ALL SCI-FI Forum Index ALL SCI-FI
The place to “find your people”.
 
 FAQFAQ   SearchSearch   MemberlistMemberlist   UsergroupsUsergroups   RegisterRegister 
 ProfileProfile   Log in to check your private messagesLog in to check your private messages   Log inLog in 

Abbott & Costello Meet Frankenstein (1948)
Goto page Previous  1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6  Next
 
Post new topic   Reply to topic    ALL SCI-FI Forum Index -> Sci-Fi Movies and Serials from 1900 to 1949
View previous topic :: View next topic  
Author Message
Gord Green
Galactic Ambassador


Joined: 06 Oct 2014
Posts: 2940
Location: Buffalo, NY

PostPosted: Mon Oct 21, 2019 2:37 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

The show sounds awesome! Wish it was on YouTube.

There IS a real neato show you should check out---

ABBOTT AND COSTELLO MEET THE CREATURE FROM THE BLACK LAGOON



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G33fPAALyxs

— or —

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q-j-VlKTIRo

It was a special on their 50's TV show! (1954 to be exact)!

_________________
There comes a time, thief, when gold loses its lustre, and the gems cease to sparkle, and the throne room becomes a prison; and all that is left is a father's love for his child.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
Pow
Galactic Ambassador


Joined: 27 Sep 2014
Posts: 3400
Location: New York

PostPosted: Thu Oct 24, 2019 9:50 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Mmm, I don't think that you have enough monsters on the list, Bud.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Bud Brewster
Galactic Fleet Admiral (site admin)


Joined: 14 Dec 2013
Posts: 17019
Location: North Carolina

PostPosted: Thu Oct 24, 2019 1:45 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Pow wrote:
Mmm, I don't think that you have enough monsters on the list, Bud.

The rest of them will be in the sequel, Abbott and Costello Meet Everybody Else! Laughing
_________________
____________
Is there no man on Earth who has the wisdom and innocence of a child?
~ The Space Children (1958)
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
The Spike
Astral Engineer


Joined: 23 Sep 2014
Posts: 266
Location: Birmingham. Great Britain.

PostPosted: Sat Feb 29, 2020 4:35 am    Post subject: Universal Tag Team Delights. Reply with quote

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

_________________
The quality of mercy is not strnen.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
johnnybear
Mission Specialist


Joined: 15 Jun 2016
Posts: 442

PostPosted: Sat Feb 29, 2020 8:16 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Plus you get a blink and you'll miss it shot of the Lady baddie's underwear when the Frankenstein monster hurls her through the window near the end! Laughing
JB
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Bud Brewster
Galactic Fleet Admiral (site admin)


Joined: 14 Dec 2013
Posts: 17019
Location: North Carolina

PostPosted: Sat Feb 29, 2020 3:44 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

________________________________

Interesting! I guess that would an example of the rare "upskirt during a downfall"! Laughing

_________________
____________
Is there no man on Earth who has the wisdom and innocence of a child?
~ The Space Children (1958)


Last edited by Bud Brewster on Fri Nov 20, 2020 11:57 am; edited 1 time in total
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Gord Green
Galactic Ambassador


Joined: 06 Oct 2014
Posts: 2940
Location: Buffalo, NY

PostPosted: Sat Feb 29, 2020 3:54 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Screenshots required Gentlemen!
_________________
There comes a time, thief, when gold loses its lustre, and the gems cease to sparkle, and the throne room becomes a prison; and all that is left is a father's love for his child.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
The Spike
Astral Engineer


Joined: 23 Sep 2014
Posts: 266
Location: Birmingham. Great Britain.

PostPosted: Sun Mar 01, 2020 4:26 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

johnnybear wrote:
Plus you get a blink and you'll miss it shot of the Lady baddie's underwear when the Frankenstein monster hurls her through the window near the end! Laughing
JB

Laughing Johnny, you horny beast!
_________________
The quality of mercy is not strnen.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Bud Brewster
Galactic Fleet Admiral (site admin)


Joined: 14 Dec 2013
Posts: 17019
Location: North Carolina

PostPosted: Tue Mar 17, 2020 3:27 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Pow wrote:
Mmm, I don't think that you have enough monsters on the list, Bud.

Pow's comment gave me a few funny mental images. Consider these movie concepts which allow A&C to "meet" a few monsters that aren't from Universal! Very Happy

Imagine the trailers for these imaginary movies.

