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The 2025 stamp designs are out! There are the usual boring sets — American vistas? More U.S. flags? Vibrant leaves? — but one announcement has set comedy hearts aflutter: a commemorative stamp featuring the late sitcom superstar Betty White. Score!

“An icon of American television, Betty White (1922–2021) shared her wit and warmth with viewers for seven decades — including roles on The Golden Girls and The Mary Tyler Moore Show,” said the Usps in its announcement. “The comedic actor, who gained younger generations of fans as she entered her 90s, was also revered as a compassionate advocate for animals. Dale Stephanos created the digital illustration based on a 2010 photograph by Kwaku Alston. Greg Breeding, an art director for Usps, designed the stamp.”

In other words, Betty White was a badass.

White isn’t the first comedian honored by the Post Office, but she’s on a very short list. While you can’t...

Universal's biggest horror crossover happened in a comedy from all the way back in 1948. 76 years ago, audiences were treated to yet another entry in a long-running series of films starring Universal's go-to comedic duo, Bud Abbott and Lou Costello. But as the title implies, Abbott & Costello Meet Frankenstein wasn't just another vehicle for the two actors; it was also an avenue for several horror icons to make an exciting return to the big screen.

During the 1940s, Universal tapped into an interest in the possibility of their monster villains crossing paths with each other. Rather than keep creatures like Count Dracula, Frankenstein's Monster, and the Wolf Man confined to their respective franchises, Universal started mixing them up, making movies like Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man. In terms of box office revenue, this was a working strategy for the studio. This paved the way for it to go even further with the concept,...

Two cornerstones of the horror genre clashed when Count Dracula and the Wolf Man came to blows in Abbott & Costello Meet the Frankenstein. Typically, Dracula occupies a world that exists independently of lycanthropy, but horror franchises have been known to mix werewolves and vampires in the past. Interestingly, this trend can be dated all the way back to the 1940s. Due to the success of Universal's horror movies, the studio started mixing its monsters together and delivering crossovers, such as Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man, House of Frankenstein, and House of Dracula.

The latter two crossovers notably included both the Vampire King and the most iconic werewolf in pop culture, Larry Talbot a.k.a. The Wolf Man. But despite the opportunity provided by having the two monsters together in the same film, neither seized on it by pitting them against each other. But while this was disappointing, this...

Although known for his role in crafting the Count Dracula character, Bela Lugosi only played the villain twice in the entirety of his career. What's perhaps most surprising about that is the fact that one of these films wasn't 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 sinister villains and monsters, most notably Count Dracula. Bela Lugosi's role in 1931's Dracula helped craft the image now associated with the great horror villain. But while this has led to Lugosi being revered as a horror icon, it didn't immediately lead to more Dracula films for Lugosi. He did get to play the character again, but his experience was quite...

When Sherwood Schwartz was creating "Gilligan's Island" back in 1964, he designed the series as one might an animated show. It was meant to be a broad, unrealistic farce, so Schwartz had no issues with making "Gilligan's Island" into something colorful and artificial. The characters, for the most part, wore the same clothes every day, allowing Schwartz to color-code them. Gilligan (Bob Denver) always wore a long-sleeve red shirt and sailor's cap. The Skipper (Alan Hale) always wore blue and wore a captain's hat. The Professor (Russell Johnson) always wore slacks and a white shirt with the sleeves rolled up. Ginger (Tina Louise) may have changed often, but she always wore something glamorous, and her red hair was always highlighted. 

What's more, Schwartz seemingly kept a close eye on characters' silhouettes. One of the reasons why The Skipper and Gilligan emerged as such an effective comedy duo was that Gilligan was...

Editor’s note: this list was originally published in October 2022. It has since been updated with new entries.

Short of outright sobs, there are just two sounds you’ll hear coming from movie theaters: laughter and screams. When filmmakers can successfully elicit both — running horror-loving audiences through emotional minefields that chase each adrenaline spike with just enough comedic relief to set them up for another shock — their films take on an almost electric quality. Just thinking of the stunning yet silly reveals in genre staples like “Shaun of the Dead” or “The Cabin in the Woods” can zap a smile on your face, and leave you itching to rewatch other memorable scenes and scares from your favorite funny yet spooky movies.

There’s considerable debate about which title merits being called the first horror comedy. Numerous shorts, including the 1920 silent film “Haunted Spooks,” might qualify. But by the time Bud Abbott...

Some of the best movies to watch during the Halloween season (and some of the coolest movies in the horror genre) are the classic Universal Monsters movies. Those awesome black and white movies that were built around characters like Frankenstein’s Monster, Dracula, The Mummy, the Wolf Man, and the Creature from the Black Lagoon, among others. So now that Halloween weekend is upon us, we here at Arrow in the Head have put together a list: Universal Monsters Franchises Ranked! Below you’ll find our rankings of the classic franchises, from least to favorite. Check it out, and let us know how you would rank these franchises by leaving a comment!

