Aventuras de Ferdinando

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.

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!

as well as a knowledge of history to appreciate the political satire of this film. But I believe all it takes is an understanding of human nature, which is immutable. "Li'l Abner" does reflect the mores of its time, but so does everything. To judge it against today's work is useless and immature.

Al Capp was a satirist, and this movie is the best visual representation we have extant today of his genius. His books are mostly out of print; a sad lack for us. But this film contains timeless and true reflections of life. The one that tickles me most is "Put Them Back," when women wanted "perfect" men (buff, cut and all those other adjectives of current popularity) only to realize that people who are self-absorbed in their own perfection have nothing to provide to others. Talk about a telling statement of today!

The production design was perfect for its goal: to recreate the cartoon-like atmosphere of Capp's strips. The colors, costumes and sets draws one into the strip itself.

I'm an unabashed fan of the American musical as an artform. "Li'l Abner" fills all the slots of the musical in a superior achievement. Is it dated? Of course it is - it's over 40 years old. Is it obsolete? Absolutely not, just as human nature in all its good and bad can never be obsolete.

If you don't take the time to learn about the ebbs and swells of the human tide, you'll never understand what life is about. Instead of being negative about a time and place you didn't experience, try learning about it. After all, those who don't learn from history are doomed to repeat it. (Can we say "weapons of mass destruction?"

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.