

No review available.

Scott Weinberg
July 25, 2002
Scott Weinberg, eFilmCritic.com

No review available.

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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Jack and the Beanstalk Trivia

  • In which movie did James Alexander and Shayne Cogan play a prince and princess?  Answer »
  • What Abbot & Costello film started in Sepia tone and changed to color just like "The Wizard of OZ?"  Answer »
  • what movie involved Gene Kelly, alot of dancing, and a 10 year old sidekick named jack?  Answer »
  • In 'Jack and the beanstalk' what did Jack trade for the bean(s)?  Answer »
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