What was Abbott and Costello’s First Horror Movie?

Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein (1948) was their first Horror movie.

Originally the name of the movie was titled, “The Brain of Frankenstein” but the title was changed during filming because Universal Studio Executives thought that it sounded like a serious Horror movie. They wanted to take advantage of the comedians’ popularity; hence they tested the name, and the rest is history.

Some say that “Hold That Ghost” (1941) a scary haunted house comedy could be considered when this question is asked, but it did not feature the cast of legendary Universal Monsters this one does.

What year did Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein?

The movie was in production between February 5, 1948, and the movie was released on June 15, 1948, in the United States.

Who was the Director of Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein?

It was directed by Charles Barton who had directed the duo in another hit “Buck Privates Come Home” in 1947. He went on to direct Bud and Lou in several other movies and worked well with the comedic duo.

How much money did Abbott and Costello make?

Abbott and Costello were paid $105,000 to star in the movie. If we adjust that amount for current inflation, it would be worth over $1,153,088.46.

Universal made the movie with a 1948 budget of $792,270, which adjusted for current inflation would be $8,700,000. It was considered its cheapest production; however, it was one of its most profitable money makers for the studio at the time.

The movie grossed over $3,200,000 in 1948, adjusted for current inflation that would be $35,141,743!

Where was the movie filmed?

Most of the movie scenes were filmed on the Universal movie lot sets.

One of the more unique places where filming occurred was at Benedict Castle in Riverside California. This Castle still stands today and is a great site to see when you are in California.

Who Starred in the Movie | The Legendary Horror Movie Cast!

Bud Abbott as Chick Young. Bud Abbott was the stage name of William Alexander Abbott, an American comedian best known for his work with Lou Costello in the comedy duo Abbott and Costello.

Growing up in Asbury Park, New Jersey, Bud began his career as a burlesque performer before teaming up with Lou in the early 1930s.

The duo became one of the most popular comedy acts of their era, appearing in a string of hit films including “Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein” (1948).

Bud retired from show business in the ’60s. He died in 1974 of prostate cancer at the age of 76. He was cremated and his ashes were scattered in the Pacific Ocean.

Lou Costello as Wilbur Grey. Louis Francis (Cristillo) Professionally known as Costello, was an American comedian who is best known for his work with Bud Abbott in the comedy duo Abbott and Costello.

Costello’s performance in this movie as Wilbur Grey is considered one of his best. After appearing in several other films with Abbott, Costello retired from show business in 1957.

He died of a heart attack on March 3, 1959, at the age of 52, three days before his 53rd birthday. He is interred at Calvery Cemetery in east Los Angeles. His wife, Anne died of a Heart attack nine months later December 5, 1959, at age 47. She’s interred next to him.

Lon Chaney Jr. as Lawrence “Larry” Talbot AKA the Wolf Man. Creighton Tull Chaney known by his stage name as Lon Chaney Jr. may be best known for his portrayal of Lawrence “Larry” Talbot, the tragic werewolf of Universal’s 1941 classic The Wolf Man. But he also played the role in several subsequent films, including 1943’s Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man and 1945’s House of Dracula.

In 1948, he starred opposite Abbott and Costello in the comedy Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein. Though Chaney Jr. didn’t always receive top billing, his portrayal of the Wolf Man was consistently praised by critics.

In fact, many consider him to be the definitive actor in the role. Thanks to his impressive performance, Lon Chaney Jr. helped to cement the Wolf Man’s place as one of Hollywood’s most iconic monsters.

Chaney died on July 12, 1973, in San Clemente, CA. Although his death was not released to the public, his death certificate listed cardiac failure. His burial details are unknown.

Béla Lugosi as Count Dracula, masquerading under the guise of Dr. Lejos. Béla Lugosi’s iconic portrayal of Count Dracula in the 1931 film helped cement the image of the vampire in popular culture.

In the film, Dracula masquerades as Dr. Lejos, a medical doctor, in order to gain access to potential victims. This storyline was later used in Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein, with Lugosi reprising his role as the count.

In both films, Lugosi’s performance is eerie and sinister, creating a memorable portrayal of the classic vampire.

Thanks to Lugosi’s work, Count Dracula has become one of the most recognizable monsters in all of horror.

Bela Lugosi died of a heart attack in his sleep on August 16, 1959 age 73, and is interred at Holy Cross Cemetery in Culver City, CA

Glenn Strange as Frankenstein’s Monster. George Glenn Strange is best known for his portrayal of Frankenstein’s monster in the Universal Studios films of the 1940s. However, Strange played the role in the 1948 comedy Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein. In that film, Strange took over the role of Boris Karloff, who had portrayed the monster in the 1931 classic Frankenstein.

Strange would play the monster in two more Universal films: House of Frankenstein, and House of Dracula. While Karloff’s performance as the monster is considered to be the definitive portrayal, Strange’s performances are also fondly remembered by classic horror fans.