________________________________________________

Abbott and Costello Meet the Beast from 20,000 Fathoms

Bud and Lou are shown running down a New York street directly towards the camera, screaming in terror while being pursued by the rhedosaurus!





Abbott and Costello Meet the Quintopus that Came from Beneath the Sea

Bud and Lou are shown running down a San Francisco street from right to left, screaming in terror while a giant tentacle looms above their heads!





Abbott and Costello Meet the Aliens in Flying Saucers

Bud and Lou are shown running down a street in Washington D.C. while the sky is filled by alien spacecraft!





Abbott and Costello Meet the Ymir that Came 20 Million Miles to Earth

Bud and Lou are shown running down a street in Rome from left to right, narrowly avoiding being crushed during the battle shown below.





Abbott and Costello Meet Sinbad on his 7th Voyage

Bud and Lou are shown running in terror across a sunlit beach, dressed in Arabian Nights costumes, pursued by the Cyclops.





Abbott and Costello Meet Captain Nemo on the Mysterious Island

Bud and Lou are shown running in terror across the same sunlit beach in Spain which was used in the above film, making no attempt to help poor Ned, who is about to be eaten by a giant crab!





___________________________________

Remember, these are just the trailers. The movies have plots that involved more funny situations with Harryhausen monsters.
Very Happy
_________________
____________
Is there no man on Earth who has the wisdom and innocence of a child?
~ The Space Children (1958)
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Pow
Galactic Ambassador


Joined: 27 Sep 2014
Posts: 3400
Location: New York

PostPosted: Fri Nov 20, 2020 1:50 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

The wonderfully spooky animated opening credits were designed by Walter Lantz, best known as one of the co-creators of the famous cartoon character Woody Woodpecker.

This film ignores continuity regarding Lawrence Talbot. In the previous 1945 movie "House of Dracula" we see Talbot finally cured of his werewolf transformations.

The musical score for this film by Frank Skinner is terrific.

I always wondered just what the various law enforcement agencies made of the crime scene at the castle the next day? Probably covered up the whole thing like they did on "Kolchak The Night Stalker" every week.

While the ''monster'' clearly burned up on the dock (guess he forgot his fear of fire from the earlier Frankenstein films), there are some folks who question the demise of the Wolf-Man & Count Dracula.

Would such a plunge into the ocean have really finished off both of those supernatural characters?

I thought that I read once that in Bram Stoker's classic novel of Dracula, that vampires do have a fear of water.

Every time I see the fine character actor Frank Ferguson in a movie (House of Wax with Vincent Price) or on TV (Leave It To Beaver, Land of the Giants) I yell out "McDougal!

At one point during the development of this movie they had the Mummy in it.

This was the second cheapest film produced by Universal-International in 1948. It became the studio's second highest grossing film that year.

I never thought anything ever looked cheap about this marvelous movie. The sets were beautifully done, gorgeous matte paintings, the animated morphing of Count Dracula was fantastic looking!

Overall, the make-up for the monsters was good. However, the legendary Jack Pierce who created the stunning make-ups for the Monster and the Wolf Man (not sure if he was the maestro who created the original Dracula make-up), was let go by U-I.

U-I was trying to save money and cut costs on the budget and one area they did this in was make-up for the monsters.

Pierce did more elaborate make-up which was also time-consuming in the earlier Frankenstein & Wolf Man films.

So we can only wonder how different this great movie would have looked like had they allowed Jack to work his magic?
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Bud Brewster
Galactic Fleet Admiral (site admin)


Joined: 14 Dec 2013
Posts: 17019
Location: North Carolina

PostPosted: Fri Nov 20, 2020 12:29 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Pow wrote:
While the ''monster'' clearly burned up on the dock (guess he forgot his fear of fire from the earlier Frankenstein films), there are some folks who question the demise of the Wolf-Man & Count Dracula.

Would such a plunge into the ocean have really finished off both of those supernatural characters?

Good thinking! Very Happy

However, consider this. The monster was badly burned in the windmill fire at the end of Frankenstein, but we find out in the sequel that the floor collapsed and he plunged into an underground pool, saving him from the fire.

Check the clip below from A&C Meet Frankenstein and you'll noticed that even though the fire engulfs the monster, he's still struggling forward when the dock collapses . . . and drops him down into the water!

