Two dimwitted freight handlers, Chick and Wilbur, get caught up in a world of fright and terror when they stumble into the nefarious plans of Count Dracula. Dracula has intentions on reviving the Frankenstein Monster and has his eyes on replacing the monster's brain with Wilbur's. The only thing standing in the way of the count is Larry Talbot, who is on his way back to the states from London in his hunt for the count. Will Talbot be able to help Chick and Wilbur before it's too late, or will the count be successful in reawakening the monster?

The Universal Monsters get their last big screen appearance in this 1948 comedy/frightfest as the Wolfman, Dracula and Frankenstein Monster come face to face with Abbott and Costello.

Other than the fact that there is a castle in the middle of a lake somewhere in America, this film succeeds in all of it's attempts and is actually very entwined in the Universal Monster lore. The film seems to use bits and pieces from both The House of Frankenstein and Dracula. Throw in the slapstick humor and one liners of Abbott and Costello and you have a very good film indeed.

The monsters play themselves in total character, they are who they are, Bud Abbott plays the straight man while Lou Costello plays the zany half wit he is. Also in this film we get to see Lon Chaney Jr as the Wolfman, Glenn Strange as the Creature and for the second and last time ever, Bela Lugosi as Count Dracula. Lugosi has only played Dracula twice, once in the 1931 original and in this 1948 farewell.

As I watched this with my wife and son we all had a few laughs and jumps and I got all choked up with a little nostalgia from my own childhood as me and my dad would sit and watch Abbott and Costello movies all Sunday long. This is a great family film and a perfect addition for any fan of the Universal Monsters.

7/10

Boy, Howdy do I love this movie. I first saw it as a kid, and could not believe that a film existed that incorporated all my favorite monsters.

I've watched it again over the years, and have come to appreciate that it was done at a time when Abbott and Costello were at the top of their game. Sadly, the Universal monster franchise had somewhat run it's course, but in spite of their being reduced to a comic vehicle for the two stars, it was done with a great measure of respect for the beloved monsters.

I still enjoy the animated segment during the opening credits, and the trasformation effects from Dracula to bat are cheesy but luridly graphic for their time.