Customer Rating: 
Summary: A Mystery About Identity
Comment: The film opens in early 20th century London. A cloaked figure attacks and kills a person walking on the sidewalk. Another unsolved murder. Women are demonstrating for the vote - they put on a song and dance for equal rights! There is a protest from onlookers and comic violence. Bruce Adams is the reporter who covers this happening. Tubby and Slim are employed as Bobbies to study police methods. Dr. Jekyll is studying the human mind so as to control mankind for its betterment. Does he have a secret in his basement? Is there a serum that brings out the bestial nature of mankind? [Was this story a parable for alcohol prohibition?]
Tubby and Slim see someone climbing up the side of a theater; they think it is a burglar. Tubby searches for the burglar and sees the monster. There is a comic chase, but the monster escapes and lands in a wax museum. Tubby catches the monster, but it turns into a harmless person. [The police suspect nothing.] Slim and Tubby are invited to Dr. Jekyll's mansion for the night. Tubby snoops and finds a secret laboratory with strange animals. Tubby drinks some funny tasting water which affects his outlook. The police don't believe their story.
There is a new development when Bruce Adams wants to marry Vicky Edwards, Dr. Jekyll's ward; jealousy pops out. Vicky's screams bring Bruce back, and warns Tubby and Slim. Bruce uses his revolver to stop Jekyll's assistant Batley. Then they chase the fleeing monster. There are unforeseen changes in Tubby's behavior. This chase is as funny as can be. The police catch the wrong man. In the end the real monster ceases to be a problem. [Does it remind you of "The Invisible Man"?] There is a very funny ending at the police station.
This film does not seem to be as funny as their earlier films, but it is still good. They seem older and tired.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Dr. Jekyll - We must Hyde
Comment: Tubby (Lou) and Slim (Bud) are two police officers in London studying the English police methods. After getting kick off the force, they determine that if they can catch the monster that has been killing prominent doctors they will be able to get their jobs back. Dr. Jekyll (Karloff) is experimenting with the idea of separating "good from evil" and in his lab is transforming character traits between various animals (e.g. Tubby has a bunny rabbit snap at him). Dr. Jekyll's ward Vicky falls for a newspaperman Bruce - Jekyll has loved Vicky for years and he decides to become Mr. Hyde to get rid of Bruce. While hunting for the monster in Dr. Jekyll's home, Tubby falls on a hypodermic needle, becomes a monster, and the chase begins.This is an excellent movie for Karloff and Abbott & Costello fans.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Fun horror remake, though not screamingly funny
Comment: This movie has taken a bum rap over the years. The vast majority of people who've seen it -- particularly Abbott and Costello fans -- don't like it. Some even hate it. The reason: they say it just is not funny. Actually, there are some VERY funny moments...but less than a half-dozen of them. Yet, this is a film Abbott & Costello fans will want to see (and own) -- and ANYONE who is a classic horror movie fan will want to OWN IT (remember that as we move into the 21st century this is unlikely to be available so now is the time!).
Firstly, I'm a bit biased about this film. This is the very first movie I remember seeing as a kid and the first I remember seeing in a movie theater. I have not seen it since I bought it on Amazon-- and was NOT disappointed!
Why? I like horror movies. And this is less of an Abbott & Costello movie than a low-budget remake of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde with Boris Karloff in the title role.
If you're a Karloff fan like I am, this is a TREASURE: he is at his evil, slimiest best...even glowering at times. Special effects were clearly Universal Studios style, essentially the same effect as used in the Wolfman series. The movie seldom lags but it is made according to the Universal horror formula at the times (less like an A&C film).
View this film NOT as a hilarious Abbott & Costello comedy but a remake of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde with an appearance by Abbott and Costello and you'll love it. The comedy team really doesn't do all that much in this movie and most seems derivative from their other horror spoofs. This also has far less comedy overall than those other films but as a REMAKE of this HORROR movie with A&C it is WELL worth the money.
When Costello hilariously, if predictably, gets some of the transformation formula at the end it seems more like a typical A&C movie...and the final scene with the policemen sucking their Costello-monster-bitten fingers, with the final (guess?) finale result is a classic.
As a FILM -- a remake of this story with Boris Karloff at his sleaziest best -- it rates an enthusiastic four stars. If you're absolutely looking for a hilarious A&C movie it would then be three and a half or a bit less. But it is WORTH seeing and owning -- and this lesser known entry will be hard to find...so if you see it's available grab it NOW!
Customer Rating:
Summary: Hyde & Seek
Comment: While it doesn't measure up to A & C MEET FRANKENSTEIN, this film has its amusing moments, particularly the climax.Bud & Lou's attempt to find Jekyll's formula and stumbling instead into his wine cellar was a nice bit too. Karloff's smoothly sinister Jekyll is a joy to watch; only Vincent Price could have spread the evil treacle so thickly! Overall, the pacing lags in places, but still great fun.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Special effects and shopworn slapstick poorly mixed.
Comment: Abbott and Costello may have been one of the all time great comedy teams, but this effort does not do them justice. The whole thing seems lifeless, as they were doing it simply to meet a contractual obligation with Universal Pictures. Director Charles Lamont cannot hide the movie's low budget (shots are recycled so many times that it becomes painful to see), obviously all the money went to the transformation and monster effects. Your time would be better spent with A&C meet Frankenstein.