By gum, I think the poor monster was saved again! Very Happy

And isn't it ironic that Bela Lugosi played the werewolf who bit Lawrence Talbot in The Wolf Man, turning him into a werewolf?

If The Wolf Man bit the Dracula/bat during the fall from the balcony (or even after they plunged into the ocean), perhaps the count would become a "Vampire Wolf Man" who could turn into both a bat and a werewolf?

Come to think of it, if the Dracula/bat bit The Wolf Man, then poor Larry would become a Vampire Wolf Man, too! They might even become buddies because they had so much in common! Shocked

Wouldn't THAT make a slam-bang sequel! I can imagine them sitting around an old wooden table in the crypt beneath Dracula's castle, playing poker while the swap stories and give each other advice on how to handle their new dual-monster nature.

Talbot: Tell me something, Count. Have you always liked the flavor of blood . . . it is it an acquired taste?

Dracula: Vell, Lawrence, answer me dis. Did you like the taste of beer de first time you tried it?

Talbot: Hmmm . . . come to think of it, no. But I do now.

Dracula (smiling): Vell, dares your answer, my friend! Now I have a question of you. Vhen I turn into a verewolf, vill I have to keep my pants on . . . or can I just go butt naked?

Talbot (laughing): The pants are optional, buddy. I keep mine on because I never know where I'll be when I turn normal again. Heck, I might end up inside a church!

Dracula (looking frightened): Dat must NEVER happen to me, Lawrence! Promise you'll vill keep me out of places like dat! Shocked

Talbot (with a friendly grin): Relax, pal. I've got your back, Drac!

_________________
____________
Is there no man on Earth who has the wisdom and innocence of a child?
~ The Space Children (1958)


Last edited by Bud Brewster on Sun Nov 22, 2020 10:43 am; edited 1 time in total
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Pow
Galactic Ambassador


Joined: 27 Sep 2014
Posts: 3400
Location: New York

PostPosted: Sat Nov 21, 2020 11:30 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thoughts about A&CMF after watching it for the zillionth time on MeTV's Svengoolie show.

Wonder how Count Dracula & the monster were able to travel unnoticed from MacDougal's House of Horrors to their island castle?

The Wolf Man is one of my fav Universal monsters. Kinda unbelievable he really couldn't just bust through the door of the room that he asks Wilbur to lock him inside.

The large hunting party using bloodhounds couldn't track Chick & Lawrence Talbot at all? Riiight.

Joan Raymond (Jane Randolph) is an insurance investigator going undercover. When Dr. Sandra Mornay (Lenore Aubert) becomes suspicious of Joan, Mornay snoops in Joan's purse and discovers her insurance investigator I.D. business card.

So much for clever undercover work there, Joan.

In the scene where Chick and Wibur push the bed against the door to block the monster, you can see the wall behind Lou Costello, standing on top of the bed, shake a little once the monster comes into the bedroom.

The laboratory appears to be on the ground floor when Dracula and Dr. Mornay push the gurney that Wilbur is on to the lab for the operation.

Once all heck breaks out, and Chick & Wilbur escape the operating room, we see the battle ensue with them and the monsters and we are clearly on the second floor of the castle.

Boy, the monster has really lousy aim, doesn't he? He tosses crate after crate on the dock at Chick & Wilbur who are in a boat. The boat is tied to the dock and is only a few feet from the monster who misses them every single time.

At the conclusion of the movie we see Chick & Wilbur talking in the boat that Wilbur was finally able to untie from the dock.

Chick is rowing the boat but the boat isn't moving at all in the water.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Krel
Guest





PostPosted: Sun Nov 22, 2020 4:50 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Pow wrote:
Boy, the monster has really lousy aim, doesn't he? He tosses crate after crate on the dock at Chick & Wilbur who are in a boat. The boat is tied to the dock and is only a few feet from the monster who misses them every single time.

None of Frankenstein's creations ever seemed to have good coordination, or be very limber in the movies. Laughing

David.
Back to top
Bud Brewster
Galactic Fleet Admiral (site admin)


Joined: 14 Dec 2013
Posts: 17019
Location: North Carolina

PostPosted: Sun Nov 22, 2020 6:34 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Krel wrote:
None of Frankenstein's creations ever seemed to have good coordination, or be very limber in the movies. Laughing

Sad but true, sir . . . Sad

And yet, despite these physical limitations, that poor clunky clodhopper would NOT die — no matter what happened to him! You'd think that such a guy who was a physical wreck would be easy to injure — much less to kill! Sad

But not this fella! He was the ugliest Energizer Bunny in history! He just kept going and going, no matter what!

