Although known for his role in crafting the Count Dracula character, Bela Lugosi only played the villain twice in his entire career. What is perhaps most surprising about this is the fact that one of these films is not even a true horror film. Rather, his only other appearance as the Prince of Darkness after Dracula was in a comedy titled Abbott & Costello meet Frankenstein.
Bela Lugosi was a significant addition to the cast of Abbott & Costello meet Frankenstein. The horror legend made a name for himself playing evil villains and monsters, most notably Count Dracula. Bela Lugosi's role in 1931 Dracula Helped make the image now associated with the great horror villain. But while this led to Lugosi being revered as a horror icon, it did not immediately lead to more Dracula films for Lugosi. He got to play the character again, but his experience was quite different from the movie he made 17 years earlier.
Bela Lugosi's role in Abbott & Costello meets Frankenstein explained
Bela Lugosi played Dracula for the second time 17 years after the original movie
Produced by Universal, Abbott & Costello meet Frankenstein was the twenty-second installment in a series of comedies focused on the misadventures of characters played by Bud Abbott and Lou Costello. For this one, Universal decided on a horror-themed story that would draw from the studio's existing lineup of monsters. Universal turned to their usual favorites in the genre, bringing in Frankenstein's monster, Count Dracula, and the Wolf Man. To ensure that each is a recognizable version of the character, Universal cast actors who had played them once beforeWhich led to Lugosi reprising the Dracula role.
As evidenced by its 90% Rotten Tomatoes score, the film skillfully balances the horror with the comedy.
As for how Dracula fits into the story, Abbott & Costello meet Frankenstein Saw Dracula get accidentally unleashed by the titular duo's characters. Allied with Larry Talbot, aka the Wolf Man, the two have to fight Frankenstein's monster and Dracula while roaming a castle. Much of the comedy of the film revolved around the fear that the monsters brought to the main characters. And like traditional Count Dracula movies, Dracula also has a human disguise, this time with his other identity was a scientist named Dr. Lejos.
Abbott & Costello meets Frankenstein Perfect honoring Bela Lugosi's greatest role
The movie, being a comedy, did not hurt Bela Lugosi's Dracula performance
Given the serious nature of the character and his menacing reputation, Abbot & Costello meet Frankenstein may come across as an odd - and perhaps unfortunate - choice for Lugosi's second and final appearance as the villain. But while the tone goes against the grain of Dracula, his performance—and the movie as a whole—worked regardless. As evidenced by its 90% Rotten Tomatoes score, the film skillfully balances the horror with the comedy. It pulls off the hefty work through Ensuring that the comedic tone does not affect the images of the monsters. Most of the humor came from the human characters.
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Bela Lugosi resurrected his trademark Dracula persona, unaffected by his presence in an Abbott and Costello movie. By delivering a familiar version of Abbott & Costello meet Frankenstein, The film was able to give Lugosi a worthwhile opportunity to return to the role that made him a household name in the first place.
Abbott and Costello meet Frankenstein