LI’L ABNER (1959)
Article 2098 by Dave Sindelar
Viewing Date: 12-13-2006
Posting Date: 5-11-2007
Directed by Melvin Frank
Featuring Peter Palmer, Leslie Parrish, Stubby Kaye

When Dogpatch is selected as a site for the next A-Bomb test, the Dogpatchians try to find something that will make their home necessary to the government so they won’t bomb. It’s discovered that Mammy Yokum’s elixir turns weaklings into strong men, Li’l Abner is sent to Washington to negotiate the saving of Dogpatch.

Quite frankly, the biggest laughs I got from this movie were seeing the character’s names in the opening credits. It’s not that I found the movie to be bad; it’s certainly energetic and colorful, and it has a few amusing moments. However, I didn’t really enjoy it that much, the lead was rather dull, it goes on too long, and I didn’t hear any songs worth remembering. I did find some of the cameos fun; keep your eyes open for Jerry Lewis as Itchy McRabbit, and sword-and-sandal fans should spot Brad Harris and Gordon Mitchell among the line-up of hillbillies-turned-into-musclemen. I might have liked this one better had it not been a musical, but that’s just me.