And what about his clothes! He wore the same black suit for over a decade . . . but as far as we know, he never took a bath or sent that suit out to the cleaners! Shocked

And hey — what about FOOD!

Did anybody ever bother to feed this poor creature! We saw him eat just once with the blind man in Bride of Frankenstein. But when did we ever see this poor soul sit down and eat a good meal!

Oh sure, they charged him up with electricity from time to time — but nobody every let him enjoy a good steak dinner!

Furthermore, even if somebody did care for the monster in these ways (during scenes we never saw), the list of basic needs the poor monster never got are shockingly extensive!

For example, was he shown how to brush his teeth and floss after each meal to prevent tooth decay and gum disease? (I doubt it!)

Was he taken to a dentist for regular checkups to deal with tooth decay and gum problems? (Not likely!)

Was he ever encouraged to exercise regular to maintain muscle tone and cardiovascular health? (No! Of course not! Rolling Eyes )

Was he ever provided with warm, physical contact in the form of hugs and pats on the back to bolster his self-esteem?

No again, folk. Sadly, those thing never happened!

As a retired elementary school teacher (as of 2012) with 18 years experience, I am qualified to state that the Frankenstein monster is undoubtedly the most abused and neglected young offspring in the history of modern civilization! Sad

And in view of this individual's young age ("born" in 1931 and only 17 in 1948 when this movie was released), I submit that this neglected adolescent should be assigned to a foster home with adults who can help the poor youth overcome his unfortunate situation!
Shocked
_________________
____________
Is there no man on Earth who has the wisdom and innocence of a child?
~ The Space Children (1958)


Last edited by Bud Brewster on Mon Nov 23, 2020 8:46 am; edited 1 time in total
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Pow
Galactic Ambassador


Joined: 27 Sep 2014
Posts: 3400
Location: New York

PostPosted: Sun Nov 22, 2020 10:35 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

More A&CMF Factoids.

Prior to this movie, Bud Abbott and Lou Costello had considered doing a Broadway show where the comic duo would have met the three classic Universal monsters.

They discussed this idea in 1942 with the legendary makeup artist Jack Pierce. However, that idea never worked out.

Bertram Milhauser wrote a 47 page treatment for A&CMF that was submitted to Universal on February 12, 1947.

The idea of placing Costello's brain inside the Frankenstein monster was not part of that story.

The plot from "Sherlock Holmes in Washington" was recycled for the Abbott & Costello film.

Plot Synopsis: The evil Dr. Fell steals a formula from Baroness von Frankenstein that will re~animate the monsters.

The Baroness tells her granddaughter, Jane, who teams up with F.B.I. agent Dan Barlowe in order to stop Fell from his nefarious scheme.

Fell is arriving in NYC on an ocean liner when he finds out that Barlowe has discovered his plans and intends to arrest him.

Fell hides the secret reanimation formula on microfilm in a matchbook.

He then tricks the ship's stewards, Bud & Lou, into carrying the matchbook covertly off the liner.

Much of the plot involves the comedy team losing, then recovering, the matchbook over and over again.

Abbott & Costello finally deliver the matchbook to the museum where Fell works and where the monsters are all on exhibit.

Jane has Fell escort her to a costume party held at the Waldorf Astoria, then leaves him trapped in an elevator while F.B.I. agent Barlowe searches for the elusive formula.

In time, Fell catches up with both Jane & Barlowe at the museum.

Bud & Lou accidentally revive the Monster by using salt and vinegar, and the Wolf Man with baked beans. They also remove the stake from Count Dracula's chest.

The monsters then chase Abbott & Costello all around the museum.

Baroness von Frankenstein arrives with an atomizer that shrinks the monsters to four inches in height.

Fell is arrested, while the boys are allowed to use the monsters in a Broadway show.

Praise the gods that this silly plot was not accepted by Universal-International for the film.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Display posts from previous:   
Post new topic   Reply to topic    ALL SCI-FI Forum Index -> Sci-Fi Movies and Serials from 1900 to 1949 All times are GMT - 5 Hours
Goto page Previous  1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6  Next
Page 3 of 6

 
Jump to:  
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum


Powered by phpBB © 2001, 2005 phpBB Group