LI'L ABNER is a musical comedy based on the 1956 Broadway version of Al Kapp's syndicated comic strip that ran from 1934 until 1977. Most of the actors and dancers from the stage version are in the film, and it is remarkably faithful to its source.
The hillbilly town of Dogpatch fights the government's plan to turn it into a site for atomic bombs, while the army does a body-building experiment on Li'l Abner Yokum (Peter Palmer). Earthquake McGoon (Ben Hoffman) wants to marry Daisy Mae (Leslie Parish), who wants to marry Li'l Abner. He justs wants to go fishing. Pansy "Mammy" Yokum (Billie Hayes) has a tonic that might save the town. Li'l Abner offers the tonic to Washington, but General Bullmoose (Howard St. John) wants it too. The plot thickens.
Mammy Yoakum: "Is you inferring you has money?"
Earthquake: "Lady, I is filthy with it."
Mammy Yoakum: "Mister, you is filthy without it."
Sen. Phogbound: "I'll bet you were wondering what I've been doing up there in Washington, D.C. these past eighteen years."
Mammy Yoakum: "We didn't care, as long as you was there and we was here!"
Mammy Yoakum: "You gals are going to have to go through a before-marriage custom called engagement."
Moonbeam: "Engagement, what's that?"
Mammy Yoakum: "That's the part before the gal says 'Shore do!' and the preacher says 'Go, too!'"
Moonbeam: "How long this engagement thing last?"
Mammy Yoakum: "Sometimes a whole month."
Moonbeam: "A whole month? What are they, insecure?"
LI'L ABNER is a bright, cheerful and corny comedy, energetic and fast paced. One highlight is the music and dance sequence of the Sadie Hawkins Day race, in which the women of Dogpatch can marry the men they catch. The film is somewhat reminiscent of the BEVERLY HILLBILLIES TV show in some ways. It's a dated political satire, with off-beat wry humour, overacting, and quite a few sexual innuendoes.
The cast also includes: Stubby Kaye (Marryin' Sam), Julie Newmar (Stupefyin' Jones), Stella Stevens (Appassionata Von Climax), Joe E. Marks (Pappy Yokum), Al Nesor (Eagle Eye Fleagle), Robert Strauss (Romeo Scragg), William Lanteau (Available Jones), Ted Thurston (Sen. Jack S. Phogbound), Carmen Alvarez (Moonbeam McSwine), Alan Carney (Mayor Daniel D. Dogmeat), Stanley Simmonds (Rasmussen T. Finsdale), Diki Lerner (Lonesome Polecat), Joe Ploski (Hairless Joe), Jerry Lewis (Itchy McRabbit), and many others. Melvin Frank and Norman Panama wrote the script and Melvin Frank directed.
Music from the stage musical is by Gene de Paul. Original music is by Joesph J. Lilley and Nelson Riddle, who conducted. The Johnny Mercer songs are: "It's a Typical Day" (performed by the entire cast), "If I Had My Druthers" (performed by Peter Palmer), "Jubilation T. Cornpone" (performed by Stubby Kaye), "Rag Offen the Bush" (performed by the entire cast), "Namely You" (performed by Leslie Paish and Peter Palmer), "What's Good for General Bullmoose" (performed by Howard St. John, Stella Stevens, and Ted Thurston), "The Country's in the Very Best of Hands" (performed by Peter Palmer and Stubby Kaye), "I'm Past My Prime" (performed by Leslie Parish and Stubby Kaye), "Put 'em Back" (performed by Carmen Alvarez), and "Matrimonial Stomp" (performed by Stubby Kaye). The soundtrack is mono.
During Li'l Abner's and Sam's "The Country's in the Very Best of Hands" musical number, both Mayor Dawgmeat and his podium disappear twice. Nelson Riddle and Joseph J. Lilley were nominated for an Academy Award for their score. Nelson Riddle was nominated for a Grammy. LI'L ABNER was nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Musical.
LI'L ABNER (1940) is a low-budget, poorly scripted adaptation of Al Kapp's comic strip. A great cast of silent film's best comics in grotesque makeup bring the characters to life, but it is not funny. The cast includes: Buster Keaton, Jeff York, Martha O'Driscoll, Mona Ray, Johnnie Morris, Billy Seward, Kay Sutton, Maude Eburne, Edgar Kennedy, Doodles Weaver, and many others. Tyler Johnson and Charles Kerr wrote the screenplay and Albert S. Rogell directed.
