RottenTomatoes.com
Log In | Register | What is RT?
Check out the new RT Community
  • Home
  • Movies
  • DVD
  • Celebrities
  • News
  • Critics
  • Trailers & Pictures
  • CommunityBeta
  • Box Office
  • | In Theaters
  • | Opening
  • | Upcoming
  • | Best Of
  • | Certified Fresh
RT Search Powered by Google
help icon Enhanced RT
searches on Google
Click here to turn on enhanced search results from RT on your Google searches.
 
Movies / Upcoming / Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein
Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein

Rate this Movie Help Icon

  • Write a Review
  • Read Reviews
  • Add to List
  • Buy Poster External Icon
Bookmark and Share

Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein (1948)

  • T-Meter Critics
  • Top Critics
  • RT Community
  • My Critics
  • My Friends
91 %
Tomatometer
Template ImageTemplate Image

How does the Tomatometer work Help Icon

Reviews Counted:22

Fresh:20

Rotten:2

Average Rating:7.1/10

Runtime: 83 mins

Genre: Comedies

US Box Office: $0

Synopsis: Bud Abbott and Lou Costello's "grand unifying monster" film and the first in their "Meet..." series, with the two bungling buddies as baggage handlers saddled with the ghoulish remains of Dracula... Bud Abbott and Lou Costello's "grand unifying monster" film and the first in their "Meet..." series, with the two bungling buddies as baggage handlers saddled with the ghoulish remains of Dracula (Bela Lugosi) and Frankenstein's monster (Glenn Strange). But once they arrive at their cargo's destination, a wax museum, the monsters revolt, with plans to purloin and transplant Lou's brain. The Monster is growing weak and his master Dracula has devised the perfect plan to restore his virility. The fat man takes the bait, which is in the shape of a woman. Director Charles Barton easily guides this ambitious effort which is chaotically comic throughout, despite an off-camera foot injury that confined Glenn Strange to a cast and prompted Bela Lugosi to fill in for him in one scene. This was last screen appearance of Universal's Frankenstein Monster, which had been introduced by Boris Karloff. The result is an unforgettable and unique combination of humor and horror. [More]

Starring: Bud Abbott, Lou Costello, Lon Chaney, Bela Lugosi

Starring: Bud Abbott, Lou Costello, Lon Chaney, Bela Lugosi, Glenn Strange, Lenore Aubert, Jane Randolph, Frank Ferguson, Charles Bradstreet, Howard Negley, Clarence Straight, Helen Spring, Vincent Price

Director: Charles Barton

Director: Charles Barton
Screenwriter: Robert Lees, Frederic I. Rinaldo, John Grant
Producer: Robert Arthur
Story: Mary Shelley
Composer: Frank Skinner

[See More Credits]

Reviews for Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein

  • T-Meter Critics
  • Top Critics
  • RT Community
  • My Critics
  • My Friends
 
 
1 - 20 (sorted by date; Australian critics are listed first)
Text View | 1 2 >> >|
Arrange By:Fresh | Rotten | Comments | Name | Source | Date
 
 

While the the film is representative of the absolute worst of Universal horror... it is one of the very best Abbott and Costello vehicles.

Full Review Source: Antagony & Ecstasy | comment Comment
11/01/09
Tim Brayton
Tim Brayton
Antagony & Ecstasy

Well-constructed and satisfyingly low

Full Review Source: CinePassion | comment Comment
08/28/09
Fernando F. Croce
Fernando F. Croce
CinePassion
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Variety | comment Comment
03/26/09
Variety
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

No review available.

comment Comment
04/15/08
Cole Smithey
Cole Smithey
ColeSmithey.com

It's ridiculous, of course, but the combination of classic monsters, dizzy sets and some of Bud and Lou's funniest bits make it a keeper.

Full Review Source: Combustible Celluloid | comment Comment
01/03/08
Jeffrey M. Anderson
Jeffrey M. Anderson
Combustible Celluloid

The comedy duo's finest onscreen hour comes in the shape of this wonderful horror spoof which also unites all of Universal's scariest horror heroes under the same cinematic roof.

