Li'l Abner (1959)

Director:

Melvin Frank

Writers:

Al Capp (comic strip)
Melvin Frank (writer)
(more)

Release Date:

6 October 1961 (Finland)

Genre:

Comedy | Musical | Family

Tagline:

COMES ALIVE IN TECHNICOLOR! (original print ad - all caps)

Plot:

As Sadie Hawkins Day approaches, Daisy Mae hopes to win the hand of Li'l Abner by catching him in the traditional race...

Plot Keywords:

Li'l Abner | Senator | Marriage | Fishing | Small Town

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 4 nominations

Cast

Peter Palmer	...	Li'l Abner Yokum
Leslie Parrish	...	Daisy Mae
Stubby Kaye	...	Marryin' Sam
Howard St. John	...	General Bullmoose
Julie Newmar	...	Stupefyin' Jones
Stella Stevens	...	Appassionata Von Climax
Billie Hayes	...	Pansy ('Mammy') Yokum
Joe E. Marks	...	Pappy Yokum
Bern Hoffman	...	Earthquake McGoon
Al Nesor	...	Evil Eye Fleagle
Robert Strauss	...	Romeo Scragg
William Lanteau	...	Available Jones
Ted Thurston	...	Senator Jack S. Phogbound
Carmen Álvarez	...	Moonbeam McSwine (as Carmen Alvarez)
Alan Carney	...	Mayor Daniel D. Dogmeat
Stanley Simmonds	...	Rasmussen T. Finsdale
Diki Lerner	...	Lonesome Polecat
Joe Ploski	...	Hairless Joe
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Chester Conklin	...	(unconfirmed)
Ken Ackles	...	Minor Role (uncredited)
Robert Banas	...	Town sharpy (uncredited)
Lesley-Marie Colburn	...	Young Hillbilly girl (uncredited)
Nick Dimitri	...	Muscleman, among others (uncredited)
Donna Douglas	...	Minor Role (uncredited)
Bonnie Evans	...	Chorus Dancer (uncredited)
Paul Frees	...	Radio announcer (voice) (uncredited)
Marianne Gaba	...	Sadie Hawkins girl (uncredited)
Art Gilmore	...	Trailer Narrator (voice) (uncredited)
Valerie Harper	...	Luke's Wife (uncredited)
Brad Harris	...	Muscleman Luke (uncredited)
Hope Holiday	...	Chorus Dancer (uncredited)
Maureen Hopkins	...	Chorus Dancer (uncredited)
Beth Howland	...	Clem's Wife (uncredited)
Bob Jellison	...	Government Man (uncredited)
Robert Karl	...	Chorus Dancer (uncredited)
Kenner G. Kemp	...	Tall Bar Harbor Scragg (uncredited)
Ann Kunde	...	Dogpatch Townswoman (uncredited)
Jerry Lewis	...	Itchy McRabbit (uncredited)
Fran McHale	...	Chorus Dancer (uncredited)
Gordon Mitchell	...	Muscleman Rufe (uncredited)
Robert Smart	...	Bullmoose Yes Man (uncredited)
Dolores Starr	...	Zsa Zsa (uncredited)

Directed by
Melvin Frank

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Al Capp		comic strip
Melvin Frank		writer
Norman Panama		writer

Produced by
Norman Panama	....	producer

Original Music by
Joseph J. Lilley
Nelson Riddle

Cinematography by
Daniel L. Fapp

Film Editing by
Arthur P. Schmidt

Art Direction by
J. McMillan Johnson
Hal Pereira

Set Decoration by
Sam Comer
Grace Gregory

Costume Design by
Alvin Colt

Makeup Department
Nellie Manley	....	hair stylist
Wally Westmore	....	makeup supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Charles C. Coleman	....	assistant director (as C.C. Coleman Jr.)

Art Department
Jean Eckart	....	stage production scenery
William Eckart	....	stage production scenery
Gene Lauritzen	....	construction coordinator

Sound Department
Charles Grenzbach	....	sound recordist
Harold Lewis	....	sound recordist
Howard Beals	....	supervising sound editor (uncredited)

Special Effects by
John P. Fulton	....	special photographic effects

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Alvin Colt	....	costume designer: original stage production
Yvonne Wood	....	wardrobe executed by

Music Department
Lehman Engel	....	vocal arranger: original stage production
Michael Kidd	....	stager: musical numbers, original stage production
Philip J. Lang	....	orchestrator: original stage production
Joseph J. Lilley	....	conductor
Joseph J. Lilley	....	vocal arranger
Johnny Mercer	....	lyricist: songs
Genevieve Pitot	....	music arranger: ballet music, original stage production
Nelson Riddle	....	conductor
Dee Dee Wood	....	stager: musical numbers
George Parrish	....	orchestrator (uncredited)
Van Cleave	....	orchestrator (uncredited)

Other crew
Hal C. Kern	....	assistant to producer
Terence Little	....	dialogue coach
Richard Mueller	....	technicolor color consultant

Production Companies

• Paramount Pictures
• Triad Productions

Distributors

• Paramount Pictures (1959) (USA) (theatrical)
• National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (1965) (USA) (TV) (original airing)
• Paramount Home Video (1991) (USA) (VHS)
• Paramount Home Video (2005) (USA) (DVD)
• Punto Zero (2008) (Italy) (DVD)

Runtime:

114 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex)

Certification:

Finland:S | USA:Approved

Company:

Paramount Pictures

Trivia:

Film debut of Beth Howland.

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: Studio lights can be seen in many scenes (especially in letterbox).

Quotes:

Mammy Yoakum: I has spoken.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Rhinestone (1984)

Soundtrack:

Matrimonial Stomp

Oh Yeah???

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.