Li'l
Abner

Reviewer:

This is one of those movies like Alice in Wonderland,
Peter Pan, Wizzard of Oz that is timeless for the children in all of
us. You not only enjoy for the movie but for the first time you see
it with your family; that family feeling is there everytime you see
it. I am not sure at what point Hollywood became too "sophisticated"
to make these kind of musicals into movies. But anyway, at least once
upon a time they and we still get to enjoy.

____

"Li'l Abner" is a lively movie with a convoluted storyline
that does credit to its creator, the late Al Capp. All the characters
are here: Hairless Joe and Lonesome Polecat, brewers extraordinaire
of Kickapoo Joy Juice; Moonbeam McSwine (Carmen Alvarez), who sings
that "sleepin' out with pigs is my line;" Earthquake McGoon (Bern Hoffman),
the "world's champeen dirty rassler," who is so besotted with the beautiful
Daisy Mae (Parrish) that he conspires with Senator Jack S. Phogbound
(Ted Thurston) to get Dogpatch evacuated and destroyed so its inhabitants
will be forced to give up their cherished tradition of Sadie Hawkins
Day, under which no man can marry a girl unless she first catches him
in the annual race (Daisy, of course, has eyes only for Li'l Abner);
Available Jones (William Lanteau), the avaricious storekeeper, and his
cousin, the statuesque Stupefyin' (Julie Newmar), whose body can stop
any red-blooded male dead in his tracks; General Bullmoose (Howard St.
John), the world's richest man, who dreams of owning "all the money
in the world," and his "executive secretary," the redheaded Appassionatta
Von Climax (Stella Stevens), who plot to gain control of the formula
for Yokumberry Tonic (even unto planning Abner's murder); Evil-Eye Fleagle
(Al Nesor), the scurrying Brooklynite with an arsenal of "whammies,"
who hires out to further their plan; "mystical" and "pugilistical" Mammy
Yokum (Billie Hayes), who originated the tonic, and her henpecked husband
Pappy (Joe E. Marks); Marryin' Sam (Kaye), who returns "home" to Dogpatch
every year to unite the Sadie Hawkins victors and their captives in
holy matrimony; and, of course, the devoted Daisy and her reluctant
swain, naïve and patriotic Abner (Palmer). Adapted by Melvin Frank (who
also directed) and Norman Panama (who produced) from their stage version,
it turns upon the efforts of the Dogpatchers to save their town by finding
"something valuable"--which seems at first blush to be Mammy's tonic,
brewed from the fruits of the world's only Yokumberry tree. This tonic,
which makes men youthful and physically perfect, is instantly coveted
by the government and General Bullmoose alike--but it has the unfortunate
side-effect of making the user completely disinclined to romance, hence
Abner's stiff resistance to being "caught" by Daisy Mae, even though
he is fond of her. In the end, Daisy is willing to sacrifice herself
(as Earthquake's bride) to gain her suitor's help for her beloved Abner,
but it's Pappy Yokum who saves the day with shrewd psychology. And Dogpatch
is saved too, by a most unexpected revelation. Casting and makeup are
to be commended for creating an assortment of characters that match
Capp's vision uncannily (as do Alvin Colt's costumes); I'm always particularly
impressed at the size difference between Li'l Abner and his parents.
Michael Kidd offers several dance numbers of great verve in "Don't That
Take the Rag Offen the Bush," "Jubilation T. Cornpone," and "The Matrimonial
Stomp." The cartoonist's satirical tone is echoed in Palmer and Kaye's
duet, "The Country's in the Very Best of Hands," and Palmer and Parrish's
two numbers, "Namely Me" (a frequent catchphrase from the strip) and
"Otherwise," deserve to be better known. The entire movie was, of course,
shot on sound stages, but considering its previous incarnation on Broadway
that should be little distraction. Its broadly portrayed "hillbillies"
and occasional '50's chauvinism are far from politically correct, but
it should appeal to kids (who will probably miss the double entendres
and the sharp pokes at government, big biz, and the like, and just enjoy
the laughs) and adults alike.