Customer Reviews

Abbott & Costello: One Night in the Tropics [VHS]

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Abbott & Costello are the comic relief in "One Night in the Tropics," their first movie appearance. Steve Harper (Robert Cummings) is supposed to marry Cynthia Merrick (Nancy Kelly), but his former girlfriend, Mickey Fitzgerald (Pegy Moran), and Cynthia's disapproving Aunt Kitty (Mary Boland) might cause problems. So Steve's best man, insurance agent Jim Moore (Allan Jones), issues a "Love Insurance" policy that will pay Steve $1,000,000 if the wedding does not take place. Half of the policy is underwritten by Roscoe, a nightclub owner, who assignes Abbott and Costello to protect his interest. This proves to be difficult. The wedding is supposed to take place on the Caribbean island of San Marcos. The boys are supposed to take Mickey to Kansas City, but she ends up getting them to take her to San Marcos as well. Then things get extremely complicated. Allan Jones had been the young male singer in two Marx Brothers films. Abbott & Costello get to do not only part of their classic "Who's on First" routine, but also their "Money Changing" routine and the one where Bud goes after Lou for not putting mustard on their hot dog, thereby threatening the jobs of thousands of mustard factory workers. Since the boys were well known as radio comedians, it is not surprising that word play dominates their comedy in this first film outing. This 1940 film was directed by A. Edward Sutherland and featured music by Jerome Kern with lyrics by Dorothy Fields and Oscar Hammerstein II. Not a bad film, but when the comedy relief outshines the leads, that is not exactly what is supposed to be happening.

This movie debuts one of the best comedy teams of all time. Although Abbott & Costello are not the stars of this film just about every scene they are in is hilarious. The rest of the film holds up on it's own too. The "Who's On First" routine is featured in this movie and also in "Naughty Nineties"...For a movie debut Abbott & Costello are stellar. A must have for any Abbott & Costello fan and any old time comedy fan.

I am ten years old just like the other ten-year-old reviewer. I think I will have to disagree. Abbott and Costello are
NOT the stars that is true. But the show is funny-funnier that some others thatI have seen. You might like it, but as my dad says I'm not making you any promises.

Completely relaxing and the first Abbott & Costello to boot. Wonderful closeups featuring YOUTHFUL profiles of Allan Jones, Nancy Kelly, Robert Cummings and of course Boland, Frawley, Carrillo, etc. How young and innocent we were in these few months before Pearl Harbor. Featuring a cameo by Mina Farragut -- did she appear in subsequent movies? Dialogue and plot line are as phony as Gilbert & Sullivan but thats not why we are there!

ONE NIGHT IN THE TROPICS
Release Date(s):
October 30, 1940 (premiere). November 15, 1940
Runtime: 82 minutes.

Director:
A. Edward Sutherland
Producer: Leonard Spigelglass
Writing Credits:
Earl Derr Biggers
Kathryn Scola
Francis Martin
Gertrude Purcell
Charles Grayson
John Grant

CAST:
Allan Jones: Jim Moore
Nancy Kelly: Cynthia
Bud Abbott: Abbott
Lou Costello: Costello
Robert Cummings: Steve Harper
Mary Boland: Kitty Marblehead
William Frawley: Roscoe
Peggy Moran: Mickey Fitzgerald
Leo Carrillio: Escobar
Don Alvarado: Rudolfo
Nina Orla: Nina
Richard Carle: Mr. Moore

Music by:
Jerome Kern
Frank Skinner

Film Editing by:
Milton Carruth

Art Direction:
Jack Otterson

Set Decoration:
Russell A. Gausman

Costume Design by:
Vera West

Assistant Director:
Joseph E. Kenney

Sound Department:
Bernard B. Brown...Supervisor
Joe Lapis

Other Crew:
Larry Ceballos...Dance Director
Dorothy Fields...Lyricist
Oscar Hammerstein II...Lyricist
Martin Obzina...Assistant Art Director
Charles Previn...Musical Director
Frank Skinner...Orchestrator

Routines & Hilarious Moments:
Who's On First (short version)
Mustard Routine
Money Changing
Jonah and the Whale
Paid In Full
Two Tens For a Five

PLOT SUMMARY:
Bud and Lou are clumsy thugs hired to protect
a love insurance policy investment.