Honorable Mention: Abbott And Costello

The comedy duo of Bud Abbott and Lou Costello certainly weren’t Universal monsters (or any other kind of monsters), but they earn an honorable mention on this list because they played an...

Legendary comedians — and even more legendary porn connoisseurs — Abbott and Costello accomplished a lot in their careers, starring in one of the most popular radio shows of all-time, their own TV series and numerous classic films, including the definitive horror-comedy Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein and the underrated murder mystery spoof Who Done It?

But the duo will always be best known for their classic “Who’s on First?” routine, in which Lou Costello becomes increasingly confused and annoyed over a conversation about improbably-named baseball players, including Who, What, Why and I Don’t Know.

The sketch was picked as the “greatest comedy routine of the 20th century” by Time Magazine, and in 1956, a solid gold record pressing of “Who’s on First?” was installed in the National Baseball Hall of Fame.

As Jerry Seinfeld pointed out in the TV special Abbott and Costello Meet Jerry Seinfeld, “there’s no logical...

George Waggner's 1941 horror film "The Wolf Man" introduced audiences to, essentially, the "second officer" of the Universal Monsters canon. Everyone knows that Dracula is the captain of the monster ship, and that Frankenstein is his first officer (a position he often shares with the Bride). The Wolf Man is always third in command, perhaps serving as a security officer or an enforcer. Mummies, gillmen, invisible men, Dr. Hydes, and other ancillary ghouls serve lower down in the crew. 

Watching the original "Wolf Man" film, however, reveals a dark and sad tale about Larry Talbot who is attacked by a wolf on a misty night in Wales, afflicting him with the curse of the werewolf. Throughout the year, Larry will transform into an animalistic wolf/human creature and stalk and kill random victims. The tale is terrifying and tragic and inspired many pop culture tales to follow -- as well as many nightmares.

When the moon is high and the shadows stretch long, there’s nothing quite like a monster mash to get the blood curdling in the best possible way. Yep, we’re talking about those rare cinematic feasts where Dracula toasts with Frankenstein, and the Wolfman crashes the party, only to find out the Mummy’s been hogging the dip. Welcome to the ultimate guide to horror’s most iconic gatherings – a list that promises more monster movies than a Halloween bash at Castle Dracula.

Before we unleash the monsters, a quick plug! Dive deeper into classic and modern monster lore with our “Graveyard Smash” limited podcast series on Patreon. Our latest haunt? Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein. Don’t miss it! Support us and get exclusive access at Nightmare on Film Street on Patreon.

20Th Century Studios 10. Transylvania 6-5000 (1985)

Directed by Rudy De Luca, this offbeat comedy takes a jab...

There are a lot of "Frankenstein" movies. There's even one in theaters right now: "Lisa Frankenstein," a fun 80s-set horror-comedy-romance brew (read /Film's review here).

One could even say the story of "Frankenstein" birthed the horror genre as we know it today, both in literature (thanks to Mary Shelley's "Modern Prometheus") and in film. James Whale's 1931 "Frankenstein," arriving on the heels of "Dracula," cemented the age of Universal Horror and proved that monsters could be crowd-pleasers.

Countless sequels and remakes later, everyone knows the basics of the story. Dr. Frankenstein (first name usually Victor) sets out to create life in a reanimated corpse. The result is a Creature, unpleasant to the eye, and soon Frankenstein experiences the wrath of his Monster. Was Frankenstein's Monster born destructive or made that way by his creator rejecting him? Interpretations differ, but the message endures: don't play God (or become a parent...

So, how accurate are some of those old sayings? Well, in the case of “You can pick your friends, but you can’t pick your family”, well…yes, 100 percent. That’s especially true with siblings, going all the way back to Cain and Abel. Sure brothers battle, but is that ditto for sisters? This weekend’s new comedy uses that as its “springboard”. These two ladies couldn’t be more different or argumentative, Fortunately, they’re both hilarious, and their characters are played by two talented actresses. You see, the elder is a party gal while the other is saddled with the title Quiz Lady.

We first meet the aforementioned Qz as a timid eight-year-old indulging in her favorite weekday activity, watching the live TV show “Can’t Stop the Quiz” hosted by true hero Terry McTeer (Will Ferrell). And she pretty much aces all the questions despite her older...

Between Slotherhouse arriving on Hulu, buddy comedy Shaky Shivers arriving on Screambox, and the theatrical release of Onyx the Fortuitous and the Talisman of Souls, this week belongs to the horror comedy. Horror comedies also happen to make for perfect Halloween viewing, as they frequently offer tricks and treats in the form of laughs and scares. Naturally, this week’s streaming picks are dedicated to horror comedies, emphasizing lesser-seen titles.

Here’s where you can stream them this week.

For more Stay Home, Watch Horror picks, click here.

Abbott & Costello Meet Frankenstein – Prime Video

This is the first of many movies in which the comedic pair encounter Universal Monsters, and it’s a delightful mashup all ages can enjoy. Here, Lon Chaney Jr.’s Larry Talbot tries to warn Chick (Bud Abbott) and Wilbur (Lou Costello) that Count Dracula (Bela Lugosi) has arrived in their town with nefarious plans to...

