Review of Bud Abbott and Lou Costello Meet Frankenstein (1948) by David L — 06 Aug 2009

Baggage men Chick, (Bud Abbott) and Wilbur, (Lou Costello) are ordered to keep a series of crates from delivery to a House of Horrors, but they take them there anyway and unpack them. While delivering the crates, they find that they contain the bodies of Count Dracula, (Bela Lugosi) and Frankenstein's Monster, (Glenn Strange) and they slip off in the night in front of a terrified Wilbur. Wilbur and Chick eventually run into Larry Talbot, (Lon Chaney Jr.) who reveals that Dracula has plans to revive Frankenstein's Monster. Tracking the two to a castle, they find that Larry was telling the truth about the experiments, and have to escape before they are used in them.

I'm a fan of Abbott And Costello so I might be a little bias here for some but this is my favorite horror comedy. It's the best example of the genre, keeping one of the main characteristics that few who have followed it fail to accomplish: the threat that comes in the film is treated as a serious threat. The monsters are serious and can really injure the protagonists, and aren't played for laughs or gags against them, which many who follow never really utilize well and therefore fail. The gags that come are therefore funny as the situation is serious and the out-of-place gag has some merit. This one does it really well and is the better for it. When it all comes crashing down at the end provides some nice action that was common-place among the era, as there's some spectacle thrown in that is quite exciting. The different battles going on that all intermingle with each other provide some nice action, including the ending on the dock. The monsters themselves are integrated into the usual situation with the two men, and in keeping with the tradition of integration, the monster storyline is carried along nicely as well. The gags are nice and funny, and the wordplay and slapstick they are famous for are in nice abundance here. It's a very rare film that should satisfy all the different types of fans out there.

Some of my favorite lines:

Chick Young: I don't get it. Out of all the guys around here that classy dish has to pick out a guy like you.

Wilbur Grey: What's wrong with that?

Chick Young: Go look at yourself in the mirror sometime.

Wilbur Grey: Why should I hurt my own feelings?

Larry Talbot: You don't understand. Every night when the moon is full, I turn into a wolf.

Wilbur: You and twenty million other guys.