Making a Monster Comedy: Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein

Today we’re talking about a film that holds a unique place in film history. Released in 1948 - about a decade after the Laemmle Era of Universal that I usually talk about - this movie combined the famous Universal Monsters we all love with the iconic comedy duo of Abbott and Costello, and it’s often considered one of the greatest horror comedies of all time. Today, we are talking about Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein.

I saw this movie a few months ago at the Old Town Music Hall, which - if you live in LA - you have to go to the Old Town Music Hall. It’s a great old venue in El Segundo that screens exclusively classic movies. They have a mighty Wurlitzer organ which will often accompany silent films. We do singalongs before the movie, it’s such a fun theater and it’s such a good experience. I’m going to give a plug for myself, which is on October 20th and 27th 2024 (this October) I’m going to be introducing Dracula and Phantom of the Opera at the Old Town Music Hall. So, get your tickets, but also go anytime of the year to the Oldtown Music Hall. It’s so fun.

I saw Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein at the Old Town Music Hall; it was introduced by Lou Costello’s daughter Chris, and it was so much fun. Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein features Dracula, Frankenstein, the Wolf Man, and even a glimpse of the Invisible Man. Sorry to the three of you that got left out of the title. In Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein, the remains of Frankenstein and Dracula are being sent to a house of horrors in Florida, and Chick and Wilbur (Abbott and Costello) have to personally deliver them. Of course, the monsters escape, and fear and hilarity ensue. There’s also a subplot where Wilbur’s brain might get switched with Frankenstein’s, and the Wolf Man just might save the day!

Released in 1948, Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein combined the famous Universal Monsters we all love with the iconic comedy duo of Abbott and Costello, and it’s often considered one of the greatest horror comedies of all time.

Let’s lay the foundation here because I know that most of you are horror experts already, but for those of you who are new to the Monsters, here’s some information you should know that will really help you get why this movie is significant. ‌Universal was known for its horror films, especially under Carl Laemmle and Junior Laemmle in the 1930s. These Universal Monsters included Dracula, Frankenstein, the Bride of Frankenstein, the Mummy, and the Invisible Man.

After the Bride of Frankenstein, Uncle Carl and Junior leave Universal (it’s kind of a long story) and the Hays Code of censorship starts being enforced, so horror movies are on the outs for a few years. When they come back a few years later, it’s mostly a lot of spinoffs and sequels. So yes, there was a Wolf Man, which was kind of a new take on the Werewolf of London, and then you get movies like the Son of Frankenstein, the Ghost of Frankenstein, The Invisible Man Returns, The Invisible Woman, The Mummy’s Hand, The Mummy’s Tomb - you get the idea.

Then the sequels get taken one step further, we start getting crossovers. Things like Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man, House of Dracula, House of Frankenstein, and finally in 1948, we get our first comedy horror crossover featuring two of the most famous comedians in the entire world - Abbott and Costello. Universal had combined with International Pictures in 1946 to become Universal-International. William Goetz, head of production, wanted more esteemed cinema. He wanted art and sophistication. But now in 1948, the studio was almost bankrupt, and William Goetz was starting to get the idea that maybe his vision wasn’t the one to see Universal through.

The cast of Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein: Bud Abbott, Lou Costello, Glenn Strange, Lon Chaney Jr., and Bela Lugosi.

Abbott and Costello had considered a Monster crossover before, all the way in 1943 and for the Broadway stage, but now in 1948 it was finally happening on film. I’m sure they they wished it happened a little earlier. By 1948, the two were fighting a lot and both of them had dealt with health issues and personal hardships. ‌

Charles Barton, who had worked with Abbott and Costello before, signed on to direct, and veteran Abbott and Costello writers Frederic Ronaldo and Robert Lees got to work on a script. Lou Costello hated the first draft, which was originally called “The Brain of Frankenstein.” He went right into producer Robert Arthur’s office and called it crap, and said that his daughter could have written something better. It was pretty much because of the paycheck that he decided to stick it out.

The paycheck helped secure a few of the Monsters as well, including Bela Lugosi, who hadn’t played Dracula in a movie since his 1931 appearance. Though Boris Karloff turned the role down, thinking it might not pay the right kind of respect to the Monster he loved so much, Glenn Strange signed on. Lon Chaney, Jr. agreed to reprise his role as the Wolf Man. Lenore Aubert and Jane Randolph rounded out the cast as our female leads.

