Bud Abbott Lou Costello Meet the Killer Boris Karloff

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

1949
Approved
1h 24m

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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

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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 reviews48

Review

Featured review

8/10

If you like Abbott and Costello, you should like this

Much of Abbott and Costello's late 40s/early 50s output put them in parodies of various film genres--this one is a parody of murder mysteries. I saw this as a child and liked it, although I was let down that Boris Karloff had such an insignificant role. Now that it's out on DVD as part of the third A&C boxset, I'm seeing it again, and I still think it's quite funny. There are many well-paced comic set-ups and the boys don't look bored as they do in some of their later vehicles. No great analysis is needed for a film like this--it's just classic comedy and has held up very well.