STORYLINE: The world of freight handlers Wilbur Grey and Chick Young is turned upside down when the remains of Frankenstein’s monster and Dracula arrive from Europe to be used in a house of horrors. Dracula awakens and escapes with the weakened monster, who he plans to re-energize with a new brain. Larry Talbot (the Wolfman) arrives from London in an attempt to thwart Dracula. Dracula’s reluctant aide is the beautiful Dr. Sandra Mornay. Her reluctance is dispatched by Dracula’s bite. Dracula and Sandra abduct Wilbur for his brain and recharge the monster in preparation for the operation. Chick and Talbot attempt to find and free Wilbur, but when the full moon rises all hell breaks loose with the Wolfman, Dracula, and Frankenstein all running rampant.

     I love a good slapstick comedy! Airplane, Blazing Saddles, Caddyshack, Me Myself and Irene to name a few.  I was more then thrilled to make the approximately forty minute pilgrimage to Raleigh’s Alamo Drafthouse to see Abbott and Costello meet Frankenstein (1948).

      Prior to the screening on Friday I had only seen te classic screwball comedy on dvd.  As much as I love a good dvd, not streaming dvd, a theatrical setting is always the way movies are meant to be seen.  The screening was nearly sold out as well.  

     That was incredible.  All the one liners, all the visual gags there was a wave of genuine laughter as those in attendance enjoyed the movie.  More importantly, for the eighty three minute runtime every one on attendance was letting loose and enjoying themselves. With all that is going on in the world at this juncture in history eighty three minutes of comedic escapism seems like good medicine.

    I personally enjoy when a crowd gets into a movie, from the comfort of their seat.  The communal experience of everyone jumping at the same scare in a horror film or laughing at the same joke in a classic comedy is a great way to peacefully bring people together.  

   It was a hood time to remember at the Alamo Drafthouse watching Abbott and Costello meet Frankenstein.

     Until next time I will see you at the movies!