Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein
review of Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein, starring Bud Abbot, Lou Costello, Bela Lugosi, Lon Chaney Jr., Glenn StrangeAbbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein, starring Bud Abbott, Lou Costello, Bela Lugosi, Lon Chaney Jr., Glenn Strange
Editorial Review of Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein, courtesy of Amazon.com:
Universal Pictures made a great deal of money from its monster movies in the 1930s. In the early ‘40s, the burlesque team of Bud Abbott and Lou Costello kept the studio’s coffers full. When the two franchises were combined in 1948, the result was another windfall--despite the apparent oil-and-water mix of subject matter. Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein was the first of these summit meetings, although the title is a misnomer. Actually, Bud and Lou bump into most of the Universal heavy-hitters, including Count Dracula (played by Béla Lugosi himself), the Wolfman (Lon Chaney Jr.), and the Frankenstein monster (veteran monster Glenn Strange). There’s even a token appearance by the Invisible Man, whose disembodied voice is recognizable as that of Vincent Price. Sure enough, the film is funny, especially since it gives the portly Costello multiple opportunities to do his wide-eyed, quivering scaredy-cat routine. Audiences ate it up, and in future installments Bud and Lou would run into Boris Karloff, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, the Invisible Man, and the Mummy. But the first was the best. --Robert Horton
I rate it 4 clowns 
on a 5-clown scale.
Funny movie quotes from Abbott and Costello's "Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein," courtesy of Amazon.com:
- Dr. Lejos/Dracula : Young people making the most of life - while it lasts.
- Bud Abbott : I don't get it. Out of all the guys around here that dame has to pick a guy like you.
Lou Costello : What's wrong with that?
Bud Abbott : Why don't you go take a look at yourself in the mirror.
Lou Costello : Why should I hurt my own feelings?
- Lou Costello : Well that's gonna cost you overtime because I'm a union man and I work only sixteen hours a day.
McDougal : A union man only works eight hours a day.
Lou Costello : I belong to two unions.
- Lou Costello : Mr. Talbot, and I thought you were such a nice man. Look at you, you're a mess.
Larry Talbot : Last night I went through another one of my horrible experiences. Many years ago I was bitten by a werewolf. Now, whenever the full moon rises I turn into a wolf myself.
Lou Costello : That's alright; I'm a bit of a wolf myself!
- Larry Talbot : You don't understand. Every night when the moon is full, I turn into a wolf.
Lou Costello : You and twenty million other guys!
- Bud Abbott : It's only a dummy
Lou Costello : Dummy nothin'. It was smart enough to scare me.
- Bud Abbott : People pay McDougal cash to come in here and get scared.
Lou Costello : I'm cheatin' him. I'm gettin' scared for nothin'.
- Bud Abbott : I'm going out an get the other crate. And no back talk!
Lou Costello : I've got just two words to say to you.
Bud Abbott : What is that?
Lou Costello : Hurry back.
- Lou Costello : You know that person you said there's no such person? I think he's in there... in person. I was reading this sign, Dracula's Legend. All of a sudden I heard...
(Wilbur/Lou Costello imitates a creaking noise)
Bud Abbott : That's the wind.
Lou Costello : It should get oiled.
- Bud Abbott : You're making enough noise to wake up the dead!
Lou Costello : I don't have to wake him up. He's up.
- Bud Abbott : I know there's no such person as Dracula. You know there's no such person as Dracula!
Lou Costello : But does Dracula know it?
- Lawrence Talbot : Soon the moon will rise. I've taken the room across the hall lock me in please.
Lou Costello : Lock you in?
Lou Costello : Yes, please. Hurry.
(to Chick/Bud Abbott)
Lou Costello : He's scared too.
- Bud Abbott : Why don't you get down to the police station and tell them you know the story of Dracula and Monster they'd be very interested.
Larry Talbot : I can't do that because then I'd have to tell them who I am and how I know what I know.
- Lou Costello : I've got a date. In fact I've got two dates.
Larry Talbot : But you and I 'have a date with destiny'.
Lou Costello : Let Chick go with Destiny.
- Invisible Man : Oh, that's too bad. I was hoping to get in on the fun!
Bud Abbott : Did you say something?
Lou Costello : I didn't say anything.
Invisible Man : Allow me to introduce myself. I'm the Invisible Man!
- Lou Costello : I've had this brain for thirty years. It hasn't done me any good!
- Bud Abbott : Hey McDougal! You still want your exhibits?
McDougal : Yeah, where are they?
Lou Costello : Here comes one of 'em now!
