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Li'l Abner (1940 film): Difference between revisions

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{{Infobox film
[[Category:1940 films]]
| name          = Li'l Abner
[[Category:Li'l Abner]]
| image          = Billie Seward-Jeff York in Li'l Abner.jpg
[[Category:1940 comedy films]]
| caption        = Still with Billie Seward and Jeff York
[[Category:Films based on American comics]]
| director      = [[Albert S. Rogell]]
[[Category:Films based on comic strips]]
| producer      = Lou L. Ostrow
[[Category:Live-action films based on comics]]
| screenplay    = [[Charles Kerr (assistant director)|Charles Kerr]]<br>Tyler Johnson
[[Category:RKO Pictures films]]
| based_on      = {{based on|''[[Li'l Abner]]''|[[Al Capp]]}}
[[Category:American comedy films]]
| starring      = [[Jeff York]]<br>[[Martha O'Driscoll]]<br>[[Mona Ray]]<br>[[Johnnie Morris (actor)|Johnnie Morris]]<br>[[Buster Keaton]]
[[Category:American black-and-white films]]
| cinematography = [[Harry Jackson (cinematographer)|Harry Jackson]]
[[Category:1940s English-language films]]
| editing        = [[Otto Ludwig (film editor)|Otto Ludwig]]<br>Donn Hayes
[[Category:Films directed by Albert S. Rogell]]
| music          = [[Lud Gluskin]]
[[Category:1940s American films]]
| studio        = Vogue Pictures, Ltd.
''Li'l Abner'' is a '''1940 American comedy film''' based on the popular [[comic strip]] of the same name, created by '''[[Al Capp]]'''. It was the first film adaptation of ''Li'l Abner'', followed nearly two decades later by '''Paramount’s 1959 musical version''', which was based on the hit '''1956 Broadway musical'''.
| distributor    = [[RKO Radio Pictures]]
 
reissued by [[Astor Pictures]]
| released      = {{Film date|1940|11|01}}
| runtime        = 78 minutes
| language      = English
}}
 
'''''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.


This was the first of two films based on the popular Al Capp strip, the second being Paramount's 1959 musical, ''[[Li'l Abner (1959 film)|Li'l Abner]]'', which was also based on the hit 1956 Broadway musical ''[[Li'l Abner (musical)|Li'l Abner]]''.
== Plot ==
The story follows '''Li'l Abner Yokum''', who becomes convinced that he is going to '''die within twenty-four hours'''. In his panic, he agrees to marry '''two different women''':


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.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Davis |first1=Blair |title=Movie Comics: Page to Screen/Screen to Page |date=2017 |publisher=Rutgers University Press |isbn=9780813572284 |page=177}}</ref>
* '''Daisy Mae Scraggs''', who has been chasing him for years.
* '''Wendy Wilecat''', who rescued him from an angry mob.


==Plot==
Their romantic complications culminate in the '''Sadie Hawkins Day race''', where the final decision is made.
Li'l Abner becomes convinced that he is going to die within twenty-four hours, so he 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==
== Cast ==
{| class=wikitable
{| class="wikitable"
! Role !! Actor
!'''Role'''
|-
!'''Actor'''
| Li'l Abner Yokum || [[Jeff York|Jeff York (as Granville Owen)]]
|-
|-
| Daisy Mae Scraggs || [[Martha O'Driscoll]]
|Li'l Abner Yokum
|Jeff York (as Granville Owen)
|-
|-
| Pansy "Mammy" Yokum || [[Mona Ray]]
|Daisy Mae Scraggs
|Martha O'Driscoll
|-
|-
| Lucifer "Pappy" Yokum || [[Johnnie Morris (actor)|Johnnie Morris]]
|Pansy "Mammy" Yokum
|Mona Ray
|-
|-
| Lonesome Polecat || [[Buster Keaton]]
|Lucifer "Pappy" Yokum
|Johnnie Morris
|-
|-
| Cousin Delightful || [[Billie Seward]]
|Lonesome Polecat
|Buster Keaton
|-
|-
| Wendy Wilecat || [[Kay Sutton]]
|Cousin Delightful
|Billie Seward
|-
|-
| Granny Scraggs || [[Maude Eburne]]
|Wendy Wilecat
|Kay Sutton
|-
|-
| Hairless Jo' || [[Bud Jamison]]
|Granny Scraggs
|Maude Eburne
|-
|-
| Cornelius Cornpone || [[Edgar Kennedy]]
|Hairless Joe
|Bud Jamison
|-
|-
| Montague  || [[Johnny Arthur]]
|Cornelius Cornpone
|Edgar Kennedy
|-
|-
| Barber || [[Walter Catlett]]
|Montague
|Johnny Arthur
|-
|-
| The Sheriff / Mr. Oldtimer || [[Lucien Littlefield]]
|Barber
|Walter Catlett
|-
|-
| Earthquake McGoon || Charles A. Post
|Sheriff / Mr. Oldtimer
|Lucien Littlefield
|-
|-
| Hairless Joe || [[Bud Jamison]]
|Earthquake McGoon
|Charles A. Post
|-
|-
| Mayor Gurgle || [[Chester Conklin]]
|Mayor Gurgle
|Chester Conklin
|-
|-
| Marryin' Sam || [[Dick Elliott]]
|Marryin’ Sam
|Dick Elliott
|-
|-
| Cicero Grunts || [[Mickey Daniels]]
|Cicero Grunts
|Mickey Daniels
|-
|-
| Hannibal Hoops || [[Doodles Weaver]]
|Hannibal Hoops
|Doodles Weaver
|-
|-
| Miss Lulubell || [[Marie Blake]]
|Miss Lulubell
|Marie Blake
|-
|-
| Sarah Jones || Rene Riano
|Sarah Jones
|Rene Riano
|-
|-
| Joe Smithpan || [[Al St. John]]
|Joe Smithpan
|Al St. John
|-
|-
| Barney Bargrease || [[Eddie Gribbon]]
|Barney Bargrease
|Eddie Gribbon
|-
|-
| Bachelor, Sadie Hawkins Day Race || [[Hank Mann]]
|Bachelor (Sadie Hawkins Day Race)
|Hank Mann
|-
|-
| Bachelor || [[Eddie Borden]]
|Bachelor
|Eddie Borden
|-
|-
| Fantastic Brown || [[Victor Potel]]
|Fantastic Brown
|Victor Potel
|-
|-
| Undetermined Role || Louise Keaton
|Undetermined Role
|Louise Keaton
|}
|}


