Bud Abbott and Lou Costello Meet Frankenstein

Watch: Bud Abbott and Lou Costello Meet Frankenstein

6/15/19481h 23m

Theatrical Release (US)

~ JEEPERS! The CREEPERS are after BUD & LOU!! ~

Overview:

Baggage handlers Bud and Lou accidentally stumble upon Frankenstein's Monster, Dracula and the Wolf Man.

Director:

Charles Barton

Status:

Released

Language:

English

Buget:

$800,000.00

Revenue:

$4,812,444.00

Key words:

wolfman
horror spoof
black and white
psychotronic
costume party
brain transplant
frankenstein
legendary monster
dracula
the wolf man

Cast

Bud Abbott

~ as ~

Chick Young

Lou Costello

~ as ~

Wilbur Grey

Lon Chaney Jr.

~ as ~

The Wolfman

Bela Lugosi

~ as ~

Dracula

Glenn Strange

~ as ~

The Monster

Lenore Aubert

~ as ~

Dr. Sandra Mornay

Jane Randolph

~ as ~

Joan Raymond

Frank Ferguson

~ as ~

Mr. McDougal

Charles Bradstreet

~ as ~

Dr. Stevens

George Barton

~ as ~

Man

View full cast & crew

Reviews (1)

John Chard
Written 5 year(s) ago
8
Universal Tag Team Delights.

Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein is directed by Charles Barton and written by Robert Lees, Frederic Rinaldo and John Grant. It stars Bud Abbott, Lou Costello, Lon Chaney Junior, Bela Lugosi, Glenn Strange, Lenore Aubert and Jane Randolph. Music is by Frank Skinner and cinematography by Charles Van Enger.

It's well documented come 1948 that Abbott and Costello were becoming victims of changing times and filmic ideas. Coupled with the one time success of the Universal classic monster movies having seemingly had their day, someone at the merged Universal-International head office decided to pit the comic duo with the creature feature legends. Thus a film franchise was born and it helped reignite Bud and Lou's career.

Making the Universal monsters a viable theatre draw once again, this first teaming set a high standard that wasn't to be matched with the following "meet the monsters" series. It's a near hilarious spoof of the classic 1930s/40s horrors, where it finds Bud and Lou as hapless transport porters involved with the revival of Dracula and the Frankenstein monster.

The usual comedy staples of the comedy duo are adhered to, which is nicely countered by the monsters themselves mostly playing it straight. With the added bonus of having Lugosi once again donning the Count Dracula cape, the nostalgic value for classic horror buffs is enormous. It's of course wonderfully energetic and daft, but still not a scene is wasted.

With smart gags - both visually and orally - and a finale of great entertainment worth, this is very much a pic to embrace for a pick me up purpose. 8/10