How do you like to celebrate the arrival of October and true autumn? Perhaps you have a favorite sweater you like to pull out of the drawer; or maybe you’re a fiend for consuming pumpkin-spiced… everything! For ourselves, it’s always been about putting on that first horror movie (or three). While the whole year is a fine time to watch scary movies, there’s something especially crisp about a favorite chiller to match the cool evenings outside.

Spooky season has to start somewhere, and for us it might as well be with a film that either makes us shriek or smile. So if you’re looking for suggestions on how to best ease yourself into the reason for the season, these are the movies that we think make Halloween a wickedly fine time.

It’s not Halloween until I watch… The Shining (1980)

There aren’t many of the...

Harley Quinn has come a long way in her history with DC Comics. Today, the beloved antihero has become as well-known and recognized as the Trinity composed of Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman because of her interesting character and explosive personality. In fact, it could be argued that she has become the fourth DC pillar, seeing as her recognition and popularity have led her to expanding beyond the comics and getting her own TV series and movies.

However, all this success certainly didn't happen overnight. The 30-year-old character wasn't always the quick-witted crimefighter fans think of now. She's actually been through her fair share of evolution in various media that helped to round her out as a character and develop a fan base that continues to love her to this day. With that in mind, here are 11 of the most important moments in Harley Quinn's history that totally redefined her...

The best Abbott and Costello movies represent the pinnacle of comedy during Hollywood's Golden Age, but which of their cinematic pairings was their crowning achievement? Bud Abbott and Lou Costello were perhaps the most popular comedy duo from the 1930s well into the late 1950s, and it was their diametrically opposed personalities that made many of the bits work so well. Each got their start on the vaudeville and burlesque circuits and preserved their classic routines on film, including the "Who's on First?" sketch which is still often imitated today.

Of the nearly 40 feature films they starred in together, some hold up better than others, and the very best Abbott and Costello movies still have legions of adoring fans long after their peak of popularity. Whether they were going on globetrotting adventures or spoofing some of the best horror movies of the 1940s, Abbott and Costello typically played similar characters...

Some things never go out of style, and Dracula is one of them. Bram Stoker’s novel helped to fully define the vampire in the cultural consciousness. Almost 130 years since its publication, it remains hugely popular, with the new horror comedy Renfield giving the one and only Nicolas Cage a chance to don the cape.

The vampiric character is the most adapted in film and television history aside from Sherlock Holmes, so we have a full century of bloodsucking variety to revel in. There are the classics, of course, from Bela Lugosi to Gary Oldman in Francis Ford Coppola’s famous interpretation. But then there are the adaptations that make us wonder what the director was going through when they made it. You can do basically anything with vampires and it’ll make sense, but these Dracula revamps seriously test that.

Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein (1948)

Imagine if every Marvel...

Who doesn't love a good crossover? Besides the fact that they settle nerds' constant debates of "who would win in a fight between ___ and ___?," there's something so exciting about seeing the main characters of two or more different franchises coming together for the first time ever. Another reason why crossovers have so much appeal with audiences is that there are often legal reasons why characters from one series can't mingle with those of another, making the times when they do meet on the big (or small) screen all the more special.

Crossovers got a massive boost in popularity due to the wildly successful Marvel Cinematic Universe. However, crossovers haven't only been relegated to the superhero realm; for decades, there have been numerous other examples of fictional worlds colliding across numerous genres. In fact, well before Nick Fury appeared at the end of "Iron Man" to tell Tony Stark about the Avengers Initiative,...

In the glory days of Universal Pictures, the studio had two big things going for it at the box office: the Universal Monsters, and a comedy duo known as Abbott and Costello. Bud Abbott and Lou Costello met on the burlesque circuit — the story goes that one day, Costello's regular comedy partner got sick, allowing Abbott to step in and begin a long, prosperous partnership. Abbott, tall and thin, was the straight man; a surly, frowning bully who frequently had it up to here with his sidekick. Costello, short and stout, was the fool; the childlike clown who was prone to falling down and acting like a buffoon, all to Abbott's annoyance. The act worked like gangbusters, with the duo moving on to radio before landing a movie contract in 1940. By 1942, they were considered to be the top box office stars in the country.

As for the Universal Monsters, they...

It’s a case of cold-blooded, premeditated nostalgia: Abbott & Costello’s fantasy musical is innocent comedy rooted in early ’50s kiddie entertainment — a vein perfectly suited to the duo’s talents. Lou Costello makes a fine underdog fantasy hero, too. The feature restoration is quite an achievement for the 3-D Archive, as cine-archeology was required to understand the arcane color process ‘SuperCineColor.’ But the show’s slapstick action, clever songs and dippy dancing are finally back and looking great. The labor of love extends to the extras: excised scenes, background material, some words from the only surviving actor, a learned piece on the color process and a surprise guest appearance by the Creature from the Black Lagoon.

