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Movies / On DVD / Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein
Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein

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Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein (1948)

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Reviews Counted:22

Fresh:20

Rotten:2

Average Rating:7.1/10

Runtime: 83 mins

Genre: Comedies

Synopsis: Bud Abbott and Lou Costello's "grand unifying monster" film and the first in their "Meet..." series, with the two bungling buddies as baggage handlers saddled with the ghoulish remains of Dracula... Bud Abbott and Lou Costello's "grand unifying monster" film and the first in their "Meet..." series, with the two bungling buddies as baggage handlers saddled with the ghoulish remains of Dracula (Bela Lugosi) and Frankenstein's monster (Glenn Strange). But once they arrive at their cargo's destination, a wax museum, the monsters revolt, with plans to purloin and transplant Lou's brain. The Monster is growing weak and his master Dracula has devised the perfect plan to restore his virility. The fat man takes the bait, which is in the shape of a woman. Director Charles Barton easily guides this ambitious effort which is chaotically comic throughout, despite an off-camera foot injury that confined Glenn Strange to a cast and prompted Bela Lugosi to fill in for him in one scene. This was last screen appearance of Universal's Frankenstein Monster, which had been introduced by Boris Karloff. The result is an unforgettable and unique combination of humor and horror. [More]

Starring: Bud Abbott, Lou Costello, Lon Chaney, Bela Lugosi

Starring: Bud Abbott, Lou Costello, Lon Chaney, Bela Lugosi, Glenn Strange, Lenore Aubert, Jane Randolph, Frank Ferguson, Charles Bradstreet, Howard Negley, Clarence Straight, Helen Spring, Vincent Price

Director: Charles Barton

Director: Charles Barton
Screenwriter: Robert Lees, Frederic I. Rinaldo, John Grant
Producer: Robert Arthur
Story: Mary Shelley
Composer: Frank Skinner

[See More Credits]

Reviews for Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein

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1 - 20 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
Text View | 1 2 >> >|
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The comedy duo's finest onscreen hour comes in the shape of this wonderful horror spoof which also unites all of Universal's scariest horror heroes under the same cinematic roof.

Full Review Source: Channel 4 Film | comment Comment
10/16/07
Channel 4 Film
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

A little bit of going through the motions with this horror spoof but fans will enjoy

Full Review Source: Empire Magazine | comment Comment
10/16/07
Kim Newman
Kim Newman
Empire Magazine
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

While the the film is representative of the absolute worst of Universal horror... it is one of the very best Abbott and Costello vehicles.

Full Review Source: Antagony & Ecstasy | comment Comment
11/01/09
Tim Brayton
Tim Brayton
Antagony & Ecstasy

Well-constructed and satisfyingly low

Full Review Source: CinePassion | comment Comment
08/28/09
Fernando F. Croce
Fernando F. Croce
CinePassion
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Variety | comment Comment
03/26/09
Variety
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

No review available.

comment Comment
04/15/08
Cole Smithey
Cole Smithey
ColeSmithey.com

It's ridiculous, of course, but the combination of classic monsters, dizzy sets and some of Bud and Lou's funniest bits make it a keeper.

Full Review Source: Combustible Celluloid | comment Comment
01/03/08
Jeffrey M. Anderson
Jeffrey M. Anderson
Combustible Celluloid

After this film's considerable success at the box office, Abbott and Costello made seven more pictures in which they 'met' Hollywood monsters, but none were as lively and entertaining as this one.

Full Review Source: TV Guide's Movie Guide | comment Comment
10/16/07
TV Guide's Movie Guide
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

This 1948 effort is probably the last of their watchable films, though it's a long way from their best.

Full Review Source: Chicago Reader | comment Comment
10/16/07
Dave Kehr
Dave Kehr
Chicago Reader

The notion of having these two clowns run afoul of the famous screen monster is a good laugh in itself. But take this gentle warning: get the most out of that one laugh while you can, because the picture, at Loew's Criterion, does not contain many more.

Full Review Source: New York Times | comment Comment
08/08/06
Bosley Crowther
Bosley Crowther
New York Times
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

THE best of Abbott and Costello's zany films, this time with Lugosi and Chaney playing their monsters seriously, which makes A&C's reactions hilarious.

comment Comment
02/16/06
Steve Crum
Steve Crum
Kansas City Kansan

Classic horror movie spoof.

comment Comment
09/23/05
Kevin Carr
Kevin Carr
7M Pictures

The best of all the 35 Abbott and Costello movies made between 1940 and 1956.

Full Review Source: Ozus' World Movie Reviews | comment Comment
07/18/05
Dennis Schwartz
Dennis Schwartz
Ozus' World Movie Reviews

No review available.

comment Comment
07/03/05
Emanuel Levy
Emanuel Levy
EmanuelLevy.Com

No review available.

comment Comment
02/20/04
Carol Cling
Carol Cling
Las Vegas Review-Journal

No review available.

comment Comment
01/30/04
Daniel M. Kimmel
Daniel M. Kimmel
Worcester Telegram & Gazette

A classic mixture of horror and comedy, one of the best in this genre and one of A&C's finest moments.

comment Comment
09/20/03
Bob Bloom
Bob Bloom
Journal and Courier (Lafayette, IN)

This is one of the best of all the Abbott and Costello features.

Full Review Source: Austin Chronicle | comment Comment
03/10/03
Marjorie Baumgarten
Marjorie Baumgarten
Austin Chronicle

Superior Abbott and Costello vehicle with great Bela Lugosi Dracula performance.

comment Comment
01/16/03
Ken Hanke
Ken Hanke
Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)

Even contemporary audiences can't help but laugh at this.

comment Comment
11/29/02
Michael Drakulich
Michael Drakulich
Star Newspapers (Chicago, IL)
 
 
1 - 20 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
Text View | 1 2 >> >|
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