Four problems with this film. First, by 1952, Abbott & Costello had little new to offer the American public; same old same old...and it was beginning to wear a little thin. Second, America had a new favorite comedy team -- Martin & Lewis, who provided entertainment a bit more adult oriented; thus, you're going to see scantily clad women in this film than just about any other A&C film. The songs and singers in this film are atrocious; please...bring back the Andrews Sisters.So, is there any reason to watch this film at all? Well, it's a rare Abbott & Costello film that's in color. But a bigger reason is to watch the esteemed Charles Laughton be funny (or at least try to be funny); Laughton's career was floundering at this point, and he was paid only $25,000 for this film ("Witness For The Prosecution" was yet to come in his career).The acting here -- even Laughton's -- is pretty thin (here, Laughton seemed to think that acting funny meant yelling). Costello used to be brilliant...now he was getting repetitive. As usual, Bud Abbott offered little except straight lines. Hi8llary Brooke was a better straight man than Bud Abbott.Despite the scantily clad women, this is pretty much a kid's picture. And a not very funny one at that. Abbott & Costello were once the funniest duo in films, by this time they were getting a bit stale.

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

I don't mind that the movie has no plot or that it's so noisy my 90-year old grandmother complained or that Charles Laughton thinks he's the one who should supply the laughs and not the menace. What I do mind is that A&C have so little to do. They manage a few bits, but these are crowded out by the chaotic knock-about. It's like someone said we don't have a script or any routines, so let's just run around, make noise, and maybe no one will notice. Maybe the best thing is the really great special effects. The masted ships and sea battle look like they come from an A-production, which they may have. But even the explosions on the sea-shore sets are well done. Too bad the rest of the movie doesn't rise to that level. And pity the poor regally composed Hillary Brooke who looks like she's missing all the mayhem, at the same time Laughton manages more mugs per minute than a race car generates RPM's. In my little book, this is one of the least of the 5 or 6 entries in the A&C Meets... series.

I am currently trying to collect all of A & C movies on DVD. I have 32 of the B & W pictures including the Colour Jack and The Beanstalk. My VHS copy of it is good, but my DVD version is really bad, its all overexsposed looking. The company that transferred it should be ashamed. I am trying to find a copy of A & C meet Captain Kid on DVD, but don't know if it exsits yet. If I'm not wrong I know MGM did 3 which I have, but who made Captain Kid and who released it. To bad they could not have all got together with Univeral when they did there volumes 1 through 4. A nice list of everything they made together or independently would be nice.Who ever made Africa Screams, how many others did they make if any.