Jack and the Beanstalk

Blu-ray

ClassicFlix

1952 / Color / 1:37 Academy / 78 min. / 70th Anniversary Limited Edition / Street Date July 26, 2022 / Available from ClassicFlix / 49.95

Starring: Bud Abbott, Lou Costello, Buddy Baer, Dorothy Ford, Barbara Brown, David Stollery,...

ClassicFlix comes forward with an entire 26 original episodes of the comic duo’s 1952 TV show, all fully remastered by the 3-D Archive people. That’s 13 + hours of Abbott and Costello comedy, looking better than new — even the original opening logos have been restored. The repeating leads are fully attuned to A&c’s style of comedy — Sid Fields, Hillary Brooke, Gordon Jones, etc.. The full set comes with numerous audio commentaries and featurettes.

The Abbott and Costello Show Season 1

Blu-ray

ClassicFlix

1952-1953 / B&W / 1:33 flat / 676 min. / Street Date December 14, 2021 / Available from ClassicFLix / 49.99

Starring: Bud Abbott, Lou Costello, Sid Fields, Hillary Brooke, Gordon Jones, Joe Besser, Joe Kirk, Bobby Barber, Joan Shawlee, Veda Ann Borg, Elvia Allman, Virginia Christine, Bingo the Chimp; Iris Adrian, Glenn Strange.

Cinematography: George Robinson

Art Director: Mac Capps

Film Editor: Gene Fowler Jr., Fred R. Feitshans Jr.

Original Music: Raoul Kraushaar

Written by Sid Fields,...

Bud Abbott and Lou Costello were the most popular comedy duo in the golden age of Hollywood. Each got their start on the vaudeville and burlesque circuits and preserved their classic routines on film, including the "Who's on first?" sketch.

Related: 10 Best Comedy Movies From The Golden Age Of Hollywood, According To IMDb

Of the dozens of films they starred in together, some hold up better than others, and long after their peak of popularity, they still have plenty of fans. These are the best collaborations between the serious and conniving character of Bud Abbott and the child-like simpleton character of Lou Costello.

Preserved by the 'United States Library of Congress' as "culturally, historically and aesthetically significant",  director Charles T. Barton's classic horror comedy feature "Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein" (1948), with a haunting score by Frank Skinner, stars the comedy team of  Bud Abbott and Lou Costello: 

"...freight handlers 'Wilbur Grey' and 'Chick Young' have their lives turned upside down...

"...when the supposed remains of the 'Frankenstein' monster and 'Dracula' arrive from Europe to be used in 'McDougal's House of Horrors'..."

Click the images to enlarge... ...

Preserved by the 'United States Library of Congress' as "culturally, historically and aesthetically significant", this Halloween take a look at the classic horror comedy feature "Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein" (1948), directed by Charles Barton, with a haunting score by Frank Skinner, starring the comedy team of  Bud Abbott and Lou Costello: 

"...freight handlers 'Wilbur Grey' and 'Chick Young' have their lives turned upside down...

"...when the supposed remains of the 'Frankenstein' monster and 'Dracula' arrive from Europe to be used in 'McDougal's House of Horrors'..."

Click the images to enlarge... ...

Abbott & Costello perform at full strength in this very good, very silly jungle safari comedy. It’s definitely for kids and nostalgic fans — with equal parts slapstick, cornball repetitive vaudeville gags, and Lou Costello’s weirdly endearing infantile schtick. An impressively beautiful restoration has pulled it back from the pit of Public Domain ugliness. Plus ClassicFlix & the 3-D Archive appoint this 2-D movie with a tall stack of creative, relevant extras.

Africa Screams

Blu-ray

ClassicFlix

1949 / B&w / 1:37 Academy / 79 min. / Special Limited Edition / Street Date June 30, 2020 /

Starring: Bud Abbott, Lou Costello, Clyde Beatty, Frank Buck, Max Baer, Buddy Baer, Hillary Brooke, Shemp Howard, Joe Besser, Burt Wenland, Charles Gemora, Arthur Hecht, Bill Walker, Martin Wilkins.

Cinematography: Charles Van Enger

Film Editor: Frank Gross

Original Music: Walter Schumann

Written by Earl Baldwin

Produced by Edward Nassour

Directed by Charles Barton

I can’t say that I was one of the zillion...

Rosie Knight Feb 6, 2020

Harley Quinn and the gang deliver a romp through the seedy underbelly of the Dceu in Birds of Prey!

This article contains nothing but Birds of Prey spoilers. We have a spoiler-free review right here.

Birds of Prey is the latest entry in Warner Bros.' sprawling Dceu shared universe of superhero movies. It's not just any superhero movie though. Birds of Prey offers up a female-led, female directed R-rated action romp through the grimy streets of North Gotham. Like any good comic book movie, the Cathy Yan helmed flick includes a whole bunch of impressive Easter eggs from deep cut DC Comics references to ridiculous Batman '66 nods all the way through some awesome homages to Harley's origin.

