Part of the problem with the memory stick could be that the data read speed could be too low. Memory sticks come in all sorts of flavours, as do memory cards for cameras; usually the higher the price the faster the read & write speeds. This isn't usually important; if you're just copying data too and from it takes longer but if you're trying to play a video a fairly high read speed is required. (It's like trying to watch a video via the internet on a low-speed connection when the twirly circle keeps appearing when you need to wait for data). That might explain the breaking sound but not the elongated video.
I'm fascinated by the way you think no-one has DVD players nowadays; I do, for my own holidays etc. If you think it's because they have replaced them with BluRay players, then they will play DVDs as well.