DVD coming out?
I'd love to get this one on DVD. Universal should have released this one, It Ain't Hay, and Abbott and Costello go to Hollywood. Volume 4 is supposedly the last collection coming out on DVD.
shareAbbott & Costello made several films for other companies, and Universal doesn't own the distribution rights to those.
MGM made:
Rio Rita (1942)
Lost in a Harem (1944)
A & C in Hollywood (1945)
They have yet to release these on DVD. Shame, they'd make a nice triple feature.
"The Noose Hangs High", "Africa Screams", "Jack and the Beanstalk", and "Dance with Me Henry" were made for a variety of studios, and have been released on DVD.
"A & C Meet Captain Kidd" was produced by Bud Abbott's production company and had a limited VHS release back in the 80's. It gets played on TCM every now and then, that's how I have it in my collection.
"It Ain't Hay" is a Universal film, but it's tied up in a legal dispute with the Damon Runyan estate (because it's based on one of his stories). Many years ago Comedy Central played it, but otherwise it's disappeared.
Thanks for the information about the absence of IT AIN'T HAY. I wondered why Universal never put it out. Even if it had somehow fallen into the public domain, that wouldn't preclude the studio from releasing it itself. But it was on VHS in the mid-90s, from Nostalgia Family Video, though it's never been out on DVD.
Two years after your post, none of the MGM films (now controlled by Warner) has been released on DVD, though they're supposedly promised sometime. THE NOOSE HANGS HIGH and DANCE WITH ME, HENRY were both United Artists releases and are now out on DVD, through (confusingly enough) MGM/UA video, which does not control the MGM library. AFRICA SCREAMS (also UA) is in public domain DVD, as is JACK AND THE BEANSTALK, although that was a Warner Bros. release and there are signs it may be released by Warner Home Video at some point. Same with A&C MEET CAPTAIN KIDD, which for some reason has still not made it onto even public domain DVD.
By the way, there's a brief bit missing in the CAPTAIN KIDD print broadcast by TCM, in the street brawl scene just before the barrel with Lou is tossed into a wall. It's been a while since I've seen it, but maybe 30 seconds or more has been dropped in the middle of this bit (which also has Bud embracing the girl who surreptitiously steals kisses from Joe Kirk, Lou's brother-in-law and perpetual bit player in almost all A&C's films). I hope if the film does make it to DVD that it's restored to its full length.
UPDATE 5/12/09: A&C Meet Captain Kidd, along with Jack and the Beanstalk and Rio Rita, have been promised by Warner Home Video for release either late in 2009 or in 2010. We'll see. By the way, of the boys' two other MGM films, both Lost in a Harem and A&C in Hollywood are out on DVD, on a two-film disc. Also, It Ain't Hay came out in Universal's repackaged set of all their A&C films, now that the rights issue with the Damon Runyon estate has been settled. Rio Rita has also been held up by a rights dispute.
Hi there,
Over here in Berlin, Germany this film has just been released.
It´s release date was May, 08, 2009.
The print is in color and seems fine to me. I am currently just beginning to watch it. The colors are deep and not faded. There are some lines in the print but not too bad. I have found myself laughing quite often at the goings on, so I would rate it just above average. It still is not there greatest film but enjoyable nontheless.
The release is in the PAL format.
The running time is 67 minutes...this is because of the Pal format.
It comes in both english and german languages but without subtitles.
The company is called Savoy Film and released by Sunfilm Entertainment.
The paper insert in the dvd box can be reversed.
1. "Abbott & Costello Unter Piraten" is the name of the dvd if you decide to order it. This is the outside of the dvd paper sleeve
2. "Abbott and Costello Meet Captin Kid" is the name on the reverse side of the dvd paper sleeve. This was a film poster used to sell the film when it was released, I would guess.
..........however, all writing on doth sides of the dvd paper sleeve, i.e. the usual stuff, is in german.
It can be purchase, at least, from Amazon.de.
The retail price is 9.99 euros.
Hi bryangermany,
Appreciate your news. I just added an update to my post above with some information on this film's possible release in the US. I had heard that a release in Europe was coming before any American DVD. I hope so! But I'm glad to hear your disc looks good.