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Abbott & Costello Meet Frankenstein

Abbott & Costello Meet Frankenstein

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Rating: 5 stars
Summary: A DVD you simply cannot pass up!
Review:

Regardless of whether you have ever seen Abbott & Costello or not, this is a DVD you simply cannot pass up. I highly recommend this film because not only is it excellent, Abbott and Costello are always winners! As usual, Abbott is sarcastic and Costello is loveable and charming.

Bud Abbott and Lou Costello star in this hilarious horror/comedy that has not only one but three of Universal's classic monsters: Frankenstein, Count Dracula and the Wolfman.

Abbott plays Chic Young and Costello is Wilbur Grey. Both men work as baggage handlers in Florida. After a brief meeting with Wilbur's beautiful girlfriend Sandra(Lenore Aubert), Wilbur takes a mysterious phone call from Lawrence Talbot (the wonderful Lon Chaney Jr.) about two crates to be delivered to the McDougal House of Horrors.

Thinking nothing of it, the eternally scared Wilbur goes about his business. When Chic and Wilbur get the crates for Mr. McDougal (Frank Ferguson) in a rather unusual manner, McDougal insists the men deliver them personally so the insurance company can inspect the deliveries.

After a hilarious delivery scene, Count Dracula (the immortal Bela Lugosi) and the Frankenstein monster (Glenn Strange) escape the House of Horrors and go to the home of Dr. Sandra Mornay! Dr. Mornay and Count Dracula want Wilbur's brain so they can revive the Frankenstein monster.

Added to the mix is a lovely insurance inspector, Joan Raymond (Jane Randolph) who is 'interested' in Wilbur for the purpose of her investigation. Chic simply cannot understand why so many beautiful women are in love with Wilbur!

I was very pleased to see the classic stars Lon Chaney Jr., Bela Lugosi and Glenn Strange in this film. All three men were just as splendid at comedy as they were in their horror roles. I also found this movie to have some very good special effects for its time. The scene where Dracula changes from a bat to a man is excellent. Vincent Price, a true master of horror himself, appears as the voice of the Invisible Man at the end of the film.

This film also has some great trivia. Lon Chaney Jr. worked as both the Wolfman and the Frankenstein monster on some scenes after Glenn Strange broke his ankle during filming. Boris Karloff also did some promotional work for the film. Check out the Internet Movie Database for more trivia!

Will Dracula and Sandra get Wilbur's brain? Will Wilbur get the girl? Will Chic ever give Wilbur the respect he deserves? Get the DVD and find out!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein
Review: It seems that Count Dracula (Bela Lugosi) and a beautiful but diabolical lady scientist (Lenore Aubert), need a "simple, pliable" brain with which to reactivate Frankenstein's creature (Glenn Strange). The "ideal" brain belongs to the hapless Lou Costello, whom the lady doctor woos to gain his confidence and lure him to the operating table. Lawrence Talbot (Lon Chaney Jr.), better known as the Wolf Man, enlists Costello and his pal Bud Abbott's help in hunting down Dracula and Frankenstein's monster, who have both just been shipped to a sideshow in Florida. Throughout the film, Costello witnesses the nocturnal rituals of Dracula and the Monster, but can't convince his ever-doubting partner, until the wild climax in Dracula's castle, where the comedians are pursued by all three of the film's creatures.

Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein is not only one of the team's best films, but also one of the best horror movie spoofs ever made. Universal Pictures took advantage of the Abbott and Costello team and the copyrighted likenesses of the Frankenstein Monster, the Wolf Man and Dracula to come up with this perfect blend of chuckles and chills. A great Saturday afternoon flick.