As always we're trying to catch all of the Easter eggs and secrets that Birds of Prey and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn has to offer...

The honored dead are neither gone nor forgotten on Avenue 5 episode 2 "And Then He's Gonna Shoot Off…"

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This Avenue 5 review contains spoilers.

Avenue 5 Episode 2

"Fly safe. Fly true," the mantra on the bridge of the Avenue 5 space ship, is a lie, forgery and irony wrapped in command indecision. The flight is hazardous and everything everyone thinks they know about what's going on is based on rubber stamped memos no one bothered to send transcribed from minutes no one was taking. Avenue 5, episode 2, "And Then He's Gonna Shoot Off…," begins with Captain Ryan Clark, played by Hugh Laurie, attempting to give the bad news about recent changes in travel plans. It doesn't go well. It barely goes at all because the most entitled of the guests aboard the space tourism vessel loses it at hello. "Don't insult us," Karen Kelly (Rebecca Front), resident rabble...

Los Angeles, CA – This holiday season, every Universal Pictures film from the most popular comedy duo of all time comes home when Abbott and Costello: The Complete Universal Pictures Collection hits Blu-ray™ for the first time from Shout! Factory.

The Complete Universal Pictures Collection comes loaded with bonus features, including 10 new audio commLentaries, a collectible book, and a bonus disc with more than eight hours of content. Celebrating the 80th anniversary of Abbott and Costello’s first film One Night in the Tropics, the massive 15-disc set is the ultimate tribute to two of the funniest and most enduring comedians in contemporary history.

Get ready to laugh out loud as this collection comes packed with all 28 of Bud Abbott and Lou Costello’s iconic films from the height of their popularity at Universal Pictures, spanning 1940-1965. Featuring their most popular movies such as Buck Privates, Who Done It? and Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein,...

Abbott & Costello – The Complete

Universal Pictures Collection

Blu ray

Shout! Factory

1940-1955/1:33-1:85

Starring Bud Abbott, Lou Costello, Bela Lugosi, Boris Karloff

Directed by Arthur Lubin, Erle C. Kenton, Charles Barton

Two footloose Jersey boys with no particular place to go, Bud Abbott and Lou Costello finally found themselves – literally and figuratively – on the burlesque stage. Their act, equal parts smart talk and ancient slapstick, was honed alongside curvy chorus girls and tassel-twirlers but it took a lady of a decidedly different stature to make them superstars. On March 24, 1938, Kate Smith, “The First Lady of Radio”, invited them to perform “Who’s On First”, a routine delivered with such hairpin curve precision it left listeners breathless. That appearance fast-tracked the duo to their own radio series and a contract with Universal Pictures.

They made their big screen debut in 1940’s One Night in the Tropics, a low budget...

Universal continues to reboot its catalogue of 'famous monsters of filmland', with a new take on author H.G. Wells "The Invisible Man", targeting a March 13, 2020 release, to be written/directed by Leigh Whannell ("Upgrade") for producer Jason Blum, "..."rooted in horror, with no restrictions on budget, tone, or rating...":

Published in 1897, "The Invisible Man" of the title is 'Griffin', a scientist devoted to research into optics "...to change a body's refractive index to that of air so that it neither absorbs nor reflects light and thus becomes invisible..." 

He successfully carries out the procedure on himself, but fails in his attempt to reverse it...

...as his brain becomes fried by the drastic changes in his system.

Previous feature adaptations of Wells' public domain novel include "The Invisible Man" (1933) starring Claude Rains, "The Invisible Man Returns" (1940) starring Vincent Price...

...and "Abbott and Costello Meet the Invisible Man" (1951) starring Bud Abbott and Lou Costello.

Universal continues to reboot its catalogue of 'famous monsters of filmland', with a new take on author H.G. Wells "The Invisible Man", to be directed by Leigh Whannell ("Upgrade") for producer Jason Blum, "..."rooted in horror, with no restrictions on budget, tone, or rating...":

Published in 1897, "The Invisible Man" of the title is 'Griffin', a scientist devoted to research into optics, inventing a way "...to change a body's refractive index to that of air so that it neither absorbs nor reflects light and thus becomes invisible..." 

He successfully carries out the procedure on himself, but fails in his attempt to reverse it...

...as his brain becomes fried by the drastic changes in his system.

Previous feature adaptations of Wells' public domain novel include "The Invisible Man" (1933) starring Claude Rains, "The Invisible Man Returns" (1940) starring Vincent Price...

...and "Abbott and Costello Meet the Invisible Man" (1951) starring Bud Abbott and Lou Costello.