Full Review Source: Channel 4 Film | comment Comment
10/16/07
Channel 4 Film
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

A little bit of going through the motions with this horror spoof but fans will enjoy

Full Review Source: Empire Magazine | comment Comment
10/16/07
Kim Newman
Kim Newman
Empire Magazine
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

After this film's considerable success at the box office, Abbott and Costello made seven more pictures in which they 'met' Hollywood monsters, but none were as lively and entertaining as this one.

Full Review Source: TV Guide's Movie Guide | comment Comment
10/16/07
TV Guide's Movie Guide
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

This 1948 effort is probably the last of their watchable films, though it's a long way from their best.

Full Review Source: Chicago Reader | comment Comment
10/16/07
Dave Kehr
Dave Kehr
Chicago Reader

The notion of having these two clowns run afoul of the famous screen monster is a good laugh in itself. But take this gentle warning: get the most out of that one laugh while you can, because the picture, at Loew's Criterion, does not contain many more.

Full Review Source: New York Times | comment Comment
08/08/06
Bosley Crowther
Bosley Crowther
New York Times
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

THE best of Abbott and Costello's zany films, this time with Lugosi and Chaney playing their monsters seriously, which makes A&C's reactions hilarious.

comment Comment
02/16/06
Steve Crum
Steve Crum
Kansas City Kansan

Classic horror movie spoof.

comment Comment
09/23/05
Kevin Carr
Kevin Carr
7M Pictures

The best of all the 35 Abbott and Costello movies made between 1940 and 1956.

Full Review Source: Ozus' World Movie Reviews | comment Comment
07/18/05
Dennis Schwartz
Dennis Schwartz
Ozus' World Movie Reviews

No review available.

comment Comment
07/03/05
Emanuel Levy
Emanuel Levy
EmanuelLevy.Com

No review available.

comment Comment
02/20/04
Carol Cling
Carol Cling
Las Vegas Review-Journal

No review available.

comment Comment
01/30/04
Daniel M. Kimmel
Daniel M. Kimmel
Worcester Telegram & Gazette

A classic mixture of horror and comedy, one of the best in this genre and one of A&C's finest moments.

comment Comment
09/20/03
Bob Bloom
Bob Bloom
Journal and Courier (Lafayette, IN)

This is one of the best of all the Abbott and Costello features.

Full Review Source: Austin Chronicle | comment Comment
03/10/03
Marjorie Baumgarten
Marjorie Baumgarten
Austin Chronicle

Superior Abbott and Costello vehicle with great Bela Lugosi Dracula performance.

comment Comment
01/16/03
Ken Hanke
Ken Hanke
Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)

Even contemporary audiences can't help but laugh at this.

comment Comment
11/29/02
Michael Drakulich
Michael Drakulich
Star Newspapers (Chicago, IL)
 
 
1 - 20 (sorted by date; Australian critics are listed first)
Text View | 1 2 >> >|
See All

More Movies

Coming Soon in Australia
Tomatometer Percentage Movie Date

70% 70% Where the Wild Things Are 03/12
83% 83% Paranormal Activity 03/12
89% 89% Zombieland 03/12
76% 76% The Informant! 03/12
— The Strength of Water 03/12

What’s Hot On RT

Shock! Horror?

Shock! Horror?

Lars von Trier talks Antichrist

Avatar

Avatar

Watch an exclusive behind-the-scenes video

RT's Twilight corner

RT's Twilight corner

Everything you need on New Moon is here

Kids' Book Films

Kids' Book Films

We fly through 10 of the best

Other News

  • Top Stories
  • Popular
  • Interviews
 
 

Comments

 
 
Top Stories
Headlines Comments
  
  • Natalie Portman Says Kat Denning Is in Thor Source: MTV
32
  • Disney Restructuring Has Broad Implications Source: Los Angeles Times
10
  • Joel Silver Talks Ninja Assassin, Sgt. Rock, Lobo, and More Source: Collider.com
1
  • Weekly Ketchup: Idris Elba cast in Thor, more Spider-Man 4 rumors
116
  • Idris Elba Joins Thor Source: Hollywood Reporter
112
  • Jackass 3D Coming in 2010? Source: Collider.com
32
  • 6 Reasons 'Twilight' Is Doomed Source: The Wrap
64
  • Forbes Names Hollywood's Most Overpaid Actors Source: Forbes
20
  • Chris Weitz Says He's (Almost) Done with Directing Source: Film School Rejects
26
  • Spider-Man 4 Casting Rumors Multiply Like Rabbits Source: Deadline Hollywood Daily
51
Popular
Headlines Comments
  
