Abbott and Costello meet Dr. Jekyll and MR Hyde combines slapstick and horror and delivers a chaotic, fun adventure with the iconic comic duo, writes David Saunderson
TITLE: Abbott and Costello meet Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
Published: 1953
Director: Charles Lamont
FORM: Bud Abbott, Lou Costello, Boris Karloff, Craig Stevens, Helen Westcott
Review of Abbott and Costello meet Dr. Jekyll and MR Hyde 1953
A crazy mix of horror and comedy, Abbott and Costello meet Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde 1953 reverses the iconic comic duo with the world of monsters, this time in foggy Victorian London.
Directed by Charles Lamont, the film shows Boris Karloff as the threatening Dr. Jekyll, although the humor is central about the horror.
Slim (Bud Abbott) and Tubby (Lou Costello) are two American police officers sent to London to study local police methods.
During their visit they stumble the creepy murders on a monstrous figure that causes damage through the city.
They don’t know, but the murderer is none other than Dr. Jekyll (Boris Karloff), who transforms into the brutal MR Hyde with the help of a sinister serum.
When Jekyll’s affection for his district, Vicky (Helen Westcott), turns to jealousy after she starts the reporter of reporter Bruce Adams (Craig Stevens), he focuses his sights on murder.
Smart and Tubby, always in the wrong place at the wrong time, set off to catch the elusive MR Hyde, which led to a chaotic series of chases and transformations that only they could bound with such a comic flair.
The iconic fog-driven streets of London offer a creepy atmosphere, but it is quickly undermined by the Duo slapstick.
The setting, although dressed with Victorian horns, feels more like a Hollywood background than historic London. Nevertheless, the atmosphere retains Gothic charm, with Karloff’s sultry Dr. Jekyll who adds a sinister touch to the procedure.
Costello’s Tubby, once the sweet buffoon, is the heart of the comedy. His nervous panic in the face of danger and Abbott’s Deadpan reactions remain a winning formula.
The dynamics between the two is as sharp as always, with scenes such as Tubby’s transformation in a hydelish creature that is particularly memorable.
While Dr. Jekyll van Karloff exudes a horrifying calm, the comic chaos that surround him never let the film dive completely into horror.
Jekyll van Karloff plays it directly and creates an imminent presence in this slapstick -horror, but it is stuntman Eddie Parker who takes over as MR Hyde during the action scenes.
The transformation -make -up, although not as iconic as the previous sampling of Karloff in Frankenstein or the mummy, can be used for the era.
Hyde’s monkey -like appearance adds an animal lead to the character, but it is played more to laugh than for fear.
The direction of Charles Lamont keeps the pace firm and quickly moves from one gag to the next.
However, the film is struggling to balance its comic and horror elements, whereby the slapstick often overshadows every potential for real tension.
Yet this is for fans of Abbott and Costello’s brand Humor exactly what makes the film fun. The pursuit sequences, including a memorable romp by a wax museum filled with creepy figures, are classic examples of the physical comedy of the duo.
Historically, this film came to the end of the series “Monster Mash” by Abbott and Costello, and it does not reach the same heights as their earlier Abbott and Costello meet Frankenstein 1948.
Yet it is a solid follow-up, reinforced by Karloff’s impressive presence. In particular, the film ‘X’ in Great Britain was assessed in the release, probably because of the display of Hyde’s brutality, although according to today’s standards it is all rather tame.
As a nostalgic piece of horror-comic history, Abbott and Costello meet Jekyll and MR Hyde is a fun, as formal, romp.
Fans of the duo will enjoy their antics, but those who expect a more balanced horror experience can change briefly. Yet it is difficult to laugh for a light -hearted 77 minutes Monster Mayhem and classically, hard to go wrong with this combination.
Although it may not be true for the legendary Abbott and Costello meet Frankenstein, there is still a lot of charm here. The combination of Boris Karloff’s creepy Jekyll and the slapstick of the duo guarantees a good time for fans of classic horror comedy.
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