One Night in the Tropics

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One Night in the Tropics

One Night In The Tropics Movie Banner
Directed by A. Edward Sutherland
Produced by Leonard Spigelgass
Written by Gertrude Purcell
Charles Grayson
Starring Allan Jones
Nancy Kelly
Bud Abbott
Lou Costello
William Frawley
Peggy Moran
Music by Jerome Kern
Editing by Milton Carruth
Distributed by Universal Pictures
Release date(s) November 15, 1940 (U.S. release)
Running time 82 min.
Language English
Followed by Buck Privates (1941)
IMDb profile

One Night in the Tropics is a 1940 comedy film which is noteworthy for being the film debut of Abbott and Costello. The team play minor roles but steal the picture with five classic routines, including an abbreviated version of "Who's On First?." This earned them a two-picture deal with Universal, and their next film, Buck Privates, made them bonafide movie stars.

Contents

[edit] Plot

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.

Jim "Lucky" Moore (Allan Jones), an insurance salesman, comes up with a novel policy for his friend, Steve (Robert Cummings): a 'love insurance policy', that will pay out $1 million if Steve doesn't marry his fiancée, Cynthia (Nancy Kelly). The upcoming marriage is jeopardized by Steve's ex-girlfriend, Mickey (Peggy Moran) and Cynthia's disapproving Aunt Kitty. The policy is underwritten by a nightclub owner, Roscoe (William Frawley). He sends his two enforcers - Abbott and Costello - to make sure that the wedding goes on as planned and that he does not have to pay the $1 million. Everyone involved winds up sailing to San Marcos, where another complication arises: Lucky falls for Cynthia. Lucky winds up marrying Cynthia, but Roscoe does not have to pay up because Steve ends up marrying Mickey.

[edit] Trivia

  • The story is based on a 1914 novel, Love Insurance by Earl Derr Biggers, the creator of Charlie Chan. [1]
  • Its working title was Riviera. [3]
  • Just prior to the beginning of production, on August 21, 1940, Jones and Cummings were guests on Abbott and Costello's radio show.

[edit] DVD Release

[edit] References

  1. ^ Furmanek, Bob and Ron Palumbo (1991). Abbott and Costello in Hollywood. New York: Perigee Books. ISBN 0-399-51605-0
  2. ^ Furmanek, Bob and Ron Palumbo (1991). Abbott and Costello in Hollywood. New York: Perigee Books. ISBN 0-399-51605-0
  3. ^ Furmanek, Bob and Ron Palumbo (1991). Abbott and Costello in Hollywood. New York: Perigee Books. ISBN 0-399-51605-0
  4. ^ Furmanek, Bob and Ron Palumbo (1991). Abbott and Costello in Hollywood. New York: Perigee Books. ISBN 0-399-51605-0
  5. ^ Furmanek, Bob and Ron Palumbo (1991). Abbott and Costello in Hollywood. New York: Perigee Books. ISBN 0-399-51605-0


[edit] External link