Abbott and Costello Meet the Killer, Boris Karloff (1949)

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(595 ratings)

This Abbott & Costello vehicle was originally planned as a Bob Hope comedy titled Easy Does It. The Hope role is fairly evenly divided between Bud Abbott, as hotel house detective Casey Edwards, and Lou Costello, as bumbling bellhop Lou Costello. When a much-hated criminal attorney (Nicholas Joy) is… More This Abbott & Costello vehicle was originally planned as a Bob Hope comedy titled Easy Does It. The Hope role is fairly evenly divided between Bud Abbott, as hotel house detective Casey Edwards, and Lou Costello, as bumbling bellhop Lou Costello. When a much-hated criminal attorney (Nicholas Joy) is murdered at a resort hotel, there's no shortage of suspects: in fact, practically every guest had an excellent motive for killing the victim. The suspects conspire to pin the killing on poor Freddie, but when he comes in possession of a valuable piece of evidence, he is slated for extermination himself. The more Freddie and his pal Casey try to stay out of trouble, the more trouble comes their way--especially when two more murders occur. The climax takes place in an underground cavern, where Freddie is nearly drowned by the hooded mystery killer. The film's title is one of the most misleading in movie history. Cast as a red-herring swami, Boris Karloff is not the killer (whose true identity is obvious from the outset, especially to veteran moviegoers). Though his footage is extremely limited, Karloff shares the film's funniest scene, in which he tries to hypnotize Costello into committing suicide ("You'll kill yourself if it's the last thing you do!). ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 24 min.
Directed By: Charles Barton
Written By: Hugh Wedlock, Howard Snyder, John Grant
Genres: Drama, Mystery & Suspense, Classics, Comedy

In Theaters: Jan 1, 2003 Wide

Critic Reviews

Widgett Walls, Needcoffee.com
This is a mixed bag of gags, plus the real draw of the title--Karloff--is a few steps above a cameo.

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Featured Audience Ratings

Bruce B

In this film Bud and Lou are working in a hotel where people are being murdered and Lou looks like the killer. Boris Karloff make short appearances to help sell the film I'm sure. Just not as funny as some of there other movies, missing that comedy found in the wolf man and… More
In this film Bud and Lou are working in a hotel where people are being murdered and Lou looks like the killer. Boris Karloff make short appearances to help sell the film I'm sure. Just not as funny as some of there other movies, missing that comedy found in the wolf man and Frankenstein Films. Still give it 3 1/2 stars
AJ V

Another fun Abbott and Costello movie, this time they are suspected of murder, or is it the killer, Boris Karloff?
Christopher B

Very funny film, a little disappointing after seeing A & C meet Frankenstein, but still excellent.

Cast

            Bud Abbott as Casey Edwards

            Lou Costello as Freddie Phillips

            Boris Karloff as Swami Talpur

            Lénore Aubert as Angela Gordon

            Gar Moore as Jeff Wilson

            Donna Martell as Betty Crandall

            Alan Mowbray as Melton

            James Flavin as Inspector Wellman

            Roland Winters as T. Hanley Brooks

            Nicholas Joy as Amos Strickland

            Mikel Conrad as Sgt. Stone

            Morgan Farley as Gregory Milford

            Victoria Horne as Mrs. Hargreave

            Percy Helton as Abernathy

            Claire Du Brey as Mrs. Grimsby

            Harry Hayden as Lawrence Crandall

            Vincent Renno as Mike Relia

            Murray Alper as Joe

            Marjorie Bennett as Maid

            Jack Chefe as Barber

            Eddie Coke as Reporter

            Beatrice Gray as Woman

            Billy Gray
            
            Billy Snyder
            
            Ed Randolph as Bootblack

            Frankie Van as Bozzo

            Pat Hall as Manicurist

            Harry Brown as Medical Examiner
See full cast