MovieChat Forums > Bud Abbott and Lou Costello Meet Frankenstein (1948) Discussion > Violations of canon

Violations of canon

posted 18 years ago by klantry
5 replies | jump to latest

That is, inconsistencies with earlier Universal films.

First, Dracula's well-documented mirror appearance. Odd thing about that, it looked like the director had taken pains to avoid the mirror, until the very end of the scene.

Second: The Title. Chick and Wilbur never meet Frankenstein - they meet his creation. Wilbur calls the Monster Frankie at one point.

Third: McDougal was bitten by the Wolfman, so he should turn into a werewolf at the same time Talbot does. (Three full moon nights in a row?)

"Well, there it is."

[–] GrapeApe1969 17 years ago

Oh whine whine whine. It's a comedy. A spoof. Not "canon". Get over it!

[–] Skragg 17 years ago

I don't know about the other things, but you don't have to take it too seriously to be bothered about one big thing. In the last SERIOUS film (House of Dracula), Talbot is finally cured and gets his happy ending. And even though he's thought of as a "limited" actor, Lon Chaney Jr. really makes you feel for Talbot in the original and all those sequels, and enjoy seeing that finally happen. So why couldn't THIS movie have ALSO given him a happy ending? Comedy or not, it would have made sense for other reasons, since (even though it had a male "love interest," and also A and C), he was partly the "hero" of the story. Again, you don't have to take things too seriously to be bothered about that part.

[–] 17 years ago

[deleted]

[–] jmatrixrenegade 10 years ago

And, the movie title about them going to Mars? They go to Venus!

Seriously, the mirror thing sounds like a mistake -- it's something that seems like a basic "rule" and even if it's a comedy, some might feel off about it. The title less so -- it's a common misunderstanding & the movie itself has the characters read a card about "Frankenstein" making the monster early on. Wilbur is dumb, so his confusion is far from surprising.

I guess someone answers the third point.

[–] liscarkat (19031) 3 months ago

When I was a kid in the '60s all the other kids referred to the Monster as "Frankenstein". It was exasperating.