He was the anarchic funnyman who went from comedies with Dean Martin to inspired cinematic brilliance with The Nutty Professor. Martin Scorsese pays tribute to his King of Comedy star

The first time I saw Jerry Lewis, it was on television with his partner Dean Martin. This was in the late 40s when TV was just beginning – the medium was new and so were Martin and Lewis. We were used to comedy “teams” such as Abbott and Costello, the straight man who fed the lines to the comedian, which grew out of vaudeville. Martin and Lewis took it all to another level. Martin himself was funny, and he was also smooth, romantic, and he sang. They got into a groove and Lewis would take off into pure anarchy. Pretty soon, they were stars of the big screen as well – they started in the My Friend Irma pictures and then they...

Even lesser Abbott & Costello movies are still comedy gravy to the avid fans of the fast-talking duo. Their first film deal away from Universal yields a so-so production graced with a string of their patented old-time comedy routines. And the transfer beats anything we’ve yet seen.

The Noose Hangs High

Blu-ray

ClassicFlix

1948 / B&W / 1:37 Academy / 77 min. / Street Date August 15, 2017 / available through ClassicFlix / 24.99

Starring: Bud Abbott, Lou Costello, Joseph Calleia, Leon Errol, Cathy Downs, Mike Mazurki, Fritz Feld, Murray Leonard, Ellen Corby, Russell Hicks, James Flavin, Minerva Urecal, Fred Kelsey.

Cinematography: Charles Van Enger

Film Editor: Harry Reynolds

Assistant Director: Howard W. Koch

Original Music: Walter Schumann

Written by John Grant, Howard Harris from an earlier screenplay by Charles Grayson, Arthur T. Horman story by Julian Blaustein, Daniel Taradash, Bernard Feins

Produced and Directed by Charles Barton

A few famous movie comedy teams prospered with good will and parted with hugs,...

You pick up a lot of baggage when you live to be 100, a sentiment confirmed by the long, long movie career of Bob Hope. His unofficial status as the preeminent entertainer of the 20th century is open to debate but he was without a doubt that era’s most conspicuous comedian. Marlon Brando’s infamous dismissal, “He’ll go to the opening of a market to receive an award”, was mean-spirited but it had the sting of truth; for over eighty years Hope was everywhere, for better or worse.

Living up to his nickname, “Rapid Robert”, the 31-year old Hope shot out of the gate in 1934 with a series of quick-on-their feet comic shorts revolving around his unique presence as a leading man and comical sidekick rolled into one. It wasn’t long before he was starring in pleasantly prosaic musicals like The Big Broadcast of 1938 and handsomely mounted...

By Todd Garbarini

Cheech and Chong’s Next Movie, which opened on Friday, July 18, 1980, had stiff competition at the box office: Airplane!, The Empire Strikes Back, The Shining, Friday the 13th, The Blue Lagoon, The Big Red One, Dressed to Kill, Fame, and The Blues Brothers were all in major release at the time. While Next Movie and did respectable business, it went on to gross even more moola when Universal released is on a double bill with John Landis’s beloved Blues Brothers later. The film picks up sometime after Cheech and Chong’s maiden cinematic outing, Up in Smoke, left off two years earlier. Written by the slapdash and seemingly always high dynamic duo and directed by the latter of the two, Next Movie plays out like their comedy album routines (“Dave” from their self-titled 1971 debut album is one of their best-known and funniest bits) which is exactly...

Every week, IndieWire asks a select handful of film and TV critics two questions and publishes the results on Monday. (The answer to the second, “What is the best film in theaters right now?”, can be found at the end of this post.)

This week’s question: With “The Mummy” opening to mostly negative reviews this weekend, Universal’s attempt to kickstart its “Dark Universe” franchise is stuck in a rut. What would you do (or recommend the studio do) to make good movies out of Universal’s classic monsters?

Violet Lucca (@unbuttonmyeyes), Film Comment

The obvious response is “don’t try,” but since we’re a few years away from getting back to using original intellectual property in film, I’ll give them a few options.

One: ditch the self-seriousness of the modern action blockbuster and revive the genre mashup of the “Abbott and Costello Meet…” series. Get Channing Tatum...

The legendary Boris Karloff portrayed many iconic characters throughout his long career—The Monster in Frankenstein (1931) and Imhotep in The Mummy (1932) are undoubtedly two of the most recognizable. Mr. Karloff's roles in these films are a fundamental building block in creating the foundation for Universal Pictures, which would go on to make the classic monsters we can all identify today.

And now, Tom Cruise has been chosen to lead the Universal Monster universe in a new direction, with a new franchise. In recent years, the actor has become somewhat typecast as the "smartest guy in the room" action hero, and he's actually quite good playing this character. Mr. Cruise has a charisma about him and a dedication to keep everything authentic, even down to performing his own terrifying stunts or taking roles earlier in his career that were different and out of character. This makes it all the more...

The 2016 blu ray release of the Frankenstein and Wolf Man Legacy Collections was a moment of celebration for movie and monster lovers everywhere, bringing together all the golden age appearances of Frankenstein’s misbegotten creation and Larry Talbot’s hairy alter-ego. Universal Studios treated those dusty creature features to luminous restorations; from Bride of Frankenstein to She Wolf of London, these essential artifacts never looked less than impeccable and, at times, even ravishing. Colin Clive’s frenzied declaration, “It’s Alive!”, never felt more appropriate.

