JACK AND THE BEANSTALK

US, 1952, 80 minutes, Colour.
Bud Abbott, Lou Costello.
Directed by Jean Yarborough.

Bud Abbott and Lou Costello had been very successful in pictures during the 1940s, Costello the bumbling fall guy, Abbott the sometimes rather nasty straight guy – not unlike Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis in the structure of their comedies, serious as well as pratfall.

This continued into the 1950s with some films including this one and a move to television.

It must be one of the most modest-budgeted films of the period, relying on just a few sets, especially one for earth at the bottom of the Beanstalk with its crowd of about only 20 extras and with so much of the action taking place. The colour process has also faded somewhat.

The film starts on earth, a very precocious young boy needs a babysitter while his sister goes to a performance and her boyfriend escorts her. At the last minute, the agency is able to provide Abbott and Costello. Lou Costello has a number of pratfalls, deals with the baby whom he thinks is talking whereas it is the precocious young boy. Troublesome pronunciations means that he invites the boy to read Jack and the Beanstalk. And then it comes alive with Lou Costello as an unlikely Jack.

It is a time of famine and Jack sells the family cow for some bean seeds. The country is oppressed by a giant in his own land above the clouds. The bean seeds sprout and a huge beanstalk goes up into the heavens with Jack and his adviser, Mr Dink (Bud Abbott) to accompany him. In the meantime, the Princess has been imprisoned and escapes up the Beanstalk. The prince whom she is intended to marry but has never seen also goes up the stalk. Imprisoned by the giant, they fall in love with each other not knowing who each is – and they sing. As in the story, they get back down the Beanstalk, cut it and the giant crashes to his death. The King arrives and everyone is happy ever after. And all is well at home when the couple arrive.

The film is quite corny, relying on Lou Costello’s presence and bumbling, some awkward lines, some very awkward staging – but, a time-passer for younger audiences.