In particular, his scenes with Abbott and Costello are considered to be some of the most memorable moments in those films. As a result, Glenn Strange remains an essential part of the history of Universal’s Frankenstein franchise.  

Glenn Strange died of Lung cancer on September 20th, 1973 in Los Angeles at age 74. He is interred at Forest Lawn-Hollywood Hills Cemetery.

Lenore Aubert as Dr. Sandra Mornay. Lenore Aubert starred as the beautiful yet Sinister, Dr. Sandra Mornay in the classic comedy horror movie Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein.

A former model, Aubert brought a touch of glamour to the role, which helped to offset the movie’s funny moments. However, she was also convincing as a mad scientist, and her scenes with the iconic monsters were some of the most memorable in the film.

She was one of the few female scientists in films, and the only one who played a “Mad Scientist.” Her performances in classic films like Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein have ensured that she will be remembered as one of Hollywood’s most iconic actresses.

Lenore Aubert died in Great Neck, New York on the morning of July 31, 1993, at age 80. Her burial details are unknown.

Jane Randolph as Joan Raymond. Jane Randolph was an American actress best known for her role as Joan Raymond in the 1948 horror comedy Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein.

Randolph’s career began in the early 1940s, and she appeared in a number of films throughout the decade. In 1948, she landed the role that would make her a household name: Joan Raymond, the female lead in Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein. Randolph remains an iconic figure in horror cinema, thanks to her memorable performance in one of the genre’s most beloved comedies.

Jane Randolph retired and moved to Spain and became a socialite. She maintained homes in Los Angeles and Switzerland. Jane died in Gstaad, Switzerland on May 4, 2009 age 94 from complications following surgery for a broken hip. She is interred at Cimiter di Ronco sopa Ascona in Switzerland

Frank Ferguson as Mr. McDougal. Frank Ferguson appeared in over 200 films during his nearly 50-year career in Hollywood. He is perhaps best remembered for his role as Mr. McDougal in the 1948 comedy classic Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein.

In Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein, Ferguson played the role of “McDougal from “McDougal’s House of Horrors”.

Ferguson played roles in countless television series from The Andy Griffith Show, Bonanza, Perry Mason, and Gunsmoke.

He died of cancer in 1978 in Los Angeles at the age of 71 He was cremated and his ashes were scattered.

Charles Bradstreet as Dr. Stevens. Charles Bradstreet was an American actor best known for his role as Doctor Stevens in the 1948 comedy Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein.

Bradstreet landed his best-known role as Dr. Stevens in the movie, but thought it was a step backward in his career but took the role because he was friendly with the director, Charles Barton. The film was a hit with audiences, and Bradstreet’s performance was praised by critics. He left Hollywood and worked in real estate. Charles Bradstreet died in 2004.

In the final scene, Master Horror icon Vincent Price was the voice of the Invisible Man and was an uncredited cameo!

Behind the Scenes | Interesting Stories

• It’s been said that Lou Costello hated the script. He said that his five-year-old daughter could have written something better, but later warmed to the film during production. It wasn’t until the studio gave him a $50,000 advance that he agreed to do the film.
• During filming, Glenn Strange found Lou Costello so funny he would often crack up laughing at the antics of the “Little guy”. This resulted in many retakes. (This is readily apparent in the scene where Costello sits on the Monster’s lap)
• During a scene when the Frankenstein Monster throws Sandra (Lenore Aubert) through a lab window, Glenn accidentally stepped on a camera cable and fractured his ankle.
• Lon Chaney Jr., who had previously played the Monster in “The Ghost of Frankenstein” (1942), took over the role of the Monster for that brief scene. A stuntman doubled for Strange in some long shots of the fire scenes on the pier.
• Bela Lugosi took this role very seriously, and during times when the hired comedian (Billy Barber) would joke during a scene, Bela would become irritated.
• It has been said that Boris Karloff did not want the monster to be made fun of, and he had retired from playing the Frankenstein monster. He did agree to help promote the movie as part of a deal based on other film commitments for the studio. He was cast as the lead in the upcoming movie called “Abbott and Costello Meet the Killer, Boris Karloff” (1949) and in Abbott and Costello Meet Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1953).
• The scene where Count Dracula turns into a bat, and a bat turns into the Count, is a cartoon. This cartoon was drawn by the famed cartoonist, Walter Lantz. Walter later went on to create and draw the successful “Woody Woodpecker” cartoon series from 1940 to 1972.

It’s a Wrap

Click below to watch the behind-the-scenes stories of Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein. This beloved Universal film has been delighting horror fans over the years and is a staple horror movie for all the viewers of the Svengoolie television show each year.

This movie has been delighting audiences over the years with its humor and scares. If you haven’t seen it yet, make sure to click below and check out the Svengoolie show each year to see it on television.