As a bonus, the Invisible Man (voiced by an unbilled Vincent Price) shows up for all the excitement.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: THIS WAS MY FIRST DVD
Review: I have always loved this movie. And when DVD players became extremely affordable I needed a dvd to try out my new player. I think I made an excellent choice. For some reason my bottom of the line player gives me a sharp focused clear picture,so I don't agree with other reviewers' complaint of picture quality.The extras are very fulfilling,approximately forty minutes worth.So your not beaten over the head with hours and hours of junk like so many dvds as to justfy their lousy movie. I notice the black bars that surround the opening and end credits.This makes me wonder. Would we see more picture if the entire movie was presented this way? You already know you love this movie so to use complimentary words would cheapen it.And if by chance someone who is reading this that dislikes this charming piece of entertainment, I truly feel sorry for you.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: abbott, costello...the monster...dracula...the wolf man!!!
Review: I don't have this movie on DVD. I bought a VHS copy of it. Maybe one day I'll move up to DVD. However, I will say this of the movie. It is great.
I was thinking back to it, and I suppose that this movie was my first real experience with Universal's version of the Dracula character, and with one of my favorite monsters, the Wolf Man. I woke up in the wee hours of the morning one day to find this movie on television. I watched it and really enjoyed myself. The monsters are played by the actors who made them popular (except the monster, but Glen Strange does his job well). Abbott and Costello are, of course, hilarious. The plot is a little campy, and intentionally so. Its a great movie for both comedy fans and for monster fans, like myself. I love this movie.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Dracula, Frank, and Wolfman scare Bud Abbott & Lou Costello
Review: Lon Chaney becomes "The Werewolf", Bela Logosi as "Dracula" and Glenn Strange as "Monster" (well we all know its Frankenstein). This film was a neat idea to get some of the well known liked actors who are known for their famous roles they have played before together again. Lon Chaney played "The Werewolf" in THE WOLF MAN (1941) and FRANKENSTEIN MEETS THE WOLF MAN (1943). Bela Lugosi played "Dracula" in DRACULA (1931). Glenn Strange played the Frankenstein monster in HOUSE OF FRANKENSTEIN (1944). If you've seen this film before, I would recommend turning on the Audio Commentary of Film Historian, Gregory W. Mank. This commentary played throughout the film is very detailed and precise. It's wonderful to have a commentary that you can learn so much from. Bonus materials are: a 33-minute featurette, "Abbott & Costello Meet The Monsters". Very entertaining behind-the-scenes info and interesting tidbits. The host is David J. Skal. Also 109 Production Photographs, Theatrical Trailer, Production Notes and Cast & Filmmakers' film info.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Far and away the best Abbott & Costello Horror-Comedy
Review: Lou Costello was always the master of strangulated, speechless terror, so putting Abbott & Costello in a movie with the Wolfman, Dracula and the Frankenstein Monster was inspired. Getting Lon Chaney, Jr., Bela Lugosi and Glenn Strange to play the Terror Trio was just icing on the cake. This time around Bud and Lou play Chick Young and Wilbur Gray, a pair of railroad baggage clerks in LaMiranda, Florida, who have to deliver two large crates to MacDougal's House of Horrors. Inside are Dracula and the Frankenstein Monster, but of course they escape. To make things worse, Wilbur's beautiful girlfriend, Sandra Mornay (Lenore Aubert), is really a mad scientist who wants to put Wilbur's brain in the Monster. Fortunately, Lawrence Talbot (Chaney) has arrived from Europe on the trail of the monsters.

