SMALLS' FRIGHT FEST: SMALLS RUNS FOR HIS LIFE WITH ABBOTT AND COSTELLO MEET FRANKENSTEIN

It's always good to re-visit a classic.

Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein is a widely beloved and highly influential horror-comedy starring one of the best comedic duos out there....Bud Abbott and Lou Costello. I first saw the film when I was much younger, and I remember loving it....but does it still hold up today?

Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein follows a fairly simple plot, and that's the main reason the film is able to pack so much fun into it. Chick (Bud Abbott) and Wilbur (Lou Costello) are delivery men who are tasked with delivering crates that contain the remains of Dracula and Frankenstein's Monster to a wax museum. What they don't know is that both are still very much alive, and Dracula has some nefarious plans up his sleeve for  Frankenstein's Monster, plans that directly involve Wilbur. Soon, with the help of The Wolfman, Chick and Wilbur will have to foil Dracula's plans and escape with their lives.

A nice added touch to the film is that two out of the three monsters are portrayed by their original actors. Bela Lugosi is Dracula, and Lon Chaney Jr. is The Wolfman. Frankenstein is portrayed by Glenn Strange, who had stepped into the role several times before. He is believable as the classic Monster here, I'd dare say I wouldn't have known it wasn't Karloff unless Glenn wasn't credited. The inclusion of the original actors helps to bring a much needed believe-ability to the monsters. The film also manages to throw in a surprise Vincent Price voice cameo at the very end....a welcome treat.

What also helps this film is the fantastic and rich atmosphere it is encompassed in. We are not in Abbott and Costello's world here, instead Abbott and Costello are trapped in the middle of the classic Universal Monster's world, and the whole film centers around them trying to find a way to escape it. It's nice to be able to step back into a world I grew up with and hold dear to my heart, it's almost like going back home in a way. Creepy, foggy marshes and old, decrepit castles help breathe life into the film.

While the film does excel at the horror elements, it always reminds us that this is a comedy first and foremost.  Abbott and Costello are at the top of their game here, and while some jokes are a bit old they never fail to still bring a twinkle to my eye. The last act of the film is where the fun factor is cranked up to 11 as the rest of it is essentially one long, hilarious chase scene. It's great fun to watch these two comedy legends panic as they try (and continually fail) to escape the monsters.

Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein does indeed deserve it's status as a classic film. It inspired numerous directors and films, and the genre would not be the same today without it. With a fantastic and beautiful atmosphere, top notch performances all around, and a simple yet clever story Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein is not just a timeless film, it's also one of my personal favorites.

4 STARS