One Night in the Tropics (1940)

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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… More 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, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 23 min.
Directed By: A. Edward Sutherland
Written By: Kathryn Scola
Genres: Romance, Musical & Performing Arts, Classics, Comedy

In Theaters: Nov 15, 1940 Wide
On DVD: Mar 7, 2000

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Cast

            Bud Abbott as Abbott

            Allan Jones as Jim Moore

            Nancy Kelly as Cynthia

            Lou Costello as Costello

            Robert Cummings as Steve Harper

            Mary Boland as Kitty Marblehead

            William Frawley as Roscoe

            Peggy Moran as Mickey Fitzgerald

            Leo Carrillo as Senor Escobar

            Don Alvarado as Rudolfo

            Richard Carle as Mr. Moore

            Eddie Acuff as Steward

            Tyler Brooke
            
            Edgar Dearing as Man

            Eddie Dunn as Edwards

            Vivien Fay as Dancer

            Kathleen Howard
            
            Francis McDonald as Escobar's Aide

            Jerry Mandy as Vendor

            Barry Norton
            
            Barnett Parker as Thompson

            Sally Payne
            
            Frank Penny as Waiter

            Cyril Ring
            
            Charles Murphy as Drunk

            Theodore Rand
            
            Nina Orla as Nina

            Charlie Hall as Steward
See full cast

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