Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein (1948)

Get ready for the ultimate crossover! Dracula is on the hunt for subjects to give the Frankenstein monster a new brain. With the help of his assistant, he is going to take these new subjects to his castle and perform the operation. However, one man is standing in his way: Larry Talbot, a.k.a. the Wolf Man. Featuring Bela Lugosi as Dracula, Glenn Strange as the Monster, Lon Chaney, Jr. as the Wolf Man, and, in their most frightening performance yet, Abbott and Costello...wait, what?

Yes, this movie actually happened. Someone at Universal must have said, "You know what moviegoing audiences have really been clamoring for? They want Abbott and Costello to meet the Universal Monsters." I mean, sure, these were two of their most profitable franchises, but pairing them together makes as much sense as having Martin and Lewis meet King Kong, or having Daffy Duck and Porky Pig meet the Groovie Ghoulies...oh right, that happened. Whatever happened, Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein was the result, and despite the strange concept, it was a good one.

Abbott and Costello are Chick and Wilbur, two baggage clerks in charge of making a special delivery to a wax museum. Unfortunately for them, the shipments turn out to be Dracula and the Frankenstein monster, who escape during the night to a castle on an island. Meanwhile, Wilbur is dating Sandra Mornay (Lenore Aubert), a doctor who it turns out is working with Dracula on finding a suitable brain for the monster, and she has selected Wilbur. With the help of Larry Talbot (Lon Chaney, Jr.), Chick and Wilbur must find a way to prevent this plan.

First of all, I must admit that I am by no means a horror expert. I've seen some of the Universal Monsters films and have liked them, but I'm not super knowledgeable about the lore of these characters. I bring this up because I'm aware that some horror fans are not as fond of this film because it ignores several traits established in other Universal Monsters films. For example, Dracula's reflection can be seen in a mirror, despite the fact that it had been established that vampires don't have reflections. Heck, even the name of this movie isn't all that accurate, as not once do Abbott and Costello ever meet Dr. Frankenstein.

The amount of routines in this film is pretty light as well. Sure, you've got the moving candle routine, but like Hold That Ghost, this film in general is more about giving Costello a chance to show off his wild reactions. Unlike Hold That Ghost, though, this has the advantage of incorporating more supernatural elements and therefore is more suspenseful.

And that's what makes Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein so great: the suspense. Every moment keeps you looking forward to what's going to happen next, whether it be Abbott finally discovering the secrets of the monsters or Talbot's constant transformations into the Wolf Man. All of this builds up into a very exciting climax involving Dracula fighting the Wolf Man and the monster chasing Abbott and Costello.

Bela Lugosi returns for his second and final feature as Dracula. It is interesting that, despite his association with the character, he really didn't play him as much as you'd think, and his only other feature was in a comedy. Like the other monsters, though, he plays his part completely straight, which is good. Glenn Strange does well as the monster and Lenore Aubert also gives an interesting performance as a slightly reluctant assistant to Dracula. The best performance comes from Lon Chaney, Jr. His constant mood swings throughout are very reflective of the character that he was playing. He's trying to help, but knows that his time is limited and is constantly frustrated by the disbelief of others.

Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein may not be their funniest or even best feature, but it's darker and slightly dramatic charm makes it well worth watching. This may be the most well-known Abbott and Costello feature and I can definitely see why. It holds together well and keeps your interest throughout. If you haven't checked it out already, give it a watch and enjoy this surprisingly ambitious crossover.

10 out of 10

Comments

  1. I've always like this movie. A local TV station used to play it on or around Halloween every year when I was growing up. Now I can view it on my computer whenever I want! I'd like to add the music/score is very good. And my favorite line: Talbot to Chick: "You must be Chick Young." Chick's curt reply: "So what?"

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    Replies
    1. Yeah, the score is very good. Definitely adds to the suspenseful element. Thanks for commenting!

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