Trivia:
(1)William Frawley (1887-1966)(Roscoe)is best remembered for his role of Fred Mertz in the classic TV sitcom "I LOVE LUCY" (CBS-TV. November 5, 1951 - May 6, 1957). (2)Leo Carrillo (1881-1961)(Esobar) is best remembered for his role as Pancho in the classic 1950's TV series "THE CISCO KID" (Syndicated. September 5, 1950 - March 22, 1956).

ONE NIGHT IN THE TROPICS is typical of many musicals of the late 1930's and early 40's: a glossy, fast paced film with a ridiculous storyline. Fortunately, this one benefits from a lovely Jerome Kern score, and from the film debut of Bud Abbott and Lou Costello. While Allan Jones, Bob Cummings and the rest of the cast struggle valiantly with the sometimes impossible demands of the script (at least Jones' singing is heard to good advantage), Bud and Lou are allowed to cut loose and get laughs with some of their tried and true routines. If nothing else, the film is valuable as a record of some traditional burlesque chestnuts: "Payday," "The Mustard Routine," "Jonah and the Whale," and an abridgement of "Who's On First" are all here. Abbott and Costello's delivery make these old warhorses seem fresh and new, which saves the film. Surely a tribute to this team's talent.

Two men dressed in formal clothes walk along a city sidewalk. The couple they meet are happily married. Steve is going to meet Cynthia, but he has a run of comic bad luck. Can he take out insurance on a marriage? [Note how the film picks up when Abbott & Costello appear under their own names.] Lucky Jim runs interference for Steve. Abbott & Costello do their famous "Who's on First?" comedy routine. They retrieve Steve and help Mickey along. Is that Lucky's singing voice? There are complications from new arrivals. There is confusion about girlfriends. But Mickey shows the Love Insurance contract to Cynthia, and they make their plans. "This is a fine time to take a nap!"

They attend a bullfight. A change in the weather dampens their spirits. Later Cynthia sings to Steve, and Lucky Jim sings to Mickey. $20 a minute for a long-distance telephone call? [That was about a week's wages.] A shot is the signal to begin the national dance. [The more oppressed a people are, the more jubilant are their holidays.] The singing and dancing end the picture, and there is a happy ending. Steve gets married so the insurance policy is cancelled.

This film is based on the novel "Love Insurance" by Earl Derr Biggers, better known for "Seven Keys to Baldpate" and the "Charlie Chan" mystery novels. Biggers died young just as the "Charlie Chan" movies began. This was the first film for Abbott & Costello who soon were the stars of their movies.

Negative reviews of this film notwithstanding, I believe that this movie well deserves a second look. First and foremost, we have the opportunity to appreciate a most-underrated actor by the name of Robert Cummings, in this film, truly the male conterpart to the goofy, blond female heiress type, appearing in so many of the daffy, screwball comedies of the era... all films we shall never see the likes of again... truly a shame. Mr.Cummings captures the blithe, semi-demented, self-absorbed spirit of his character, and his performance rates, truly, as comic masterpiece.
Additionally, and appreciating film art in this movie... do not fail to overlook the exquisite lighting techniques abundant during this shoot. Taking only one scene as an example, a midnight garden scene: those palm frond shadows etched across the faces of those participating in the scene: truly black-and-white film art. This film was made during the era when even "lesser" films so frequently display the artistry of behind-the-camera genius. Yes, this film does belong to the past... a cinema past that was glorious. We get to see a splendid ensemble piece, shot beautifully... and all so innocent, as if savoring a lovely dream upon awakening... a mid-summer's night dream!

Bud Abbott and Lou Costello are ACTUALLY co-stars, in this, their movie debut. Based on the novel 'LOVE INSURANCE' the film introduces the comedy in a VERY UNIQUE way. In a casino you hear ONLY their voices (Universal Studio's way of introducing the two stars from radio), then the camera pans over the crowd, and to the table where we see the duo. Bud and Lou exchange some witty dialogue which in the end results in Costello recieving his FIRST screen slap from Abbott. After the release of this film, the Universal executives were SO IMPRESSED with their comdeic talents,that they decided to give the team STAR BILLING in their second film. The CLASSIC Army comedy "BUCK PRIVATES".

A&C in their first effort cannot rescue this one and one half star bomb. The script is so featherbrained, so addled that it fails to spark any kind of interest. Abbott and Costello have secondary roles and when they are on screen at least provide some kind of relief. They would really hit the box-office jackpot with their second film, "Buck Privates". "Buck Privates" is no masterpiece but it's better than this turkey.