Universal Monster Army

Cinematic Creeps => Classic Monster Movies => Topic started by: Pauspy on December 04, 2011, 10:38:33 PM

Title: Classic Horror Comedies
Post by: Pauspy on December 04, 2011, 10:38:33 PM


Anyone love classic horror comedies? Any thoughts on what a good horror comedy should include?


I know A & C meet Frankenstein is on most everyone's list, but what about some others?  My list also includes:

Ghost Breakers: Bob Hope has some of his best one-liners, and Paulette Goddard looks great in a bathing suit!!  ;)

The Boogie Man will Get You: Karloff and Lorre pretty much hold this one up by themselves, with some comedy by "Slapsie" Maxie Rosenbloom. I love the fact that Lorre always seems to have kittens stored in his overcoat for some reason.

You'll Find Out: Karloff, Lugosi and Lorre get to strut their stuff together, with Kay Kyser, et al supplying the chuckles. More "amusing" than "hilarious", but for me always a fun watch.

The Raven: Vincent Price, Lorre and Karloff having some magical fun, with the delicious Hazel Court looking like she's having a hoot as Karloff's pushy wife. Rhymes with "witch"!  ;)

Spooks: the 3 Stooges comedy short in 3D. Stooges! 3D! Creepy house! Who needs anything more????  ;D

Any others people like??
Title: Re: Classic Horror Comedies
Post by: Flower on December 05, 2011, 01:32:48 AM
I love the East Side Kids in Spooks Run Wild

Bela Lugosi - Spooks Run Wild - Trailer (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VqNAFe0lnFw#)
Title: Re: Classic Horror Comedies
Post by: Count_Zirock on December 07, 2011, 06:06:47 AM
I'd add "The Comedy of Terrors" to the mix. Really funny Karloff, Lorre, Price, and Basil Rathbone vehicle.
Title: Re: Classic Horror Comedies
Post by: thelatewinslowleach on December 09, 2011, 06:39:49 PM
I would my favorite Universal's "Ghost and Mr. Chicken" with Don Knotts. It does what a true horror comedy should do, be genuinely funny and genuinely scary. Most everyone I know who saw this as a kid note it was truly spooky. Plus, the house was I think the redressed Munsters house.  Also, "the Old Dark House" is rather a black comedy.
Title: Re: Classic Horror Comedies
Post by: zombiehorror on December 09, 2011, 06:55:40 PM
Some great choices!  I'll add Scared Stiff (1953) which of course is a remake of The Ghost Breakers and The Fearless Vampire Killers!
Title: Re: Classic Horror Comedies
Post by: Scatter on December 09, 2011, 11:16:16 PM
Quote from: Flower on December 05, 2011, 01:32:48 AM
I love the East Side Kids in Spooks Run Wild

Bela Lugosi - Spooks Run Wild - Trailer (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VqNAFe0lnFw#)

Awww.........I used to watch them every Saturday morning. Leo Gorcey and Huntz Hall were awesome!!
Title: Re: Classic Horror Comedies
Post by: Fester on December 10, 2011, 04:59:22 PM
If you appreciate British humor, er-- humour, There is Carry on Screaming, part of the Carry On franchise. 

Also, while not specifically horror movies,  check out  The Lady Killers(1955)  and Kind Hearts and Coronets (1949) Among all his other accomplishments,  Sir Alec Guinness was a great comic actor.

Then there is The Monster Club Vincent Price, John Carradine, Donald Pleasence, and Britt Eklund--all possessing enormous talents. ::)  The first 2/3 or so is the best. Kind of ran out of the comedy in the last segment.
Title: Re: Classic Horror Comedies
Post by: Pauspy on December 12, 2011, 04:03:14 PM
Fester, I forgot about Carry On Screaming. I loved the scene where the werewolf gets clipped by the barber!  ;D

What about the Ritz Brothers movie The Gorilla? For me it's one of those "knucklehead" comedies that kind of grows on you after a while.
Title: Re: Classic Horror Comedies
Post by: Zombiology on December 12, 2011, 06:10:23 PM
Quote from: Fester on December 10, 2011, 04:59:22 PM
Then there is The Monster Club Vincent Price, John Carradine, Donald Pleasence, and Britt Eklund--all possessing enormous talents. ::)  The first 2/3 or so is the best. Kind of ran out of the comedy in the last segment.

