Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein was one of Hollywood’s top money makers of 1948, and certainly the most successful film for the comedy duo since Buck Privates (1941). It has also held up as one of the most popular of their thirty-six movies.
But what you may not know is that the movie contains three bloopers. The first can be heard, if you listen closely, when a frightened Lou calls out to Bud at one point in the movie as “Abbott”, as opposed to Chick, the first name of Bud’s character. If you’ve seen many of Abbott & Costello’s movies, then you know that this was not an uncommon occurrence. Both men were known to often refer to each other on film by their real names, regardless of their character’s names. Of course, movie goers in the ‘40’s and ’50 didn’t seem to mind, which is indeed a testament to their popularity.
The second blooper is when you can see Dracula’s (played by Bela Lugosi) reflection in a mirror. As everyone knows, vampires do not cast reflections in mirrors.
The third blooper is, I think, the funniest of the three. In the scene where a strapped down Frankenstein tries to lift his head up off a gurney, you can see his neck bolt peel off.
Here is a video clip that shows each of these bloopers. Enjoy!
I read somewhat recently that the two lead characters in one of my favorite TV shows, Sheldon Cooper and Leonard Hofstadter of The Big Bang Theory, were named as a tribute to the late Sheldon Leonard (see picture to the right). Sheldon Leonard was one of the 20th century’s most prolific directors (The Andy Griffith Show, among many others), producers (The Dick Van Dyke Show, among many others), and actors (probably most famous for playing Nick, the bartender, in It’s a Wonderful Life). His acting career also included two films with Abbott and Costello – Hit The Ice (1943) and Abbott and Costello Meet the Invisible Man (1951).
Anyway, since I’m such a big fan of both The Big Bang Theoryand Abbott & Costello, I decided to research the connection (albeit a somewhat loose one) between the two.
Sure enough, in The Official Vanity Archives (#187) of the Chuck Lorre Productions (these are the notes flashed briefly at the end of each show produced by Chuck Lorre), the producer “channels” Sheldon Leonard. Apparently, Mr. Lorre has consistently ignored Mr. Leonard’s suggestions with regard to sitcom ideas. Toward the end of this particular vanity card, he (the “channeled” Sheldon Leonard) states:
”…I tell him to do a show about four wise guys and a sexy dame what knows da score. So what does da knucklehead do? Scientists and a waitress! It just breaks my heart. But at least the dope managed to slip my name in dis one.” (italics added)
Here’s the trailer for Abbott and Costello Meet the Invisible Man. Mr. Leonard plays a gangster, Boots Morgan, in the film:
Leonard died at in 1997 at the age of 89, and was buried at Hillside Memorial Park Cemetery in Culver City, California.
Poker games on the sets of Abbott & Costello movies were legendary. It was not unusual for tens of thousands of dollars (much of it in $100 bills) to be on the poker table. Bud and Lou were famous for inviting all kinds of players to the high-stakes games. If no one else [...]
One Night in the Tropics, released on November 15, 1040, is considered to be the first of the thirty-six movies that Abbott & Costello made together. However, it is also the only movie that did not give the duo top-billing.
Presumably this is the reason why Bud and Lou hardly ever mentioned the film during interviews. [...]
This post is for all you trivia buffs out there. Here’s a list of ten interesting bits of Abbott & Costello trivia:
1. In 1991, Abbott & Costello were featured on a 29 cent U.S. commemorative postage stamp.
2. While not members of the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, NY, Abbott & Costello are the only two non-sportsmen [...]
Not many people know this, but in 1945, Abbott and Costello experienced a rift in their relationship. The brouhaha concerned the hiring of a domestic servant by Abbott who had previously been fired by Costello. Looking back, this may seem silly and maybe even petty, but Costello, hurt by his partner’s action, refused to speak [...]
Did you know?…
Abbott and Costello’s film, Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein, is often cited as the funniest of the 36 movies these two made together. The film was released in June 1948 and re-released in 1956.
In 2001, the United States Library of Congress deemed this film “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant” and chose it for [...]
You might say that Bud Abbott (born William Alexander Abbott in 1895) was destined from the day he was born to be in show business. He was born into a show business family – both parents worked for the Barnum & Bailey Circus: His mother, Rae, as a bareback rider and his father, Harry, as [...]
When I first read up on the life of Lou Costello, I was struck by the contrasts in his life. What I mean is, while he enjoyed what many would describe as a blessed life in terms of fame and fortune, Costello experienced much tragedy and heartache in his life.
Lou Costello, who was born Louis Francis [...]
One Night In The Tropics marked Abbott and Costello’s film debut. Released in 1940, the comedy duo essentially play themselves, right down to their character’s names, Abbott and Costello.
Cast in only supporting roles, the comedy team stole the show performing several of their routines from radio and vaudeville (including Who’s On First?) .
Universal Studios subsequently quickly [...]
Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein was one of Hollywood’s top money makers of 1948, and certainly the most successful film for the comedy duo since Buck Privates (1941). It has also held up as one of the most popular of their thirty-six movies.