Jack and the Beanstalk 70th Anniversary Limited Edition Blu-ray Coming July 12th!
Heeeeyyyyyyyyy, Abbott & Costello fans,
The long-awaited restoration of Abbott & Costello’s Jack and the Beanstalk (1952) will receive it’s Blu-ray and DVD release on July 12th from ClassicFlix! Way back in October 2020, I posted about the Kickstarter, from Bob Furmanek and the team at the 3D Film Archive, to complete a much-needed restoration from the best-surviving film elements. That Kickstarter surpassed its funding goal, and consequently, the team was able to afford to provide an amazing array of added A&C goodies on the video release.
If you didn’t get in on the Kickstarter, I suggest you place your pre-order now! As with the 3D Film Archive’s stellar restoration of Abbott & Costello’s Africa Screams, the limited edition Blu-ray is bound to sell out. You can purchase the Blu-ray or DVD directly from ClassicFlix (Blu-ray link; DVD link). I also placed the link to the Blu-ray on Amazon below.
If you love A&C, you won’t want to miss this release, as it is bound to be the definitive video presentation of the film. Below is the full press release from ClassicFlix, including a list of the special features:
Boasting a stunning new restoration, the fantasy musical classic Jack and the Beanstalk (1952) starring Bud Abbott and Lou Costello has never looked better and comes to Blu-ray and DVD this July 12th in a special 70th Anniversary Limited Edition from ClassicFlix!
Scanned and preserved in 4K from 35mm SuperCinecolor elements, and restored by Abbott and Costello historian Bob Furmanek and the 3D Film Archive (the same team that restored the recently released The Abbott and Costello Show – Season 1), this longtime family favorite is loaded with bonus features (see below), and like the now-sold out Africa Screams (Blu-ray) – Special Limited Edition, will be a limited pressing.
NOTE: This new restoration of Lou Costello’s approved 1952 theatrical release includes the original sepia-toned opening and closing footage as well as studio logos.
Boasting a stunning new restoration, the fantasy musical classic Jack and the Beanstalk starring Bud Abbott and Lou Costello has never looked better and comes to Blu-ray in a special 70th Anniversary Limited Edition from ClassicFlix!
In their first color feature film, Abbott and Costello bring fanciful whimsy and musical delight to the traditional children’s fable where Lou plays the boyish Jack. Seeking to entertain “problem child” Donald (David Stollery) whom he is babysitting, Costello takes to reading “Jack and the Beanstalk”, but soon dreams himself into the fairy tale complete with Bud as the wily Dinklepuss, Shaye Cogan as the kidnapped princess and menacing Buddy Baer as the villainous giant.
Directed by Jean Yarborough from a script by Nat Curtis, Jack and the Beanstalk imitated another musical fantasy familiar to all movie fans (The Wizard of Oz, 1939) by presenting its opening and closing sequences in sepia tone with the middle fantasy portion in shimmering SuperCinecolor. There’s also a tuneful score with four songs composed by Lester Lee and Bob Russell.
Scanned and preserved in 4K from 35mm SuperCinecolor elements, and restored by Abbott and Costello historian Bob Furmanek and the 3D Film Archive, this longtime family favorite also features Dorothy Ford, James Alexander and the voices of Arthur Shields and Mel Blanc!
BONUS FEATURES:
- Newly recorded feature introduction by Lou’s youngest daughter, Chris Costello
- Audio commentary by Abbott and Costello expert Ron Palumbo, with recollections from Jack and the Beanstalk co-star David Stollery
- Newly discovered footage of Abbott and Costello performing “Who’s on First” on December 2, 1940
- Imperfect Spectrum: A Brief History of Cinecolor by Jack Theakston
- Climbing the Scales: The Music of Jack and the Beanstalk by Ray Faiola
- Promotion and Publicity by Ron Palumbo with photos and footage of Bud and Lou’s April 1952 tour including the world premiere in Paterson, NJ.
- Deleted scenes footage and photos by Ron Palumbo including a clip from the only surviving 35mm Jack and the Beanstalk color camera negative
- Restored 1954 live television appearance with the Frankenstein Monster (Glenn Strange) and Creature from the Black Lagoon (Ben Chapman)
- Jack and the Beanstalk radio sketch from 1945 with Rudy Vallee and on-screen photo gallery by Shane Fleming
- Behind the scenes production photos by Chip Ordway including pre-production Kodachrome wardrobe test photos
- Posters, pressbook and lobby cards photo gallery by Chip Ordway
- Abbott and Costello Trailers – 18 rare original “Coming Attraction” previews including Jack and the Beanstalk SuperCinecolor trailer and Abbott and Costello Meet Captain Kidd
