Bud Abbott Lou Costello Meet the Killer Boris Karloff

Original title: Abbott and Costello Meet the Killer, Boris Karloff

1949
Approved
1h 24m

IMDb RATING

YOUR RATING

Boris Karloff, Bud Abbott, Lenore Aubert, Lou Costello, and Donna Martell in Bud Abbott Lou Costello Meet the Killer Boris Karloff (1949)

Screwball Comedy Slapstick Comedy Crime Horror Mystery Thriller

Two employees of a secluded hotel investigate a murder on the premises in which the goofy bellboy is the prime suspect.Two employees of a secluded hotel investigate a murder on the premises in which the goofy bellboy is the prime suspect.Two employees of a secluded hotel investigate a murder on the premises in which the goofy bellboy is the prime suspect.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

6.7/10

4.3K

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Trivia
The film was originally banned in Denmark due to the scene where corpses play cards.

Goofs
After Casey and Freddie leave the body of Relia in his closet, and he rolls into the laundry cart, he lands face down. But then, when Freddie gets the cart to put Milford's body in it, he and Casey find Relia face up.

Quotes
[the Swami tries to get a hypnotized Freddie to kill himself]
Swami Talpur: Perhaps you should choose the manner of your death. How would you like to die?
Freddie Phillips: Old age.

Crazy credits
The film begins animated versions of Abbott & Costello on a scaffold painting their names on a wall. (The bucket is labeled "BLOOD")Then there is the sound of a car screeching to a stop, and machine gun fire. "Meet the Killer" is written in bullet holes. "Costello" yells "HaHa! You didn't dot the "I"!" Then a dagger flies in and "Dots the 'I'", while the bucket of "Blood" is spilled. Then the frame drops, following the "Blood" as it spells out "Boris Karloff", and then the rest of the credits.

Alternate versions
In Australia and New Zealand, every scene with a corpse was removed prior to distribution.

Connections
Featured in Abbott and Costello Monster Laughathon: Episode #1.1 (1976)

User reviews49

Review

Featured review

7/10

Still Holds Up Fairly Well

I'm a big A&C fan and have been since I was ten. I saw this A&C film many times in the 1980s (I recorded it once and watched it over and over again). It turns out that this film is included in Volume 3 of the Best of Abbott and Costello DVD set. After purchasing the set, I had a chance to watch it again recently. There are some genuinely outstanding gags here. Of all the movies made after A&C MEET FRANKENSTEIN (the duo's high point), this is one of the best. The chase scene through the caverns is actually very well made and has withstood the test of time. It remains one of the best climaxes from an A&C movie. Unfortunately, Boris Karloff isn't put to very good use in the film. This is a surprisingly atmospheric film, though, and at times it even contains elements of noir. It reminds me of a cross between WHO DONE IT and HOLD THAT GHOST, although it's not as good as either of those films. Still, unlike A&C GO TO MARS or Africa SCREAMS, it's certainly not a blemish on their filmography.