Abbott and Costello Meets Frankenstein in Universal Horrors Forum

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Abbott and Costello Meets Frankenstein

Author	Comment
Bobtheman	Abbott and Costello Meets Frankenstein	Lead	[-]
Sep 17 06 9:33 AM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Great picture, it was cool. I think what made it work so well as blend of horror and comedy is that the monsters were not ridiculed and played the roles "stright". Since this was the finale for the Universal Monsters, it would have been so perfect for Boris Karloff to star as the Frankenstein Monster. Does anybody know if he was considered, approached? That would have really "made" this film. Bela Lugosi was just perfect as the Count, it was good that he wasn't the Dracula figure in House of Frankenstein and House of Dracula because the role there was a servant to Dr. Neiman in the first one and looking for a "cure" in the second one, neither of them fit Lugosi's persona as Dracula. Also, after the box office success of this film, was there any thought to again reuniting the Monsers for another film??
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rvoyttbots	Re: Abbott and Costello Meets Frankenstein	#1	[-]
Sep 17 06 10:14 AM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	There is a photo of an unhappy looking Karloff standing next to the one sheet of the film back in 1948. He is allegedly quoted as saying he would pose for the photo as long as he didn`t have to watch the film. I would think Universal would have asked him to be part of the film. Is there a commentary on the DVD? The question is probably answered there.
Joe Karlosi	Re: Abbott and Costello Meets Frankenstein	#2	[-]
Sep 17 06 10:31 AM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	For nostaligic reasons it would have been cool having Karloff as the monster (even though I like the look of Glenn Strange in this film more than any other). Boris wound up being in Abbott and Costello's "Meet the Killer" and "Meet Jekyll and Hyde" anyway, which is kind of ironic. But I think Karloff could have pulled off the stint as the monster in 1948, one more time. He was able to do it for Route 66 as late as 1962! ---------------------- "It's MORE ... than a hobby!"
catmandu7	Re: Abbott and Costello Meets Frankenstein	#3	[-]
Sep 17 06 4:45 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	I would bet that he was asked and said no. The original story for Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein was pretty bad according to the Abbott And Costello Movie Book, and Boris would never have done anything to diminish the Monster. Was he not busy on Broadway about that time as well?
Rick	Re: Abbott and Costello Meets Frankenstein	#4	[-]
Sep 17 06 9:47 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	*Quote:* Was he not busy on Broadway about that time as well? He was onstage a lot in the late 40's, early 50's. I know on Broadway he did THE LINDEN TREE, THE HOUSE ON SLY CORNER, and PETER PAN. The first two didn't really take up a lot of his time, both were flops. I don't have the dates in front of me. Is Gord Shriver here? I'll bet he knows. As far as Karloff's attitude toward A&C MEET FRANKENSTEIN, I've always read that he viewed it very grimly, probably as one more step down in the monster's de-evolution. We should remember that A&CMF, while successful, was not that highly regarded until Monster Kids took over the world. I recall in one of the Maltin or Scheuer TV movie guides from years ago, it declared that the movie was a sad ending to the monster saga, something like that. Now Maltin--and everybody else--calls it a classic.
sketchyfrank	Re: Abbott and Costello Meets Frankenstein	#5	[-]
Sep 17 06 10:12 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	It's hard for me to imagine anyone but Glenn Strange in the part for that particular movie. I'm not sure Boris would have brought anything special to the role considering what was called for in the script. Boris never liked the idea of the monster speaking, so he would have probably been unhappy about that, while Glenn was thrilled to be able to say "Yes...master." I think Lugosi is far better as the Count in A&CMF than he was in the original DRACULA. By that time he far more comfortable in front of the camera, so his nuances and subtle expressions were much more evident. And Chaney delivers a marvelous final performance as Lawrence Talbot, whose mission in life has evolved from ending his own suffering to preventing Dracula from inflicting the same on others. It was the first monster movie I ever saw, and to this day remains one of my top five favorites of all time. Frank Dietz www.sketchythings.com
blackbiped	Re: Abbott and Costello Meets Frankenstein	#6	[-]
Sep 17 06 10:23 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	*Quote:* I recall in one of the Maltin or Scheuer TV movie guides I may be wrong, but I'd guess it was Scheuer. He's the same guy who gave BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN three out of four stars and described it as "way above average for this kind of trash." Legend, oh legend, the third wheel legend...always in the way.