- Bud Abbott : You know the old saying? Everything comes in threes. Now suppose a third girl should fall in love with you?
Lou Costello : What's her name?
Bud Abbott : We'll say her name is Mary.
Lou Costello : Is she pretty?
Bud Abbott : Beautiful!
Lou Costello : Naturally, she'd have to be.
Bud Abbott : Now you have Mary, you have Joan, and you have Sandra. So, to prove to you that I'm your pal, your bosom friend, I'll take one of the girls off your hands.
Lou Costello : Chick, you're what I call a real pal... you take Mary.
- Larry Talbot : So! We meet again, Count Dracula.
Dracula : Dracula?
Lou Costello : Yes. That's who he says you are.
Dracula : Oh. My costume perhaps?
Bud Abbott : No. Talbot here thinks you're the real thing!
Lou Costello : Uh-huh. Right out of McDougal's House of Horrors.
Lou Costello : What an odd hallucination. But, the human mind is often inflamed with strange complexes. I suggest you consult your physician, Mr. Talbot.
Bud Abbott : And take him with you, please.
- Dracula : What we need is young blood... and brains...
Trivia from "Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein" courtesy of Amazon.com:
- Glenn Strange was playing Frankenstein's monster, but during shooting one day he tripped over a camera cable and broke his ankle. Chaney Jr., Lon (playing the Wolf Man) wasn't working that day, so he put on the Frankenstein makeup/outfit and filled in for Glenn in one scene where Dr. Mornay gets thrown through the window. So Lon Chaney wound up playing two monsters in this movie.
- Originally titled "The Brain of Frankenstein".
- As a favor, Boris Karloff did behind-the-scenes publicity work for this film. In several photos taken by Universal's publicity department, he is seen standing in line purchasing a ticket at a theater in New York City where the film is playing, and in other stills, he is shown admiring the poster art for the film outside the theater lobby.
- Lou Costello did not want to film the movie, declaring, "No way I'll do that crap. My little girl could write something better than this." A $50,000 advance in salary and the signing of he and Bud Abbott's good friend Charles T. Barton, whom some call the best Abbott and Costello director, convinced him otherwise.
- During the final chase scene, when Bud and Lou are standing in front of a door and the Frankenstein monster punches through it, Lou was off his mark and got hit on the jaw.
- During pre-production, other actors were being considered for the role of Dracula. They had thought that Bela Lugosi was already dead until another actor brought up his name.
- The animation sequences of Dracula-as-a-bat and Dracula-changing-from-bat-to-Dracula were done by Universal-International's animator, Walter Lantz (of Woody Woodpecker fame).
- Marks the first time Universal-International stopped using the effective but lengthy application time of make-up artist Jack Pierce for the monster make-up, using Bud Westmore and Jack Kevan's more cost-effective rubber appliances.
- This film was such a hit that it was reportedly Universal-International's second highest grossing film of the year.
- The scene in which Wilbur (Lou) is unknowingly sitting on the Frankenstein Monster's (Glenn Strange) lap required multiple takes. The scene allowed Lou Costello to improvise which caused Glenn Strange to repeatedly crack up during the takes.
- Although he would play similar vampires in other films since Dracula (1931), this would be only the second, and last, time that Bela Lugosi would play Dracula in a feature film.
- This was the final Universal film to feature Frankenstein's Monster, Dracula and the Wolfman, until Van Helsing (2004).
- One of the first actors to be considered for the role of Count Dracula was Ian Keith (I). Keith had also been the first actor considered for the role in the original Dracula (1931) when Lon Chaney died. When it was learned that Bela Lugosi was still very much alive and active, he was cast for the part.
- Three actors in this film had previously played the Frankenstein Monster. Aside from Glenn Strange who actually plays the role again, both Bela Lugosi and Lon Chaney Jr. had experience under the flat top as well.
- This film has been the subject of controversy for decades over whether it should be considered part of the official Universal Horror series (thus making it a sequel to House of Dracula (1948)) or a non-canon, standalone film.
- Glenn Strange speaks for the first time as The Monster. This film marks the first time since Ghost of Frankenstein (1942) that the character has spoken, though it does not explain how The Monster has regained his voice.
- The opening scene of 'London', then 'Big Ben' is followed by a constable on patrol. This shot was lifted from Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man (1943) in the scene a constable finds the unconscience Lawrence Talbot after his 'resurrection', that same constable is murdered by the Wolf Man the following night. A filter was used to darken the shot for the 'Abbott & Costello...' film.
Posted by Tom Raymond, aka Raynbow on 07/24 at 09:22 PM