Trivia for
Bud Abbott Lou Costello Meet Frankenstein (1948) More at IMDbPro »

• Originally titled "The Brain of Frankenstein".
  
  
• Ian Keith, the original choice for Count Dracula in Dracula (1931), was originally considered for Dracula in this film. Bela Lugosi wasn't considered at first because the studio thought he was dead. When they learned Lugosi was alive, Lugosi's agent shamed the head of the studio into getting him the role by saying, "He is Dracula! You owe this role to Lugosi!"
  
  
• Boris Karloff was approached to play the Monster but he thought it was insulting to the character and it would not do well at the box-office. But as a favor to Universal, he did publicity work for this film. In several photos taken by Universal's publicity department, he is seen standing in line purchasing a ticket at a theater in New York City where the film is playing, and in other stills, he is shown admiring the poster art for the film outside the theater lobby. Karloff later starred with Abbott & Costello in Abbott and Costello Meet the Killer, Boris Karloff (1949).
  
  
• The animation sequences of Dracula-as-a-bat and Dracula-changing-from-bat-to-Dracula were done by Universal-International's animator, Walter Lantz (of Woody Woodpecker fame).
  
  
• This film was such a hit that it was reportedly Universal-International's second highest grossing film of the year.
  
  
• Although he would play similar vampires in other films since Dracula (1931), this would be only the second, and last, time that Bela Lugosi would play Dracula in a feature film.
  
  
• This was the final Universal film to feature Frankenstein's Monster, Dracula and the Wolfman, until Van Helsing (2004).
  
  
• This film has been the subject of controversy for decades over whether it should be considered part of the official Universal Horror series (thus making it a sequel to House of Dracula (1945)) or a non-canon, standalone film.
  
  
• Glenn Strange speaks for the first time as The Monster. This film marks the first time since The Ghost of Frankenstein (1942) that the character has spoken, though it does not explain how The Monster has regained his voice.
  
  
• The opening scene of "London", then "Big Ben" is followed by a constable on patrol. This shot was lifted from Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man (1943) in the scene a constable finds the unconscious Lawrence Talbot after his "resurrection", that same constable is murdered by the Wolf Man the following night. A filter was used to darken the shot for inclusion in this film.
  
  
• Glenn Strange was playing the Frankenstein monster, but during shooting one day he tripped over a camera cable and broke his ankle. Lon Chaney Jr. (playing the Wolf Man) wasn't working that day, so he put on the Frankenstein makeup/outfit and filled in for Strange in one scene where Dr. Mornay gets thrown through the window. So Chaney wound up playing two monsters in this movie.
  
  
• Lou Costello did not want to film the movie, declaring, "No way I'll do that crap. My little girl could write something better than this." A $50,000 advance in salary and the signing of director Charles Barton, the team's good friend and the man whom some call their best director, convinced him otherwise.
  
  
• During the final chase scene, when Wilbur and Chick are standing in front of a door and the Frankenstein monster punches through it, Lou Costello deliberately went off his mark and got hit on the jaw. The director liked his reaction, so he decided to keep it in the film.
  
  
• Marks the first time Universal-International stopped using the effective but lengthy application time of make-up artist Jack P. Pierce for the monster make-up, using Bud Westmore and Jack Kevan's more cost-effective rubber appliances. The rubber head appliance that Glenn Strange wore to play the Frankenstein monster fitted him so tightly that, after a few hours under the hot lights, he could shake his head and hear the sweat rattling around inside it.
  
  
• The scene in which Wilbur (Lou Costello) is unknowingly sitting on the Frankenstein Monster's (Glenn Strange) lap required multiple takes. The scene allowed Costello to improvise wildly, which caused Strange to constantly break up laughing during the takes.
  
  
• Jane Randolph replaced Ella Raines, who backed out at the last minute.
  
  
• Three actors in this film had previously played the Frankenstein Monster. Aside from Glenn Strange who actually plays the role again, both Bela Lugosi and Lon Chaney Jr. had experience under the flat top as well. Boris Karloff was the original Monster.
  
  
• Despite the title, nobody in the film ever meets Frankenstein. All the interaction involved is with the Frankenstein monster.
  
  

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