One Night in the Tropics is a 1940 musical film notable as the film debut of Abbott and Costello. They are listed as supporting actors but have major exposure with five of their classic routines, including an abbreviated version of "Who's on First?" Their work earned them a two-picture deal with Universal, and their next film, Buck Privates, made them bona fide stars. Songs in the film were written by Jerome Kern with lyrics by Dorothy Fields.
| One Night in the Tropics | |
|---|---|
 Ad banner | |
| Directed by | A. Edward Sutherland |
| Written by | |
| Produced by | Leonard Spigelgass |
| Starring | |
| Cinematography | Joseph A. Valentine |
| Edited by | Milton Carruth |
| Music by | |
Production company | Universal Pictures |
| Distributed by | Universal Pictures |
Release date |
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Running time | 82 minutes |
| Language | English |
| Budget | over $500,000[1] |
The film is based on a 1914 novel, Love Insurance by Earl Derr Biggers, the creator of Charlie Chan.[2] It was filmed as a silent movie in 1919 as Love Insurance by Paramount Pictures with Bryant Washburn and Lois Wilson, and in 1925 by Universal as The Reckless Age. The film's copyright was renewed in 1967.[a]
Plot
editJim "Lucky" Moore, an insurance salesman, conceives an innovative "love insurance" policy for his friend, Steve Harper, that will pay Steve $1 million if his wedding to Cynthia Merrick fails to come off. However, the nuptials are threatened by Steve's former girlfriend, Mickey Fitzgerald, and Cynthia's disapproving Aunt Kitty...and a growing attraction between Jim and Cynthia.
The policy is underwritten by a tough nightclub impresario, Roscoe, who dispatches agents Abbott and Costello to ensure that the wedding goes off as planned in San Marcos in the Caribbean.
Eventually, Jim and Cynthia unite in marriage, and Roscoe avoids paying Steve $1 million because Steve does get married — to Mickey.
Cast
edit- Allan Jones as Jim "Lucky" Moore
- Nancy Kelly as Cynthia Merrick
- Bud Abbott as Abbott
- Lou Costello as Costello
- Robert Cummings as Steve Harper
- Mary Boland as Aunt Kitty Marblehead
- William Frawley as Roscoe
- Peggy Moran as Mickey Fitzgerald
- Leo Carrillo as Escobar
- Don Alvarado as Rodolfo
- Nina Orla as Nina
- Edgar Dearing as Cop with Black Eye (uncredited)
- Larry Steers as Desk Clerk (uncredited)
Production
editOne Night in the Tropics was filmed from August 26 through September 30, 1940 under the working titles Riviera, Caribbean Nights, Caribbean Holiday, and Moonlight in the Tropics.[2] With music by Jerome Kern and Dorothy Fields, it was originally planned for production in 1936 with a different cast but temporarily shelved due to financial troubles at Universal.[2][3][4][5] It was hoped that the film would ease Universal's financial plight. It did little to help, but led to a string of Abbott and Costello films that did save Universal.[6]
Promotion
editJust prior to the beginning of production, on August 21, 1940, Jones and Cummings were guests on Abbott and Costello's radio show and promoted the film.[2]
World premiere
editThe film had its world premiere in Costello's home town of Paterson, New Jersey on October 30, 1940.[2]
Rerelease
editThe film was re-released (at 69 minutes) by Realart Pictures in 1950 with The Naughty Nineties and in 1954 with Little Giant.[2]
Filmink called it "a really fun movie albeit with a silly plot."[7]
Home media
editThis film has been released twice on DVD. The first time, on The Best of Abbott and Costello Volume One on February 10, 2004, and again on October 28, 2008, as part of Abbott and Costello: The Complete Universal Pictures Collection.
References
edit- ^ "United States Court of Appeals For the Ninth Circuit – Universal vs Cummings 1944". Internet Archive. p. 94.
- ^ a b c d e f Furmanek, Bob & Ron Palumbo (1991), Abbott and Costello in Hollywood, New York: Perigee Books, ISBN 978-0-399-51605-4
- ^ "United States Court of Appeals For the Ninth Circuit – Cummings vs Universal 1944". Internet Archive. p. 565.
- ^ Hemming, Roy (1999), The Melody Lingers On: The Great Songwriters and Their Movie Musicals, Newmarket Press, p. 105, ISBN 978-1-55704-380-1
- ^ "Screen News Here and in Hollywood". The New York Times. July 31, 1940. ProQuest 105290980.
- ^ Green, Stanley (1999). Hollywood Musicals Year by Year (2 ed.). Hal Leonard Corporation. p. 98. ISBN 0-634-00765-3.
- ^ Vagg, Stephen (October 29, 2024). "Movie Star Cold Streaks: Robert Cummings". Filmink. Retrieved October 29, 2024.
Further reading
editPalumbo, Ron (2024), The Universal Filmscript Series - Abbott and Costello: One Night in the Tropics. Bear Manor Media, ISBN 979-8-88771-531-5.