Li'l Abner
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Movie Reviews of Li'l Abner
Movie Review: Lil' Abner
Summary: 5 Stars
Excellent satire of the politics and government efforts of cover up of the 1950's
A good old fashion American feel.
Movie Review: Lil Abner Movie
Summary: 5 Stars
Anyone who enjoys Musicals or the comic strip Lil Abner will enjoy this video. LarryMovie Review: excellent seller and product
Summary: 5 Stars
Item as described and received in a timely manner... an excellent buying experience!Movie Review: A Lot of Fun, With First-Rate Songs and Great Dancing
Summary: 4 Stars
I think you'd need to be either super cool or hyper-sophisticated not to at least smile when you watch this movie. I'll admit that it might help if you have some familiarity with the phenomenon that Al Capp's Li'l Abner cartoon strip became in the 1930's, 1940's and 1950's. Along with Walt Kelly's Pogo, Li'l Abner poked a lot of pointed fun at pomposity and, not to make too heavy a point of it, was a real vehicle for social criticism.
The movie Li'l Abner is based on the stage musical, with great, funny songs by Johnny Mercer and Gene de Paul. It's not just a filming of the stage play, but features exaggerated sets of Dogpatch that would never fit on a stage and a brilliant candy color visual style that is straight out of the comic strips. It's raucous, a little bawdy, good spirited and digs a sharp elbow at politicians, the South, Washington, big business and the eternal struggle of man and woman (or at least of Daisy Mae's struggle to catch Li'l Abner during Sadie Hawkins Day). In addition to the big shouldered but slightly simple Li'l Abner (Peter Palmer) and the luscious, vibrating Daisy Mae (Leslie Parrish), there's most of the other Dogpatch citizens that made the strip so funny (and a little erotic). It's hard to ignore (and why would you want to?) Moonbeam McSwine (Carmen Alvarez), Stupefyin' Jones (Julie Newmar) and Appassionata Von Climax (Stella Stevens). Special honors go to Stubby Kaye as Marryin' Sam. He carries several of the funniest songs.
The plot has something to do with Dogpatch being selected as the new testing site for atom bombs and missiles in order to save the beautiful city of Las Vegas from radiation. At first the residents are honored at what Washington has done to them, but then they recall the great things about Dogpatch...the Skunkworks, West Pork Chop Railroad, Cornpone Square, the intersection of Hogfat Boulevard and Sheepdip Lane. They decide they don't want to give up Dogpatch and try to find a good reason for the government to reverse itself. All seems hopeless until the qualities of Mammy Yokum's Yokumberry Tonic, made from the only Yokumberry tree there is, are shown to have interesting qualities. From there it's plots and strategems and songs and dances.
In addition to the great look of the movie and it's good-spirited satire, there are at least two other reasons why this movie is fun. The first is Johnny Mercer's lyrics. He and de Paul have come up with some spirited, clever songs, among them "I'm Past My Prime," "The Country's In the Very Best of Hands" and "Jubilation T. Cornpone," a rousing ode to the confederate general who is a revered hero to the Dogpatcher's. As they say...
"When we fought the Yankees and annihilation was near,
Who was there to lead the charge that took us safe to the rear?
Why it was Jubilation T. Cornpone; Old "Toot your own horn - pone."
Jubilation T. Cornpone, a man who knew no fear!
"When we almost had 'em but the issue still was in doubt,
Who suggested the retreat that turned it into a rout?
Why it was Jubilation T. Cornpone; Old "Tattered and torn - pone."
Jubilation T. Cornpone, he kept us hidin' out!
"When it seemed like our brave boys would keep on fighting for months,
Who took pity on them and ca-pit-u-lated at once?
Why it was Jubilation T. Cornpone; Unshaven and shorn - pone.
Jubilation T. Cornpone, he weren't nobody's dunce!"
The other element is the dancing. There is a lot of it, choreographed by Michael Kidd. It's fast, funny dancing. If you've seen Seven Brides for Seven Brothers and the barn raising number, that'll give you an idea of his style.
Li'l Abner the movie is something of an anachronism, but it's a lot of fun. The DVD picture is gorgeous and the sound is great.
Movie Review: Holds up very well
Summary: 4 Stars
I bought the DVD because I have an old lp record of the show's music, and decided to by a DVD before IT became outmoded. It pleased me to discover that the show holds up very well. Al Capp's crazy world of Dogpatch is brought to life with absolutely no effort at realism. The back drops are literally those of the stage, the choreography has real people moving and singing like comic strip characters. I played it for my two-year old granddaughter and she in front of the TV entranced by it all for minutes at a time. Normally she pays no attention at all to live-action films. For people who remember Capp's strip, of course, the satire comes through loud and clear, and enough of it is sufficiently timeless for everyone to get most of the jokes. Stubby Kaye is the real star of the film, and he is perfect as Marrying Sam, a minor figure in the strip, and his vigor holds the film together. But all the cast is pleasant and more than capable. Although I wish that Edie Adams had been cast as Daisie Mae, Lesie Parrish does a fine job in the role, and Peter Palmer sings well and is appropriately good-looking and naive as L'l Abner. The color is a bit runny , but who cares.