As per title, there's currently a kickstarter to restore Abbott and Costello's Jack and the Beanstalk for DVD/Blu-Ray release:
www.kickstarter.com
This film is in the public domain, so it's very unlikely to ever get a decent restoration in any other way (indeed you can see here for a recent low-effort attempt which was very unsatisfactory). The chap behind the kickstarter has already successfully restored many films, most through larger companies such as Kino Lorber, but has also done another public domain Abbott/Costello flick through kickstarter which was well received in terms of video quality, so the risk is fairly low.
The initial goal has already been met, and it currently has a stretch goal to include 15 trailers from the Universal Abbott & Costello films (which were bafflingly absent from the massive Universal A&C bluray boxset) if they reach $21,327.
Planned bonus features are pretty packed already, with:
Help Restore Abbott and Costello's JACK AND THE BEANSTALK!
We need your help to fully restore this beloved comedy classic for release on region free Blu-ray and DVD.
This film is in the public domain, so it's very unlikely to ever get a decent restoration in any other way (indeed you can see here for a recent low-effort attempt which was very unsatisfactory). The chap behind the kickstarter has already successfully restored many films, most through larger companies such as Kino Lorber, but has also done another public domain Abbott/Costello flick through kickstarter which was well received in terms of video quality, so the risk is fairly low.
The initial goal has already been met, and it currently has a stretch goal to include 15 trailers from the Universal Abbott & Costello films (which were bafflingly absent from the massive Universal A&C bluray boxset) if they reach $21,327.
Planned bonus features are pretty packed already, with:
- Commentary track by noted Abbott and Costello expert Ron Palumbo.
- Restored Sepia-toned opening and closing scenes.
- Original 1952 SuperCinecolor 35mm trailer.
- Behind the scenes on-set production photos.
- A look at the complex Cinecolor process by film historian Jack Theakston.
- Deleted scenes photo gallery.
- Jack and the Beanstalk radio sketch from 1945 with Rudy Vallee.
- Kodachrome wardrobe test slides with Lou, Buddy Baer and Dorothy Ford.
- Posters, pressbook and lobbycards photo gallery.
- 1952 World Premiere photos at the Fabian Theatre in Paterson, NJ.
- Restored color trailer for Abbott and Costello Meet Captain Kidd.
- Restoration of last surviving pieces of the 35mm picture negative (no track), containing one brief deleted sequence
- Mastered 7 minute 1952 Jack and the Beanstalk children's recording from an original 15 ips analogue tape.