Rick	Re: Abbott and Costello Meets Frankenstein	#7	[-]
Sep 17 06 11:07 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	In the spirit of full disclosure, and at the risk of branding myself a liar, both Maltin and Scheuer seem to have always had nice things to say about ABBOTT AND COSTELLO MEET FRANKENSTEIN. I just checked in my oldest editions of each and found words like 'fun', 'entertaining', etc. I know I saw that 'sad' comment somewhere. Maybe in a newspaper TV listing? I dunno. As to the question of whether Boris was on Broadway during the shooting of MEET, the answer is 'yes'. Thanks to Gary Don Rhodes' LUGOSI book, and Gord Shriver's KARLOFF, we now know that ABBOTT AND COSTELLO MEET FRANKENSTEIN started shooting on February 5, 1948, and wrapped on March 20. Meanwhile, on the Great White Way, Boris opened in THE LINDEN TREE on March 2, 1948, and the show closed March 7 after only seven performances. I sincerely doubt Karloff would have taken the A&C job under any circumstances, but (genuinely) 'legit' work made it a moot subject.
ScaredyRAT	Re: Abbott and Costello Meets Frankenstein	#8	[-]
Sep 17 06 11:53 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Since the monster was basically just a big wind-up toy by that time, I don't think Karloff would have been good in this one, Karloff's and Strange's Monsters were totally different creatures (as were, to a lesser extent, Chaney's and Lugosi's Monsters) and the part was written for the big mindless creature from the two HOUSE movies, not the complex and misused man-child of Karloff's. The comedy role I really wish we could see Karloff in is the brother in Arsenic and Old Lace, already one of the funniest comedies ever made, but if Karloff could have been let out of his stage contract to play the same character, the character that was made especially for him, I think "Arsenic" would be a cool classic beyond words. whoops! said something that could be taken a few different kinds of wrong ways, so I deleted it. ----------------- "...K0KW-Calling, I'm on international frequency, come-in..."
Zombiewalkin	Re: Abbott and Costello Meets Frankenstein	#9	[-]
Sep 18 06 9:54 AM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	I really enjoy this film. It just works on all levels. I couldnt believe that I was laughing out loud at some of the jokes and psychical comedy! It may have been a bummer back in the 40's but for me seeing for the first time at age 35, I consider it a classic.
Ted Newsom	Re: Abbott and Costello Meets Frankenstein	#10	[-]
Sep 18 06 10:51 AM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Karloff relocated to NY during this time (I think he made the move permanent about 1952) because that's where the work was, on stage, and later, in television. Boy, what Lugosi woulda given to make a movie where Karloff was playing the Monster as Dracula's slave... heh heh heh heh... In the unlikely event that Karloff WAS cast as the Monster, this ought to give some idea what he may've looked like-- probably taken when he did the celebrity baseball game abou 1940, altho' there's some of us who'd argue that it's even later, post 1945.
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paleoguy	Re: Abbott and Costello Meets Frankenstein	#11	[-]
Sep 18 06 1:25 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	What an awesome Karloff-Monster shot! I've never seen it before. I think Boris looks even better in this photo than he did in SON OF FRANKENSTEIN. Thanks Ted! Martin
Bobtheman	Photo Karloff as Frankenstein	#12	[-]
Sep 18 06 3:16 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Great photo! I love it, i love it. The IMBD data base does say Karloff was offered the role of the Monster for Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein. Any stories on it?? Lon Chaney accepted The wolfman role because he didn't want anyone playing his role as the Wolfman. Bela Lugosi's performance was just incredible- very, very menacing and stole the show, IMHO. Nonne could have done Dracula like he did here. It would have been so great,for nostaglia's sake to have Boris Karloff as the Monster in the finale, the end of The Universal Monster series. I read somewhere he "coached" Glenn Strange on how to play the Monster. How to use his hands to convey emotion- The Monster was better off being inarticulate- Karloff was right on that one. Karloff was the Monster to Lugosi's Ygor in Son of Frankenstein. It would have been great to see Karloff as the Monster to Lugosi's Dracula in the same picture. especially since this was the finale. I have a VHS boxed set of both Frankenstein and Dracula with artwork of both of them together.
