The Horror Spoofs of Abbott and Costello: A Critical Assessment of the Comedy Team's Monster Films [Library Binding]

Jeffrey S. Miller (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1, 2000 | ISBN-10: 0786406429 | ISBN-13: 978-0786406425

While Bud Abbott and Lou Costello are more famously known for their straight comedy routines, they did make a number of films in which horror played a crucial role. The first part of this critical reference examines the Abbott and Costello "Meet the Monsters" spoof films (Frankenstein, The Invisible Man, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde and The Mummy). The second sections deals with Abbott and Costello's films with horror elements that do not follow this formula: Hold That Ghost, The Time of Their Lives and Abbott and Costello Meet the Killer, Boris Karloff. The plot of each film is examined in detail with special attention paid to the comedians' styles of comedy, the effect of the horror scenes, and the place of the film in the Abbott and Costello canon. The reactions of critics (then and now) and the influences the films have had on the horror and comedy genres and on pop culture are also discussed. A lengthy introduction provides background on the lives of Bud Abbott and Lou Costello and the development of Universal Studios as the premier horror factory.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Detailed." --Communication Booknotes Quarterly

"A fine book...all sorts of interesting facts...really pleasurable to read" --Cult Movies

"Examines the duo's foray into motion picture parody." --Film & History --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

About the Author

Jeffrey S. Miller, a video editor in Los Angeles, completed graduate work in Film and Video at American University in Washington, D.C., and has written articles for Filmfax and Television Chronicles. He has been an Abbott and Costello fan since childhood.

Product Details

• Library Binding: 251 pages
• Publisher: McFarland & Company (January 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0786406429
• ISBN-13: 978-0786406425
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.3 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,239,632 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Abbott and Costello Meet the Who's Who of Horror, April 5, 2003

By 

G. A Siessel (Leesburg, Florida United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Horror Spoofs of Abbott and Costello: A Critical Assessment of the Comedy Team's Monster Films (Library Binding)

This is a great book that goes into the plot of their various A&C meet...(fill in the blank)films as well as "Hold That Ghost" and "The Time of Their Lives". There is even a brief section on their quasi sci-fi films. Each major "horror/comedy" film is detailed and behind the scenes info is given. Actor/actress backgrounds as well as changes in scripts and plots are also added for a totally enjoyable book. A section supplying background info on Abbott & Costello is given in the introductory chapter, and then it is on to my all time favorite "Abbott & Costello Meet Frankenstein". A must for all A&C fans!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A GUIDE TO THEIR GREAT HORROR COMEDIES, August 3, 2005

By 

Tim Janson (Michigan) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Horror Spoofs of Abbott and Costello: A Critical Assessment of the Comedy Team's Monster Films (Paperback)

I guess it's pretty ironic that a comedy team that did over 30 films together over 16 years is most remembered for their horror spoofs that continue to be enormously popular to this day. In "The Horror Spoofs of Abbott & Costello" author Jeffrey Miller takes a look at the horror comedies the team did, with a particular focus on horror spoofs involving classic monsters. Miller provides a complete cast and credit list along with a very lengthy and detailed synopsis of each film including many of the notable lines, gags, and scenes. It also includes comments taken from cast and crew of the day and recent comments from the likes of Sara Karloff, Bela Lugosi Jr., and Paddy Costello, who were on the set of these films as children. Miller also includes information on critical reviews of the day, box office results, as well as adding his own insightful analysis of the films.

Without a doubt the most popular A & C spoof (in fact their most popular film period) was "Abbott & Costello meet Frankenstein". Boris Karloff refused to appear in the film feeling it made a mockery of the monster. Lon Chaney Jr. felt the film would forever ruin the classic Universal Monsters. But time has proven them both wrong as the film works as both a comedy and a horror. It's at least as scary as Chaney's role as Count Alucard in "Son of Dracula". The fact that the film has legions of fans, including many famous filmmakers such as Quentin Tarrantino, is also a tribute to its staying power. For his part, Lugosi enjoyed himself on the set. One would guess he was probably just happy to be in a Universal production again as opposed to the poverty row films he had been doing in the 1940's. There was a lot of pranks pulled on the set...some of these outtakes are even captured on the A&C Meet Frankenstein special edition DVD. As has been pointed out on many occasions, this film would be Universal biggest moneymaker in years and virtually saved the studio from bankruptcy.

While Karloff refused to do that film, he did sign on for two others including "Abbott & Costello Meet Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde." Karloff would play this famous role for the first an only time but as Miller notes, the studio originally wanted Basil Rathbone for the part. Both he and the boys were surprised at how well the film did at the box office. The other films that Miller highlights in the spoof section are "Abbott & Costello Meet the Invisible Man" and the final spoof, "Abbott & Costello Meet the Mummy". `Mummy' was their last film for Universal and by this time they were past their prime and not getting along well on the set. Universal knew it was the end of the road and did little to support the film and it's become regarded as one of their worst (although it isn't really all that bad).

Miller also looks as the teams other horror-comedies including "Hold that Ghost", "The Time of their Lives", and "Abbott & Costello Meet the Killer, Boris Karloff". "Hold that Ghost" is a particular favorite as its their version of and `old dark house' style film that was so popular in the 1930's and similar in style to the very good Bob Hope film "Ghost Breakers" "Hold that Ghost" would even have Evelyn Ankers in the cast who would go on to become one of the great scream queens of the 1940's.

Miller's research into these films is outstanding and while I'm a big fan, there were a lot of new things I learned. While very detailed it's never dry and Miller does a wonderful job at conveying the great routines of Abbott & Costello. Just beware if you have somehow never seen these films as the plot is fully described from beginning to end. By all means see the films and then pickup this book. Another fantastic book by the people at McFarland Publishing who put out some of the best books on genre film and film studies around.

Reviewed by Tim Janson

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars What is wrong with this picture?, January 31, 2011

By 

Dave in Summerville - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Horror Spoofs of Abbott and Costello: A Critical Assessment of the Comedy Team's Monster Films (Paperback)

I bought this book with eager anticipation. I read the few reviews available and they were very good. However, upon reading it, it did not take long for me to lose my enthusiasm. When I read the chapter regarding A&C Meet Frankenstein, I was very disappointed in the "critical" assessment. It seemed that every move that Costello made was interpreted in a sexual way, and most of the time in a homosexual way. Are you kidding me??? Who gets that out of an Abbott and Costello movie? I have actually read sections of this book to friends and they have all reacted the same way: Aghast! What is wrong with this author? It is very disappointing and reminds me of much of what is going on today - The rewriting of history to support liberal philosophies, critical assessments from a liberal point of view, etc. Nevermind that these writings never make any sense whatsoever, they serve a purpose and I DO NOT AGREE WITH IT! So, take this for what it is worth. In the mean time, I will look for something else to read!