==See also==
== Production and Reception ==
* [[Dogpatch]]
The '''title song''' for the film was co-written by '''Milton Berle''', a well-known comedian and television personality.
* [[Dogpatch USA]]
* [[Salomey (cartoon pig)|Salomey]]
 
==References==
<references/>
 
==External links==
* {{IMDb title|0032703}}
* {{AFI film|4214}}
* {{Internet Archive film|lil_abner}}
 
{{Li'l Abner}}
{{Albert S. Rogell}}
 
[[Category:1940 films]]
[[Category:Li'l Abner]]
[[Category:1940 comedy films]]
[[Category:Films based on American comics]]
[[Category:Films based on comic strips]]
[[Category:Live-action films based on comics]]
[[Category:RKO Pictures films]]
[[Category:American comedy films]]
[[Category:American black-and-white films]]
[[Category:1940s English-language films]]
[[Category:Films directed by Albert S. Rogell]]
[[Category:1940s American films]]


Despite the popularity of the ''Li'l Abner'' comic strip, the film was '''poorly received'''. A major criticism was the use of '''rubber facial appliances''' worn by some actors to '''simulate Capp’s exaggerated character designs''', which was deemed '''unconvincing and visually unappealing'''.


{{comics-film-stub}}
== Legacy ==
Though the '''1940 adaptation''' was unsuccessful, the ''Li'l Abner'' franchise saw a resurgence in '''1956''' with the Broadway '''musical adaptation''', which led to a '''1959 film version''' produced by '''Paramount Pictures'''.

Latest revision as of 18:43, 26 March 2025

Li'l Abner is a 1940 American comedy film based on the popular comic strip of the same name, created by Al Capp. It was the first film adaptation of Li'l Abner, followed nearly two decades later by Paramount’s 1959 musical version, which was based on the hit 1956 Broadway musical.

Plot

The story follows Li'l Abner Yokum, who becomes convinced that he is going to die within twenty-four hours. In his panic, he agrees to marry two different women:

  • Daisy Mae Scraggs, who has been chasing him for years.
  • Wendy Wilecat, who rescued him from an angry mob.

Their romantic complications culminate in the Sadie Hawkins Day race, where the final decision is made.

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 Joe Bud Jamison
Cornelius Cornpone Edgar Kennedy
Montague Johnny Arthur
Barber Walter Catlett
Sheriff / Mr. Oldtimer Lucien Littlefield
Earthquake McGoon Charles A. Post
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 (Sadie Hawkins Day Race) Hank Mann
Bachelor Eddie Borden
Fantastic Brown Victor Potel
Undetermined Role Louise Keaton

Production and Reception

The title song for the film was co-written by Milton Berle, a well-known comedian and television personality.

Despite the popularity of the Li'l Abner comic strip, the film was poorly received. A major criticism was the use of rubber facial appliances worn by some actors to simulate Capp’s exaggerated character designs, which was deemed unconvincing and visually unappealing.

Legacy

Though the 1940 adaptation was unsuccessful, the Li'l Abner franchise saw a resurgence in 1956 with the Broadway musical adaptation, which led to a 1959 film version produced by Paramount Pictures.

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