n0s4a2	Re: Photo Karloff as Frankenstein	#13	[-]
Sep 19 06 1:46 AM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Wow, that shot of Karloff is great. He looks nice and gaunt, and the makeup is more like that of the original picture than subsequent incarnations. In Bride he was almost too heroic looking, in Son the hair was too full and thick and cut too straight across in front; it looks coolest when it hangs in lank tendrils on his forehead. The shadowing under the eyes is the way it ought to be too. And he's really sucking in that cheek. Is there any motion picture footage of him in this makeup?
Ted Newsom	Re: Photo Karloff as Frankenstein	#14	[-]
Sep 19 06 2:12 AM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	There's a bit of footage of him (assuming this is the same Karloff appearance) in some newsreel footage of a celebrity baseball game in KEN MURRAY'S HOLLYWOOD. And if that sounds too dull, pick up a copy of the TALES OF FRANKENSTEIN dvd from All Day Entertainment (not the ALpha copy). And if you look quick, you can see Jack Pierce ther, too.
The Drunken Severed Head	Re: Photo Karloff as Frankenstein	#15	[-]
Sep 19 06 10:25 AM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	"Wow, that shot of Karloff is great." Almost as interesting is the fact that Ted has cropped the Bride of Frankenstein out of the shot! She stands next to him! ;^) Max
Imhoteps Ashes	Re: Photo Karloff as Frankenstein	#16	[-]
Sep 19 06 10:35 AM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	*Quote:* I think Boris looks even better in this photo than he did in SON OF FRANKENSTEIN. Karloff lost a lot of weight in the years following SON OF FRANKENSTEIN - in fact, by the time of 1944's HOUSE OF FRANKENSTEIN, he was desperately trying to put weight back on! I'm sure he'd have looked great in A&C MEET FRANKENSTEIN. And acted great. "Hideous Half-Man, Half-Beast Who Terrorized Millions!" - Tagline, WEREWOLF OF LONDON (1935)
paleoguy	Re: Photo Karloff as Frankenstein	#17	[-]
Sep 19 06 12:25 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Don't get me wrong, I'm a Karloff fan second to none, but I think the casting of A & C MEET FRANKENSTEIN is perfect just as it is. Martin
Wolfman Joe	Re: Photo Karloff as Frankenstein	#18	[-]
Sep 19 06 12:42 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	*Quote:* There's a bit of footage of him (assuming this is the same Karloff appearance) in some newsreel footage of a celebrity baseball game in KEN MURRAY'S HOLLYWOOD Two of the Ken Murray compilations (the only two?), HOLLYWOOD, MY HOMETOWN and HOLLYWOOD WITHOUT MAKEUP are airing on TCM in October. I believe the game is featured in the former (correct me if I'm wrong, someone!)
HalLane	Re: Photo Karloff as Frankenstein	#19	[-]
Sep 19 06 12:56 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	I think it is the first one, Wolfman. And one of them has the color Karloff/American Indian footage (TAP ROOTS?), maybe even the same one.
HerryGrail	Re: Photo Karloff as Frankenstein	#20	[-]
Sep 19 06 1:13 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Not to be dense, but what is that photo from? The makeup looks as elaborate as the original, which would surprise me if it was just for a ballgame. At first I thought I'd fallen for another of Ted's Frankengolems, but I see now this is a real shot.
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Abbott and Costello Meets Frankenstein

Abbott and Costello Meets Frankenstein