Li'l Abner (1940)

Director:

Albert S. Rogell

Writers:

Charles Kerr (screenplay) and
Tyler Johnson (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

1 November 1940 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Tagline:

Oh, Happy Day! It's Li'l Abner and Daisy Mae and Mammy and Pappy Yokum right out of your favorite cartoon strip!

Plot:

The goings-on in the rural Southern community of Dogpatch, USA.

Plot Keywords:

Li'l Abner | Based On Comic | Based On Comic Strip | Punctuation In Title | Apostrophe In Title

Cast

Jeff York	...	Li'l Abner Yokum (as Granville Owen)
Martha O'Driscoll	...	Daisy Mae Scraggs
Mona Ray	...	Pansy 'Mammy' Yokum
Johnnie Morris	...	Lucifer 'Pappy' Yokum
Buster Keaton	...	Lonesome Polecat
Billie Seward	...	Cousin Delightful
Kay Sutton	...	Wendy Wilecat
Maude Eburne	...	Granny Scraggs
Edgar Kennedy	...	Cornelius Cornpone
Charles A. Post	...	Earthquake McGoon
Bud Jamison	...	Hairless Joe
Dick Elliott	...	Marryin' Sam
Johnny Arthur	...	Montague
Walter Catlett	...	Barber
Lucien Littlefield	...	The Sheriff / Mr. Oldtimer

Also Known As:

Trouble Chaser (UK)

Runtime:

78 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Certification:

USA:Approved (PCA #6692) | Canada:G (Ontario)

Filming Locations:

Lancaster's Lake, Sunland, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Vogue Productions

Quotes:

[first lines]
Granny Scraggs: Daisy Mae! Come on, Daisy Mae. It's gettin' up time.

Movie Connections:

Featured in The Notebook (2004)

Soundtrack:

Li'l Abner

Brings A Smile Or Two

When LI'L ABNER was made, in 1940, Al Capp's comic strip of the same name was one of the U.S.'s favorites, with his hayseed creation finding himself in one jam after the other, without trying at all. A story by Capp is the foundation for this film, which holds a unique spot in cinema history, as it is the only attempt to precisely recreate comic illustration, utilizing makeup, costumes and exact phrasing (without interpretation). The plot and subplots generally revolve about the annual Sadie Hawkins Day celebration in Dogpatch, which presents area females with just about their only opportunity to catch a husband, by literally running down and snaring one of the town's fleeing bachelors. For those who remember the silent film era, this effort provides small roles for many pre-talkie stalwarts, including Buster Keaton, Edgar Kennedy, Chester Conklin, Al St. John, Lucien Littlefield, Hank Mann and Edward Brady. At times very reminiscent of Capp's drawing, the very tall Jeff York, billed as Granville Owen, is effective as Abner. Martha O'Driscoll, Kay Sutton and Billie Seward, as the three women most vigorously seeking marriage with Abner, do their hearty best with the thin scenario. More silly than cute, this picture is not marked by outstanding work from cast and crew, its significance coming only from the mentioned verisimilitude.