Monsters Lead Such Interesting Lives
Let me second your endorsement of "Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein" as "Stuff You Gotta Watch". But let me advise you to be sure and watch it with other people.
I had seen this particular movie in the past on video, and had not been too impressed --- mostly because it didn't include any of Abbott & Costello's fast-paced routines. But last night, I saw it at the Virginia Theatre in Champaign IL, as part of a film revival series, and I was amazed at how much the audience (myself included) laughed at this movie. Being in a crowd of people changes the dynamics completely.
The main points of humor seemed to be the punchlines embedded in the script (usually as part of two-line jokes), and Lou Costello's performance in general. Because there were no sustained routines, Bud Abbott had few chances to show off his comic timing in ways that were clear to the audience --- although I believe there was at least one instance when Abbott got a laugh in an exchange with another character, based partly on the timing of his comeback. Another weakness: the classic Universal horror monsters are now more charming than frightening.
The screenplay for "A&C Meet Frankenstein" is very sketchy --- characters pop in to move the plot along and nothing more. Why does Dracula want to revive the Frankenstein monster? We never find out. Two of the characters are clearly set up in the story as romantic leads, but why don't they actually get around to a romance? If this film were made today, I think the screenplay would be more fleshed out. But it would also include a lot more of the gross-out gags that film comedies now have as they strain to reach their teen and young-adult audiences. The audience that saw "A&C Meet Frankenstein" with me at the Virgina seemed to be of all ages, and I'm just impressed with how well the movie worked for them.
Jim Meadows
Let me second your endorsement of "Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein" as "Stuff You Gotta Watch". But let me advise you to be sure and watch it with other people.
I had seen this particular movie in the past on video, and had not been too impressed --- mostly because it didn't include any of Abbott & Costello's fast-paced routines. But last night, I saw it at the Virginia Theatre in Champaign IL, as part of a film revival series, and I was amazed at how much the audience (myself included) laughed at this movie. Being in a crowd of people changes the dynamics completely.
The main points of humor seemed to be the punchlines embedded in the script (usually as part of two-line jokes), and Lou Costello's performance in general. Because there were no sustained routines, Bud Abbott had few chances to show off his comic timing in ways that were clear to the audience --- although I believe there was at least one instance when Abbott got a laugh in an exchange with another character, based partly on the timing of his comeback. Another weakness: the classic Universal horror monsters are now more charming than frightening.
The screenplay for "A&C Meet Frankenstein" is very sketchy --- characters pop in to move the plot along and nothing more. Why does Dracula want to revive the Frankenstein monster? We never find out. Two of the characters are clearly set up in the story as romantic leads, but why don't they actually get around to a romance? If this film were made today, I think the screenplay would be more fleshed out. But it would also include a lot more of the gross-out gags that film comedies now have as they strain to reach their teen and young-adult audiences. The audience that saw "A&C Meet Frankenstein" with me at the Virgina seemed to be of all ages, and I'm just impressed with how well the movie worked for them.
Jim Meadows