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Li'l Abner | 
 enlarge | Director: Melvin Frank
Actors: Peter Palmer, Leslie Parrish, Stubby Kaye, Peter Palmer, Howard St. John
Studio: Paramount
Buy New: $7.99
New (35) Used (13) Collectible (1) from $4.01
Format: Color, Dvd-video, Widescreen, Ntsc
Languages: English (Original Language), English (Subtitled)
Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Region: 1
Aspect Ratio: 1.66:1
Number Of Discs: 1
Running Time: 114 Minutes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.1
Dimensions (in): 7.5 x 5.2 x 0.6
MPN: PARD059084D
ISBN: 1415709173
UPC: 097360590845
EAN: 9781415709177
Theatrical Release Date: 1959
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| Editorial Reviews:
Product Description
When the hillbilly town of dogpatch - deemed the most useless community in america - is chosen as a test site for a-bombs its colorful citizens take up the good fight with lots of fun & merriment. Studio: Paramount Home Video Release Date: 05/23/2006 Starring: Peter Palmer Leslie Parrish Run time: 113 minutes Rating: Nr
Amazon.com
This is one movie musical that doesn't bother adapting its stage presentation for the big screen: Li'l Abner cheerfully uses brightly colored, patently fake backdrops and stage sets for its mythical setting. And why not? A movie musical based on a cartoon strip is about as far from reality as you can get. Al Capp's legendary comic about the hillbilly denizens of Dogpatch was brought to Broadway by the estimable comedy team Melvin Frank and Norman Panama, who also produced the movie. Along with sampling Capp's world (the pursuit of noncommittal Abner by Daisy Mae on Sadie Hawkins Day is a major plot device), the movie is a goofy record of 1950s attitudes and concerns--in fact, Dogpatch is threatened with destruction when the government wants to use it as an atomic test site. The actors' Broadway delivery has a deadening effect after a while, and some of the makeup is downright weird (think the Whos in the live-action Grinch). Gene de Paul's music is unmemorable, but Johnny Mercer's lyrics provide considerable fun, and the athletic dances are based on Michael Kidd's stage choreography. Plus, the movie honors Capp's eye for impossibly bodacious women by casting Julie Newmar as Stupefyin' Jones and Stella Stevens (her first movie role) as Appassionata Von Climax. --Robert Horton
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| Customer Reviews: Read 51 more reviews...
 OLD FASHIONED MUSICAL GRAD C+ November 11, 2008
NATURALLY CURLY (NYC)
Quality of DVD excellent.
As an old-fashioned musical there is something missing from the entire production to make it a true classic that would warrant watching it many times like SINGING IN THE RAIN or SEVEN BRIDES FOR SEVEN BROTHERS. Political theme still surpirisingly timely. Boy meets girl etc. concept cute. Leads talented. I think what's missing is inspired innovative choeorgraphy - lots of box and circle formations and bouncing up and down which is actually boring to watch. If you've seen just about every musical in the A and B leagues and you have time on your hands or if you're related to one of the cast members, Li'l Abner is just OK as an ole relic.
 Singin' & Dancin' in Dogpatch October 11, 2008
Michael B. Druxman (Los Angeles)
Musical: From Broadway to Hollywood
Shadow Watcher
Nobody Drowns in Mineral Lake
Al Capp's classic comic strip about the bizarre residents of the hillbilly town of Dogpatch was brought to life in this delightful 1959 musical, adapted from the Broadway stage hit.
Lyricist Johnny Mercer and composer Gene de Paul contributed many bouncy tunes that were sung by Peter Palmer as Abner, Leslie Parrish as Daisy Mae and the incomparable, show-stopping Stubby Kaye as Marryin' Sam.
The plot has the U.S. Government naming Dogpatch as the most useless community in America, thus choosing it to serve as ground zero for A-bomb testing. To save their town, the residents must find a reason that makes Dogpatch "necessary," and what they come up with gets the folks, particularly Abner, in worse trouble than before.
The climax of the movie revolves around Dogpatch's annual "Sadie Hawkins Day" race.
Melvin Frank directed the musical-comedy, which features some clever, energetic dance numbers and co-stars Howard St. John, Julie Newmar and Stella Stevens.
Michael B. Druxman, author of ONCE UPON A TIME IN HOLLYWOOD (available December 2008)
amusingly political August 7, 2008
Eva H. Morris (Sydney Australia)
There are a couple of songs that are catchy sung by Stubby Kaye. The story is exagerated sexist, but funny.
 Lil Abner June 13, 2008
Raymond L. St Jacques (Enfield, CT)
Fun movie for the whole Family. Key word FAMILY. Everyone from 8 to 80 will enjoy this movie.
I'd druther this musical!! May 26, 2008
VOICE OF VICTORIA (VICTORIA AUSTRALIA)
Al Capp could not have asked for more when his satirical masterpiece of a cartoon strip was turned into a musical. The songs are great fun the characters well cast and the satire is still apt now."The Country's In The Very Best of Hands" goes one song that still resonates now. My kids love this and so do I. More entertaining and in it's own way just as much of a social comment as 'Cabaret" or Chicago. Only lots more fun.Buy it!!
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