Now Universal has turned their attention to their other legendary franchise players, Dracula, the sharp-dressed but undead ladies’ man and Im-ho-tep, the cursed Egyptian priest who loved not wisely but too well.

Dracula: Complete Legacy Collection

Blu-ray

Universal Studios Home Entertainment

1931, ’36, ’43, ’44, ’45, ’48 / 449 min. / B&W / 1:33 / Street Date May 16, 2017

Starring: Actors: Bela Lugosi, Lon Chaney Jr. , Boris Karloff, Bud Abbott, Lou Costello

Cinematography: Karl Freund,...

Twin Peaks Recap is a weekly column by Keith Uhlich covering David Lynch and Mark Frost's limited, 18-episode continuation of the Twin Peaks television series.The world's gone mad. Fortunately for FBI Special Agent Dale Cooper (Kyle MacLachlan), he's been able to sit out most of the real-life insanity of the last 25 years. Unfortunately—as surely known by those viewers familiar with Mark Frost and David Lynch's singular television series Twin Peaks, which returned Sunday, May 21st for a limited, 18-episode run on Showtime—that's because he's been trapped in the unearthly purgatory known as the Black Lodge, all while his devilish doppelgänger, a mortal manifestation of the murderous spirit known as Killer Bob, runs amok among mankind.Already it feels like I'm speaking in tongues. But if Twin Peaks and Lynch (who directed, co-wrote, co-edited, and designed the sound for all of these new episodes) have taught us anything,...

Universal Pictures’ classic monsters are available now on Blu-ray in four bonus-packed box sets; The Mummy Legacy Collection, The Frankenstein Legacy Collection, The Dracula Legacy Collection and The Wolf Man Legacy Collection. And we have two complete sets on Blu-ray to giveaway… Yes, Two!!

The Mummy Legacy Collection

All 6 Films From The Legacy Of The Original Mummy Includes: The Mummy (1932), The Mummy’S Hand (1940), The Mummy’S Tomb (1942), The Mummy’S Ghost (1944), The Mummy’S Curse (1944), and Abbott And Costello Meet The Mummy (1955)

The original Mummy is one of the silver screen’s most unforgettable characters and, along with the other Universal Classic Monsters, defined the Hollywood horror genre. The Mummy: Complete Legacy Collection includes all 6 films from the original legacy including the terrifying classic starring Boris Karloff and the timeless films that followed. These landmark motion pictures defined the iconic look of the ancient Egyptian monster and continue...

According to Forbes, the descendants of Abbott and Costello have appealed their copyright claim against the play Hand To God all the way to the Supreme Court. The case originated when the heirs discovered that the play used over a minute of the famous 'Who's on First' routine without permission. The federal appellate court, however, decided the heirs do not in fact have a copyright claim to the material.

Last fall, Universal Studios Home Entertainment gave horror fans an early Halloween treat with their Complete Legacy Collection Blu-ray box sets for Frankenstein's monster and The Wolf Man. This spring, two more Universal Monsters will get their due, as Dracula and The Mummy are also getting the Complete Legacy Collection Blu-ray treatment.

The respective Complete Legacy Collection Blu-ray box sets for Dracula and The Mummy are scheduled for a May 16th release. Although the full list of films for each collection have not been announced, it's likely that they will contain the same films featured on the DVD versions:

Dracula Complete Legacy Collection:

Dracula (1931) Dracula's Daughter Son of Dracula House of Frankenstein House of Dracula Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein Dracula (1931) - Spanish version

The Mummy Complete Legacy Collection:

The Mummy (1932) The Mummy's Hand The Mummy's Tomb The Mummy's Ghost The Mummy's Curse Abbott and Costello Meet The Mummy

And for additional details,...

The 89th Annual Academy Awards will take place Sunday February 26th at 8:30pm Eastern time. Here is our overview of the major awards nominees in case you didn’t get to see them yourself.

There’s always a lot of talk leading up to the big day about who will win what awards. We try to make our predictions based on trends from the past, but we can’t help to be swayed by our own personal opinions. Some movies truly strike a chord with us, while others aren’t interesting at all. Furthermore, Oscar films are usually heavy in the drama department and therefore they aren’t always the easiest or most entertaining movies to watch.

That’s why we’re here. Here is your guide to the nominees of this year’s Academy Awards. We’ve compiled the following brief summaries, interesting facts, and critical reviews for all these films and people.

It seems like Ryan Gosling is popping up everywhere this year, and we certainly aren't complaining. The La La Land actor graces the January cover of GQ, and in addition to making us swoon with his soaking-wet body, he also opened up about his family, his career, and how he got punched by Harrison Ford on the set of Blade Runner. See some of his best quotes below. On getting punched in the face by Harrison Ford: "It was kind of, you know, a rite of passage. We were just doing a fight scene and, you know, it just happened. But what was funny was, when it was over, they brought ice for my face, and Harrison pushed me out of the way and stuck his fist in the ice. I asked him the other day where he got his sense of humor from - was it from his mother or his father?...

