Rare Flix: Egyptian Abbott & Costello Meet Frankenstein (aka Ismael Yassin Meets Frankenstein)

Holy Remake, Batman!  Today's Film is Ismael Yassin Meets Frankenstein aka Mercy, Please, a 1954 Film from Egypt.  It is my first Egyptian Film!  Yes, I've done Films Shot in and/or set in Egypt, but not one from there.  So yeah, the Film is known by many names.  I used the unofficial Title to make me more likely to get hits.  The official Title is Mercy, Please, but...where's the fun in that?  It is a Remake of Abbott & Costello Meet Frankenstein, a much more famous 1948 Film.  So what is the Plot?  It is the same Plot as Abbott & Costello Meet Frankenstein.  If you don't know the famous Universal Film, it is the swan song of Dracula, Frankenstein and the Wolf Man.  Plus, it features Vincent Price('s voice) at the end.  This one features all of those Monsters...since it is the same Film (just about).  It Stars Abdel Fatah Al Kasri, the man behind...some Movies that I've never seen.  It is the first Egyptian Film here, so what do you expect?  To find out how this one actually is, read on...

Egyptian Abbott & Costello are bigger, louder and bigger-faced than ever.  Plus, they got the 'fat guy-skinny guy' dynamic wrong!

So the Plot is pretty much the same.  Frankenstein's Monster and Dracula get shipped in.  Comedy sometimes ensues.

Egyptian Bela Lugosi is alright, but he's no Spanish-Language Bela Lugosi.

In this one, they want to switch the brain in the Monster in order to find out the secrets of how it works, so...they can get rich.  Frankenstein is now Bakhtour too.

Eh, it is still better than Van Helsing (and the Cartoon Prequel).

Their Wolfman has a very cheap effect.  No dissolve effect- he just either has no fur or is totally covered in fur.

I could highlight how they do the famous bit of Costello sitting in the Monster's lap, but I'd rather highlight how silly the mask looks.  It is just one piece!

Since this Film is Egyptian (theoretically), they had to work a Mummy in...by just misnaming the Monster.

Fun Fact: the actual Abbott & Costello Meet Frankenstein was *supposed* to have The Mummy.  You have to wait until Monster Squad, Mummy!

Just like in the American Version, the evil Lady is thrown through a window.  This time, it is clearly paper mache and balsa wood.

Sadly, this one doesn't feature Vincent Price('s voice).  It does use the same joke...only he's a Genie or something.  It's not Racist- they rub a lamp first!  The End.

Basically the same Movie.  The replacements are louder- at least the Costello one is.  Honestly, Egyptian Abbott is pretty much the same.  He does have a Hitler mustache though- in 1954, no less!  On the plus side, he's a less annoying copycat than the guy from Bela Lugosi Meets a Brooklyn Gorilla.  Speaking of Bela, his replacement is pretty good.  What I find odd is the way that they changed the Story.  Dracula's goal is somewhat the same, but I'm not sure why he needs to be rich.  I guess that Castle doesn't pay for itself- even if it is a Family Estate.  I'm also not sure why they refer to the Monster as a Mummy either.  Incidentally, they play the Wolfman stuff as him having 'Episodes' and reacting even when he hears a wolf's cry.  I don't know about you, but I hear a wolf crying out far less than once a month!  Egypt must be full of roaming Wolves.  Regardless, this is a pretty basic copy, but still a fun piece of Film History.  Bud & Lou were just too much for Egypt, I guess.  As for their silly Monster, well, he reminds me of a few creatures...

Next up, I dig into the collection of random-ass stuff I've been piling up.  Mystery is fun for you AND me.  Stay tuned...