Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein

The last in a long line of movies (until Van Helsing in 2004) featuring classic Universal monsters the likes of Frankenstein, Dracula, the Invisible Man or the Werewolf and also the second in a long line of movies featuring Abbot and Costello. The story primarily concerns concluding the fate of Larry Talbot. But still, this is no classic product from the monster production line. I was afraid that this mass crossover seen so often, in a comic vein to add to things, would be boring with dated humor. But that’s not true. The comedy works mainly thanks to Lou Costello. And the rest? Of the handful of movies where Universal decided to don full combat gear and combine several of its prime commodities together, this is the best of all. For the cast alone. The Werewolf in the inimitable delivery of Chaney, Bela Lugosi in his most celebrated role seventeen years later and Vincent Price as the Invisible Man (you really can’t see him, just hear him). Just Boris Karloff in the role of Frankenstein’s Monster is missing. A very pleasant farewell to the “golden age" of one very special subgenre. (07/04/2008)