Bud Abbott

Lou Costello

Lon Chaney Jr.

Bela Lugosi

Glenn Strange

Lenore Aubert

Jane Randolph

Frank Ferguson

Charles Bradstreet

George Barton

Vincent Price

Bobby Barber

Joe Kirk

Harry Brown

Howard Negley

Carl Sklover

Helen Spring

Paul Stader

Clarence Straight

Joe Walls

Bram Stoker

Russell A. Gausman

Carmen Dirigo

Mary Shelley

Jack Kevan

Emile LaVigne

Bud Westmore

John Grant

Robert Arthur

Charles Van Enger

Charles Barton

Frank Gross

Frederic I. Rinaldo

Robert Lees

Oliver Emert

Grace Houston

Robert Pritchard

Leslie I. Carey

Jerome Ash

David S. Horsley

Walter Lantz

Bernard Herzbrun

Glenn Adams

Helen Thurston

Laverne Harding

Eddie Parker

Betty A. Griffin

Les Kline

Norman Abbott

Joseph E. Kenney

Ed Love

Hilyard M. Brown

Fred Knoth

Dick Lundy

Henry Spitz

David Tamkin

Frank Skinner

Robert Pierce

Horror

Comedy

Bud Abbott and Lou Costello Meet Frankenstein

Universal International Pictures

Universal Pictures

United States of America

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

English

Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein (1948) Trailer

John Landis on ABBOTT AND COSTELLO MEET FRANKENSTEIN

Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein Official Trailer #1 - (1948) HD

Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein (7/11) Movie CLIP - Return of the Count (1948) HD

Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein (6/11) Movie CLIP - Where Are They? (1948) HD

Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein (2/11) Movie CLIP - Keep Your Shirt On (1948) HD

Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein (10/11) Movie CLIP - Evading The Monsters (1948) HD

Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein (11/11) Movie CLIP - Death of the Monster (1948) HD

Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein (9/11) Movie CLIP - Do You Believe Me Now? (1948) HD

Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein (8/11) Movie CLIP - Take the Mask Off (1948) HD

Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein (5/11) Movie CLIP - The Wolf Man (1948) HD

Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein (3/11) Movie CLIP - Dracula Rises (1948) HD

Dracula Wakes Frankenstein Scene (4/11) Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein Movie (1948) - HD

Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein (1/11) Movie CLIP - The Wolf Man Transforms (1948) HD