  • Box Office Guru Wrapup: New Moon Shatters Records
175
  • Critics Consensus: New Moon Wanes
129
  • Tomatometer Watch: Will Twilight's New Moon Dazzle?
97
  • Total Recall: Star-Crossed Lovers
75
  • Total Recall: John Travolta's Best Movies
69
  • Weekly Ketchup: Idris Elba cast in Thor, more Spider-Man 4 rumors
58
  • Friday Harvest: New Moon, Avatar, and more!
32
  • Critics Consensus: Flee From Ninja Assassin
19
  • "I Don't Hate Women": Lars von Trier on Antichrist
12
  • RT on DVD: Harry Potter returns, Bella heads to Adventureland
4
Interviews
Headlines Comments
  
  • "I Don't Hate Women": Lars von Trier on Antichrist
12
  • Eric Bana talks Love the Beast - RT Interview
9
  • Fight Club Sound Designer Reflects on Film's 10th Anniversary
19
  • James Schamus talks Taking Woodstock - RT Interview
6
  • RT on DVD: Wassup, Bruno
3
  • Scott Hicks Talks The Boys Are Back
0
  • John Hurt Talks Harry Potter, Quentin Crisp and Alien - The RT Interview
15
  • Richard Kelly chats about The Box
2
  • Terry Gilliam Talks Doctor Parnassus
20
  • Wes Anderson Talks Fantastic Mr. Fox - RT Interview
8
 
 

Sponsored Links

Around The Network

  • Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein at Rotten Tomatoes

Fresh Links

Featured
Dressing Wonderland
Dressing Wonderland External Link

Tim Burton's costume designer talks to Movieline about her long collaboration with the filmmaker and Johnny Depp.

Wes Anderson on Fox
Wes Anderson on Fox External Link

The director talks about puppetry perfection and his film, Fantastic Mr. Fox

Win Glee DVDs
Win Glee DVDs External Link

We've got 20 copies of the hit TV series' Pilot Episode to giveaway.

Why Don't Australians Make Sci-fi?
Why Don't Australians Make Sci-fi? External Link

The New Matilda's Lynden Barber looks at the recent success of low-budget sci-fi -- and asks the question.

Follow Rotten Tomatoes on Twitter
Follow Rotten Tomatoes on Twitter External Link

Get all the latest movie updates, reviews, interviews and features here.

Competitions
Win Star Wars prizes
Win Star Wars prizes External Link

Enough Prequel, Original Trilogy and Family Guy DVDs to fill a space cruiser

Win the entire 007 collection
Win the entire 007 collection External Link

Everything from Dr. No to Quantum of Solace could be yours.

Win Fight Club Special Editions and more
Win Fight Club Special Editions and more External Link

We're giving away the 10th Anniversary Blu-ray, plus Braveheart and the Rocky collection

 
 
About| Site Map| Help| RT To Go| Contact Us| Critics Submission| Linking to RT| Licensing| Movie List| Celebs List| Newsletter
IGN Logo

IGN.com | GameSpy | Comrade | Arena | FilePlanet | GameSpy Technology
TeamXbox | Planets | Vaults | VE3D | CheatsCodesGuides | GameStats | GamerMetrics
AskMen.com | Rotten Tomatoes | Direct2Drive | Green Pixels


By continuing past this page, and by the continued use of this site, you agree to be bound by and abide by the User Agreement.
Copyright 1998-2009, IGN Entertainment, Inc. About IGN | Support | Advertise | Privacy Policy | User Agreement | Subscribe to RT's XML feed! IGN RSS Feeds
IGN's enterprise databases running Oracle, SQL and MySQL are professionally monitored and managed by Pythian Remote DBA
Certain product data ©1995-present Muze, Inc. For personal use only. All rights reserved.