Amy Adams is a miracle worker of an actress – she makes us believe in whoever and whatever she's playing. In Arrival, a mesmerizing mindbender directed with searching mind and heart by the Quebec-born Denis Villeneuve, Adams plays a woman who talks to aliens. Or at least she wants to, desperately. She's not crazy; she's Dr. Louise Banks, a linguistics prof who gets called in by the U.S. military, in the person of Forest Whitaker's army colonel, to make contact with the creatures whose oval spaceships hover overhead in rural Montana.

Since any New York City cinephile has a nearly suffocating wealth of theatrical options, we figured it’d be best to compile some of the more worthwhile repertory showings into one handy list. Displayed below are a few of the city’s most reliable theaters and links to screenings of their weekend offerings — films you’re not likely to see in a theater again anytime soon, and many of which are, also, on 35mm. If you have a chance to attend any of these, we’re of the mind that it’s time extremely well-spent.

Metrograph

A Paul Schrader retrospective is held this weekend, with the likes of Mishima and American Gigolo screening.

“Trouble Every Day: Halloween at Metrograph” brings several titles, including Claire Denis‘ new classic.

Arthur Penn‘s Night Moves and Roger Corman‘s Masque of Red Death screen on Saturday and Sunday, respectively.

A retrospective concerning...

The corporate synergy—er, inspiration—at Universal Pictures has resulted in a shared monster universe akin to the Marvel Cinematic one that’s been going gangbusters for years. It’s a great model to follow, even if we wonder whether there’s really enough room in the shadows for Frankenstein, his monster, Dracula, the Mummy, and the Wolf Man. When Universal previously attempted crossovers, it was always with silver-screen sleuths William “Bud” Abbott and Lou Costello, who regularly confronted monsters in between vaudeville acts.

You might even say that 2004’s Van Helsing, which placed Hugh Jackman in Dracula’s sights, was a continuation of this humans-versus-monsters dynamic that Abbott and Costello engendered, which is why Van Helsing has been dubbed part of the new shared universe. That’s according to CinemaBlend’s interview with Eric Heisserer, who’s apparently writing a new Van Helsing movie. Heisserer, who also penned ...

Over the last few years, filmmaker Denis Villeneuve has repeatedly proven he’s no slouch behind the camera, his deft directorial talents on full display in recent years with Prisoners, Enemy, and last year’s stunning thriller Sicario. For his new film, Arrival, Villeneuve heads into the world of science fiction, and the results are outstanding. An intelligent and emotionally-charged exploration of the power of communication and understanding by way of an alien race’s appearance on Earth, Arrival is so precisely conceived and executed that it doesn’t feel hyperbolic at all to call Villeneuve’s latest effort one of the best science fiction films I’ve seen in decades, and one of the best films of 2016 (genre or otherwise).

In Arrival, Amy Adams stars as Louise Banks, a linguistics expert and professor who receives an offer that will forever change her life. Shortly after 12 mysterious alien crafts arrive on our planet,...

Comedy is very subjective but a great comedy will stand the test of time and continue to make generation after generation laugh. Some people like their humor dry, while some like it shocking and offensive. Whatever your taste, good humor will always be out there. Here are 20 great comedies that will no doubt continue to be appreciated in the future.

20. Fargo: The Cohen Brothers funniest black comedy may not be for everyone's taste, because it is quite violent. However, underneath all that is a droll observation on the human condition, highlighted by a winning performance from Frances McDormand as a very likeable and very pregnant police chief. Her character police chief Marge Gunderson is kind, clever and compassionate. She’s a much more admirable role model than all the recent ‘badass female’ clichés we’ve been inundated with lately. Another standout here is William H. Macy as a two-bit schemer who's plan utterly backfires.

Hissable villain Bela Lugosi is in denial --- no, it's actually star Edmund Lowe who is in the Nile, deep-sixed in a sunken sarcophagus. Lugosi's up top trying to get his art deco death ray in running order -- opposed only by some nubile babes and a Great White Hypnotist from the Swami school of mind control. Chandu the Magician Blu-ray Kl Studio Classics 1932 / B&W / 1:37 flat Academy / 71 min. / Street Date August 23, 2016 / available through Kino Lorber / 29.95 Starring Edmund Lowe, Irene Ware, Bela Lugosi, Herbert Mundin, Henry B. Walthall, Weldon Heyburn, June Lang, Michael Stuart, Virginia Hammond. Cinematography James Wong Howe Art Direction Max Parker Written by Barry Conners, Philip Klein, Guy Bolton, Bradley King, Harry Segall from a radio drama by Harry A. Earnshaw, Vera M. Oldham, R.R. Morgan Directed by William Cameron Menzies, Marcel Varnel

Reviewed by Glenn Erickson

Around 2008 Fox Home Video made a last big push with genre releases on DVD,...