Il villaggio più pazzo del mondo

This film preserves one of the great musical theatre treats from the Broadway stage. A funny, off-beat musical version of Al Capp's comic strip effectively transfered to the screen. The songs are splendid and match the mood of the show perfectly. They are satirical, witty and droll and the score is first class. Another Panama and Frank classic.

L'IL ABNER is a minor classic from the golden age of musicals. Dogpatch and its denizens are stylistically realized in this comic-strip of a film. Peter Palmer (Abner), Billie Hayes (Mammy Yokum) and Stubby Kaye (Marryin' Sam), among others, bring the eccentric citizens of this burg to musical life with humor and vitality. Among the best songs are "Jubilation T. Cornpone," "The Country's in the Very Best of Hands," and the "Rag Off'n the Bush" dance. Put your Sondheim sophistication aside and enjoy this wonderfully down-home parody of government and backwoods folk.

Humor is subjective and "Li'l Abner" on film is a product of the Cold War world society of 1955. Time is the greatest enemy of a show like this containing then-contemporary gags and satire that for the most part today, make no sense to anyone under 60. Hey, it's no "My Fair Lady" or "Music Man", and the lyrics aren't like shows today where the singers sound like tobacco auctioneers. If you like dated humor, gorgeous women and some of the most lively dance numbers ever filmed, rent it cheap or get it at your library. There's no deep message here, so turn off your brain, sit back and enjoy Stella Stevens; breathtakingly stunning in her first film appearance as "Appassionata Von Climax", and the magnificent Julie Newmar who IS "Stupifyin' Jones" with a body that won't quit. Fun bits for Robert Strauss, Bern Hoffman, and Howard St. John as General Bullmoose who plays it to the hilt. Look for future TV stars Donna Douglas, Valerie Harper, and Beth Howland in the dance line.

Sure, it's hokey, brash, and fairly simple. It's a living *cartoon*! The songs and jokes are very dated ... which is fantastic! Li'l Abner is actually a fabulous political satire from the 50's. Not only that, but thankfully Michael Kidd's original athletic choreography from Broadway has been captured for posterity. And, hey. Any film that features Valerie Harper, Beth Howland, and Julie Newmar before they were stars ... plus Leslie Parrish (author Richard Bach's wife!) as Daisy Mae ... jeesh. It's a national treasure!

Li'l ABNER is among the most exuberant '50s musicals around. What is possibly wooden about the performances? Just look at Julie Newmar! The cast and music is first rate from start to finish. It's so easy to trash a film; this one does not deserve such treatment. Li'l ABNER has high energy, a stylish production design and certainly worth a look.