Tubby (Lou) and Slim (Bud) are two police officers in London studying the English police methods. After getting kick off the force, they determine that if they can catch the monster that has been killing prominent doctors they will be able to get their jobs back. Dr. Jekyll (Karloff) is experimenting with the idea of separating "good from evil" and in his lab is transforming character traits between various animals (e.g. Tubby has a bunny rabbit snap at him). Dr. Jekyll's ward Vicky falls for a newspaperman Bruce - Jekyll has loved Vicky for years and he decides to become Mr. Hyde to get rid of Bruce. While hunting for the monster in Dr. Jekyll's home, Tubby falls on a hypodermic needle, becomes a monster, and the chase begins.
This is an excellent movie for Karloff and Abbott & Costello fans.
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars - Fun horror remake, though not screamingly funny
This movie has taken a bum rap over the years. The vast majority of people who've seen it -- particularly Abbott and Costello fans -- don't like it. Some even hate it. The reason: they say it just is not funny.
Actually, there are some VERY funny moments...but less than a half-dozen of them. Yet, this is a film Abbott & Costello fans will want to see (and own) -- and ANYONE who is a classic horror movie fan will want to OWN IT (remember that as we move into the 21st century this is unlikely to be available so now is the time!). Firstly, I'm a bit biased about this film. This is the very first movie I remember seeing as a kid and the first I remember seeing in a movie theater. I have not seen it since I bought it on Amazon-- and was NOT disappointed!
Why? I like horror movies. And this is less of an Abbott & Costello movie than a low-budget remake of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde with Boris Karloff in the title role. <> If you're a Karloff fan like I am, this is a TREASURE: he is at his evil, slimiest best...even glowering at times. Special effects were clearly Universal Studios style, essentially the same effect as used in the Wolfman series. The movie seldom lags but it is made according to the Universal horror formula at the times (less like an A&C film).
View this film NOT as a hilarious Abbott & Costello comedy but a remake of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde with an appearance by Abbott and Costello and you'll love it. The comedy team really doesn't do all that much in this movie and most seems derivative from their other horror spoofs. This also has far less comedy overall than those other films but as a REMAKE of this HORROR movie with A&C it is WELL worth the money.
When Costello hilariously, if predictably, gets some of the transformation formula at the end it seems more like a typical A&C movie...and the final scene with the policemen sucking their Costello-monster-bitten fingers, with the final (guess?) finale result is a classic.
As a FILM -- a remake of this story with Boris Karloff at his sleaziest best -- it rates an enthusiastic four stars. If you're absolutely looking for a hilarious A&C movie it would then be three and a half or a bit less. But it is WORTH seeing and owning -- and this lesser known entry will be hard to find...so if you see it's available grab it NOW!
Rating: 2 out of 5 stars - Not so Funny or entertaining.
One of Bud and Lou's weaker film outings has them meeting Dr. Jekell and Mr. Hyde in this lower budget, somewhat poor directed film with fewer laughs and the not so sinsester performance of Boris Karloff. Not a very good film at all.