It is rather amazing how long this film goes with Wilbur being the only one to spot the monsters. The comedy in this movie is something of a departure for the comedy team, because it relies more on situational humor and not as much on the "Who's On First" word play. The scene pantomime scene with Lou on the Monster's lap is great, as is the final chase scene with the boys encountering one monster after another. "Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein" is the first and the best of the boy's comic team-ups, which does not deserve the reputation it has in some quarters for having made the Universal monsters creatures of ridicule. That might be true of later Abbott & Costello monster comedies, but the charge would be truer of "House of Dracula" than this film, which has the same respect for the monsters as does "Young Frankentstein." Trivia Note: While filming the scene where the Monster throws Sandra through the lab window, Strange was knocked over and broke his ankle. Chaney, who had played the Monster in "Ghost of Frankenstein," volunteered to step in and once again don the makeup and he is the one who re-shot the scene that appears in the movie.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Lugosi, Chaney Jr. and A & C at their best.
Review: Abbott and Costello's best known and perhaps best film has them meeting Lon Chaney Jr. as the Wolfman, then Bela Lugosi as Dracula, then Glenn Strange as Frankenstein and then. . . . The plot revolves around the idea that the perfect new brain for the Monster should be a simple one -on that's easy to control. Lou Costello's is simple enough. The slapstick begins when Bud and Lou refuse to believe Larry Talbot (Lon) is the wolfman. The best non-monster bits are variations on what Bud and Lou did in the still funny, Hold That Ghost. You will note that Dracula can be seen in mirrors and that he would not have really died from a long fall (that's not being left out in the sun or getting a stake in the heart). But who cares, this is a silly, enjoyable slapstick that gives us both Lon Chaney Jr. and Bela Lugosi doing a wonderful job acting straight against the boy's antics. Glenn Strange is the Monster. Vincent Price does a cameo. (1948 - Directed by Charles Barton).

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: JEEPERS, THE CREEPERS ARE AFTER BUD AND LOU
Review: The BEST horror-comedy ever made. Charles Barton directs this HILARIOUS classic. Lou Costello VERY FUNNY in trying to convince partner and long time friend Bud Abbott of the strange people and goings on he sees. But Bud as usual NEVER turns around to see what all the commotion is about. Bela Lugosi once again HORRINGFILY terrific as "DRACULA". Glenn Strange GREAT as "FRANKENSTEIN MONSTER". Lon Chaney Jr. charming as "LYLE (THE WOLFMAN) TALBOT. The surprise ending is one of a kind. After seeing "THE MONSTER" fall to his firery finish on the pier Lou turns to Bud and says: "Well, he WON'T be bothering us anymore. AND another thing Mr. Chick Young, the NEXT time I tell I saw something. You BELIEVE me, I SAW, WHAT I SAW, WHAT I SAW." BUD: Alright, alright. But now that we've seen THE LAST of Dracula, the Wolfman, and the Monster. There's NOBODY around to frighten us anymore. Vincent Price (as voice of THE INVISIBLE MAN): Oh, that's too bad. I was hoping to join in on all the excitement. Bud: Hey, who said that?! Price: Allow me to introduce myself, I'm the Invisible Man. At which point the comedy team jump out of their small row boat in the river ending the film.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: One of my all-time favorites!!
Review: I can't remember exactly when I first saw this movie, but I know I must have been about 10...and that was 33 years ago. This still rates as one of my all-time favorite movies and Abbott and Costello's best film; the movie is so much fun. As most of the reviews have stated, the key element to the film's success is that the monsters played it straight and the comedy was left to Lou Costello - and what a wonderful result. One of our family traditions now is to set up a tent in the backyard in October and bring our portable television set inside and watch "Abbott + Costello Meet Frankenstein." My kids LOVE this movie!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Dracula, Frank, and Wolfman scare Bud Abbott & Lou Costello
Review: Lon Chaney becomes "The Werewolf", Bela Logosi as "Dracula" and Glenn Strange as "Monster" (well we all know its Frankenstein). This film was a neat idea to get some of the well known liked actors who are known for their famous roles they have played before together again. Lon Chaney played "The Werewolf" in THE WOLF MAN (1941) and FRANKENSTEIN MEETS THE WOLF MAN (1943). Bela Lugosi played "Dracula" in DRACULA (1931). Glenn Strange played the Frankenstein monster in HOUSE OF FRANKENSTEIN (1944). If you've seen this film before, I would recommend turning on the Audio Commentary of Film Historian, Gregory W. Mank. This commentary played throughout the film is very detailed and precise. It's wonderful to have a commentary that you can learn so much from. Bonus materials are: a 33-minute featurette, "Abbott & Costello Meet The Monsters". Very entertaining behind-the-scenes info and interesting tidbits. The host is David J. Skal. Also 109 Production Photographs, Theatrical Trailer, Production Notes and Cast & Filmmakers' film info.


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