Li'l Abner (1940 film)

Li'l Abner
Still with Billie Seward and Jeff York
Directed by	Albert S. Rogell
Screenplay by	Charles Kerr Tyler Johnson
Based on	Li'l Abner by Al Capp
Produced by	Lou L. Ostrow
Starring	Jeff York Martha O'Driscoll Mona Ray Johnnie Morris Buster Keaton
Cinematography	Harry Jackson
Edited by	Otto Ludwig Donn Hayes
Music by	Lud Gluskin
Production companies	Vogue Pictures, Ltd.
Distributed by	RKO Radio Pictures reissued by Astor Pictures
Release date	November 1, 1940 (1940-11-01)
Running time	78 minutes
Language	English

Li'l Abner is a 1940 film based on the comic strip Li'l Abner created by Al Capp. The three most recognizable names associated with the film are Buster Keaton as Lonesome Polecat, Jeff York as Li'l Abner, and Milton Berle, who co-wrote the title song.

This was the first of two films based on the popular Al Capp strip, the second being Paramount's 1959 musical, Li'l Abner, which was also based on the hit 1956 Broadway musical Li'l Abner.

The film was poorly received, with the rubber "facial appliances" worn by some of the characters to simulate Capp's character designs being especially deficient.^[1]