Loved this little gem when I first saw it on tv.  Loved the "strip" scene between one of the stories.
Title: Re: Classic Horror Comedies
Post by: Fester on December 13, 2011, 12:44:19 AM
Quote from: Pauspy on December 12, 2011, 04:03:14 PM
Fester, I forgot about Carry On Screaming. I loved the scene where the werewolf gets clipped by the barber!  ;D

What about the Ritz Brothers movie The Gorilla? For me it's one of those "knucklehead" comedies that kind of grows on you after a while.

And How could I forger the Al, Jimmy, and Harry - -The Ritz Brothers!  The second greatest comedy team ever.  And the best team to ever upstage Bela Lugosi!
Title: Re: Classic Horror Comedies
Post by: FACTO2 on December 14, 2011, 04:12:00 PM
Another worth mentioning is 1939's The Cat and the Canary, with Bob Hope and Paulette Goddard.  Although not as good as Ghost Breakers still darn funny.
Title: Re: Classic Horror Comedies
Post by: Kidagain on December 14, 2011, 08:28:46 PM
A & C in Hold That Ghost.
Title: Re: Classic Horror Comedies
Post by: Pauspy on December 17, 2011, 05:30:15 PM
Quote from: Kidagain on December 14, 2011, 08:28:46 PM
A & C in Hold That Ghost.

YES! That one was hilarious, I think you could argue it was almost tied with A & C Meet Frankenstein for entertainment value. Lou with the moving candle routine?? Priceless!
Title: Re: Classic Horror Comedies
Post by: Monsters For Sale on December 23, 2011, 06:24:40 AM

For me:  "Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein"  &  "Young Frankenstein" share the top place in my heart.

I was lucky enough to see A&CMF for the first time in a big theater along with a whole house full of other screaming 8-year-olds.  I'll never forget it.  Today, whenever I watch it on DVD, I want to sail my flattened popcorn box into the imaginary dust-filled light beam overhead.

When I first saw YF in the theater, I was appalled that the monster was bald and danced to "Puttin' On the Ritz".  I have grown to love the movie over the years.  The genuine affection that went into the making of the send-up of the Universal Frankenstein saga makes my heart warm.






Title: Re: Classic Horror Comedies
Post by: Zombiology on December 28, 2011, 01:49:31 PM
Quote from: Monsters For Sale on December 23, 2011, 06:24:40 AM
When I first saw YF in the theater, I was appalled that the monster was bald and danced to "Puttin' On the Ritz".  I have grown to love the movie over the years.  The genuine affection that went into the making of the send-up of the Universal Frankenstein saga makes my heart warm.

I had the same reaction when it came out.  But the image of a more Karloffian monster singing that song just doesn't cut it so I agree, the genuine affection is the best part.  Wish he would have done more.  There were so many Universal franchises he could have sent up.
Title: Re: Classic Horror Comedies
Post by: MDG on December 28, 2011, 03:16:53 PM
Watched "Transylvania 6-5000" on Netflix. Saw this when it first came out--has the same thrown-together feel of late Mel Brooks, but with a sentimental ending that doesn't fit at all. A game cast tries to make the material work, though.
Title: Re: Classic Horror Comedies
Post by: Monsters For Sale on December 28, 2011, 09:26:07 PM
Quote from: Zombiology on December 28, 2011, 01:49:31 PM
I had the same reaction when it came out.  But the image of a more Karloffian monster singing that song just doesn't cut it so I agree, the genuine affection is the best part.  Wish he would have done more.  There were so many Universal franchises he could have sent up.

I wish they had put the same effort into satirizing the Basil Rathbone/Nigel Bruce Sherlock Holmes series - Using The Hound of the Baskervilles as a base, but putting in snippets from all of the movies' highlights.

Sigh.