Li'l Abner (1940 film)
Li'l Abner is a 1940 film based on the comic strip Li'l Abner created by Al Capp. The three most recognizable names associated with the film are Buster Keaton as Lonesome Polecat, Jeff York as Li'l Abner, and Milton Berle, who co-wrote the title song.
| Li'l Abner | |
|---|---|
 Still with Billie Seward and Jeff York | |
| Directed by | Albert S. Rogell |
| Screenplay by | Charles Kerr Tyler Johnson |
| Based on | Li'l Abner by Al Capp |
| Produced by | Lou L. Ostrow |
| Starring | Jeff York Martha O'Driscoll Mona Ray Johnnie Morris Buster Keaton |
| Cinematography | Harry Jackson |
| Edited by | Otto Ludwig Donn Hayes |
| Music by | Lud Gluskin |
Production companies | Vogue Pictures, Ltd. |
| Distributed by | RKO Radio Pictures reissued by Astor Pictures |
Release date |
|
Running time | 78 minutes |
| Language | English |
This was the first of two films based on the popular Al Capp strip, the second being Paramount's 1959 musical, Li'l Abner, which was also based on the hit 1956 Broadway musical Li'l Abner.
The film was poorly received, with the rubber "facial appliances" worn by some of the characters to simulate Capp's character designs being especially deficient.[1]
Plot
Li'l Abner becomes convinced that he is going to die within twenty-four hours, so agrees to marry two different girls: Daisy Mae (who has chased him for years) and Wendy Wilecat (who rescued him from an angry mob). It is all settled at the Sadie Hawkins Day race.
Cast
| Role | Actor |
|---|---|
| Li'l Abner Yokum | Jeff York (as Granville Owen) |
| Daisy Mae Scraggs | Martha O'Driscoll |
| Pansy "Mammy" Yokum | Mona Ray |
| Lucifer "Pappy" Yokum | Johnnie Morris |
| Lonesome Polecat | Buster Keaton |
| Cousin Delightful | Billie Seward |
| Wendy Wilecat | Kay Sutton |
| Granny Scraggs | Maude Eburne |
| Hairless Jo' | Bud Jamison |
| Cornelius Cornpone | Edgar Kennedy |
| Montague | Johnny Arthur |
| Barber | Walter Catlett |
| The Sheriff / Mr. Oldtimer | Lucien Littlefield |
| Earthquake McGoon | Charles A. Post |
| Hairless Joe | Bud Jamison |
| Mayor Gurgle | Chester Conklin |
| Marryin' Sam | Dick Elliott |
| Cicero Grunts | Mickey Daniels |
| Hannibal Hoops | Doodles Weaver |
| Miss Lulubell | Marie Blake |
| Sarah Jones | Rene Riano |
| Joe Smithpan | Al St. John |
| Barney Bargrease | Eddie Gribbon |
| Bachelor, Sadies Hawkins Day Race | Hank Mann |
| Bachelor | Eddie Borden |
| Fantastic Brown | Victor Potel |
| Undetermined Role | Louise Keaton |
See also
References
- Davis, Blair (2017). Movie Comics: Page to Screen/Screen to Page. Rutgers University Press. p. 177. ISBN 9780813572284.
External links
- Li'l Abner at IMDb
- Li'l Abner at the American Film Institute Catalog
- Li'l Abner is available for free viewing and download at the Internet Archive