Abbott And Costello Meet Captain Kidd (1952)

Two tavern workers (Bud Abbott, Lou Costello) accidentally mix up the treasure map of the notorious Captain Kidd (Charles Laughton) with a love letter from a young woman (Fran Warren) to her beloved (Bill Shirley). Directed by Charles Lamont (I WAS A SHOPLIFTER). A low point in the careers of Abbott & Costello and Charles Laughton. I'm a huge Abbott & Costello fan but this effort ranks very close to the bottom of their filmography. Laughton had previously played Captain Kidd in 1945. But in 1952, his Hollywood career wasn't going too well, so not only does he parody his 1945 performance, he gets below the title "co-starring" billing! Maybe if the film were actually funny, all that wouldn't have mattered much but as it is, it's embarrassing to see one of cinema's great actors doing slapstick when he has no talent for it. The film's only interest is that it's one of only two A&C movies made in color. With Hillary Brooke and Leif Erickson.