Charles Barton said that Abbott and Costello had a chip on their shoulder about doing the movie and would fight him like hell. They would do things like go home for days at a time or set up a table on set and play cards for days at a time. In contrast, the monsters were angels.

Charles Barton said that Abbott and Costello had a chip on their shoulder about doing the movie and would fight him like hell.

Makeup artist Jack Pierce was also unceremoniously dropped from the Universal payroll after more than 20 years and replaced with a young Bud Westmore. Jack Pierce had something of a cantankerous attitude, and a slow methodical process in the makeup chair, and the new Universal didn’t have the patience. As a result, all three monsters have different makeup and materials than we’d ever seen them with before.

Despite the rocky start, I think most everyone had a pretty good time making Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein. Charles Barton would recall that most of the actors had reputations, tempers, even drinking problems - with him they were all pretty wonderful. Glenn Strange would later call the movie one of the most enjoyable that he ever worked on.

Maybe this had something to do with the behind-the-scenes pie fights. I’m not kidding. Abbott and Costello had a thing for getting in pie fights on set, which was probably a way to keep the energy up scene after scene. So, the cast and the crew, Bela Lugosi, Lon Chaney Jr, and even Glenn Strange, they all had to put up with quite a few pie fights! Lon Chaney, Jr would actually partake sometimes. Bela Lugosi, though I think he appreciated it as long as he wasn’t in the scene, didn’t really partake, and it was tough for Glenn Strange because he had the heavy rubber eyelids.‌

Lenore Aubert found it funny to walk Frankenstein’s monster around the Universal backlot on a leash - with the rest of the cast in tow. And Lou Costello really loved ad-lib-ing and making his cast crack up on camera in scenes. I’ve actually seen a pretty solid blooper reel out there- I’ll try to find a copy and link it below.

Shooting completed March 20, 1948, and nobody knew how the movie was going to be received. The studio heads really weren’t paying the movie much mind, they weren’t visiting set. Nobody was giving them progress updates along the way, so it wasn’t until the movie premiered, that they knew what they had made. There’s a really great story of Lou Castello not even thinking the movie was funny until his mom saw it and told him it was her favorite movie yet.

Screenings sold out with audiences of all ages, and though it was Universal’s second cheapest movie to make that year, it was their second highest grossing. Glenn Strange, Bela Lugosi, and even Boris Karloff traveled to promote the movie. Unfortunately, Lon Chaney, Jr was not part of the celebrations. A few weeks after production wrapped, after a fight with his wife, he attempted suicide. Though thankfully, he survived, he never came to appreciate the monster crossover film he participated in.

Lon Chaney Jr. never came to appreciate the monster cross over movie that he participated in. He said he loved the horror films when he felt like there was sympathy involved, but that these movies made the monsters out to be buffoons.

He said he loved the horror films when he felt like there was sympathy involved, but that these movies made the monsters out to be buffoons. I know that there are other people out there who agree with him that these movies - not just about Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein - but the slew of sequels that came after: Abbott and Costello Meet the Killer, Boris Karloff, Abbott and Costello Meet the Invisible Man, Abbott and Costello Meet Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, and Abbott and Costello Meet the Mummy. They felt those movies were sullying the reputation of the Universal Monsters and ruining their legacy.

On the other side, I can’t tell you how often I hear that people love Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein or that it’s their favorite movie or that it allowed them to love the Universal Monsters without feeling terrified. Though horror-comedy is my favorite genre, slapstick wouldn’t usually fall under that umbrella, but I do really love Abbott and Costella Meet Frankenstein. I was so pleasantly surprised at how many kids were in the audience when I saw it a few months ago at the Old Town Music Hall.

I think movies like this, Universal Monster Comedy movies are a really important part of continuing the legacy of the Universal Monsters. Not just comedy, I do think that we need really great scary Universal Monster movies and suspenseful Universal Monster movies, but I do think comedy is an important element of that and Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein totally fits the bill. Which do you prefer, scary and suspenseful monster movies or horror comedy monster movies?