Themes: Otherwise Engaged, Love Triangles, Wedding Bells
Main Cast: Bud Abbott, Allan Jones, Nancy Kelly, Lou Costello, Robert Cummings
Release Year: 1940
Country: US
Run Time: 83 minutes
Plot
The third film version of Earl Derr Biggers' novel Love Insurance, One Night in the Tropics stars Allan Jones as a hotshot insurance salesman who sells a policy to his best pal Robert Cummings. Cummings will earn $1 million if he fails to marry his fiance Nancy Kelly. Half of the policy is underwritten by tough gambling-house owner William Frawley, who panics when Cummings heads for a Caribbean isle in pursuit of Peggy Moran. As for Kelly, she wants no part of Cummings once she finds out she's a pawn in his policy. Well, who cares? The real attraction of One Night in the Tropics is the comedy team of Bud Abbott and Lou Costello, here making their feature film debut in the roles of Frawley's flunkeys. Though they never get in the way of the plot (worse luck!), Abbott and Costello have plenty of time to perform several of their best routines, including "Mustard," "Jonah and the Whale," and a tantalizingly brief excerpt of "Who's on First?" Outside of A&C's contributions, the film boasts several pleasant if forgettable tunes by Jerome Kern and Dorothy Fields. Though not a big box-office success, One Night in the Tropics garnered such positive reviews for Abbott and Costello that the team was rewarded with its own vehicle, the 1941 cash cow Buck Privates. Note: many TV prints of Tropics are struck from the 69-minute reissue of the late 1940s, in which the "straight" plot was pared to down to give more emphasis to Abbott and Costello. The original 82 minute version was recently restored for videocassette release. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Review
If it weren't for the fact that it introduced Bud Abbott and Lou Costello to the screen, One Night in the Tropics would be forgotten today. Not that it doesn't have some assets aside from the soon-to-be-famous comic duo. For one thing, it boasts a score by Jerome Kern and Dorothy Fields, and if the music is not Kern at his best, it's still Kern -- and that counts for a lot. Allan Jones is also on hand to lend his sterling voice to a couple of the stronger numbers, and Robert Cummings is on hand to add his comic charm to the proceedings. Nancy Kelly and Peggy Moran contribute some femme flavor, and Mary Boland and William Frawley are, as always, fun to be around. But the script is a mess from top to bottom. Structurally, it's not helped by the interpolation of some Abbott and Costello routines that have little if anything to do with the plot. But those interpolations are what make One Night in the Tropics memorable. The duo come across as fresh and energizing. Those who don't care for their style of comedy will find nothing here to change their opinion, but those who love them will enjoy seeing them in this nascent form. Several classic routines -- including the "mustard" and "Jonah" are here, as is a much shortened "Who's on First?" They stop the plot cold -- but they provide a great deal of fun. ~ Craig Butler, All Movie Guide
One Night in the Tropics is a 1940comedy film 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?" Their work earned them a two-picture deal with Universal, and their next film, Buck Privates, made them bonafide movie stars.
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 does not 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), who sends two enforcers - Abbott and Costello - to ensure that the wedding occurs as planned. Everyone involved in the situation winds up sailing to San Marcos, where another complication arises, when Lucky falls for Cynthia. Lucky winds up marrying Cynthia, but Roscoe does not have to pay the $1-million because Steve ends up marrying Mickey.
One Night in the Tropics was filmed from August 26 through September 30, 1940 under the film's working title, Riviera. [1] The film is based on a 1914 novel, Love Insurance by Earl Derr Biggers, the creator of Charlie Chan. [2]
This 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
^ Furmanek, Bob and Ron Palumbo (1991). Abbott and Costello in Hollywood. New York: Perigee Books. ISBN 0-399-51605-0
^ Furmanek, Bob and Ron Palumbo (1991). Abbott and Costello in Hollywood. New York: Perigee Books. ISBN 0-399-51605-0
^ Furmanek, Bob and Ron Palumbo (1991). Abbott and Costello in Hollywood. New York: Perigee Books. ISBN 0-399-51605-0
^ Furmanek, Bob and Ron Palumbo (1991). Abbott and Costello in Hollywood. New York: Perigee Books. ISBN 0-399-51605-0
