Watch Li'l Abner

Li'l Abner is a 1940 comedy film that tells the story of the titular character, Abner Yokum, a happy-go-lucky young man who lives in the fictional town of Dogpatch, in the hills of Tennessee. Abner is a member of the Yokum family, a group of hillbillies who are known for their laziness and their love of cornbread and turnip greens. In fact, Abner's father, Pappy Yokum, is so lazy that he hasn't worked in years.

The film begins with a local businessman, General Bullmoose (played by Vernon Dent), discovering that a valuable mineral called Yokumberry juice can be extracted from the Yokum family's land. Bullmoose hatches a plan to buy up the land from the Yokums at a low price, but Abner and his friend, Earthquake McGoon (played by Buster Keaton), are determined to stop him.

The film is based on the popular comic strip of the same name by Al Capp, and it is filled with colorful characters, witty dialogue, and slapstick comedy. Jeff York, who plays Li'l Abner, is perfectly cast as the lovable, bumbling hero, and he brings a sense of innocent charm to the role. Martha O'Driscoll plays his love interest, Daisy Mae, and she is equally charming and sweet.

One of the highlights of the film is the musical number "Jubilation T. Cornpone," which has become a classic of American musical theater. The song is a parody of patriotic anthems, and it features lyrics like "Yankee Doodle is a hero, but he's been in many a fight / And we'll bet they never mention, what he does with dynamite!" The song is performed by Ken Darby and His Male Chorus, and it is a real showstopper.

Another standout performance comes from Buster Keaton, who plays Earthquake McGoon. Keaton was one of the greatest comedians of the silent era, and he brings his trademark deadpan humor to the role. In one memorable scene, McGoon tries to knock down a building with his bare hands, only to have it collapse on him.

The film also features a number of other memorable characters, such as Mammy Yokum (played by Guy Kibbee), who always has a corn cob pipe in her mouth; Senator Phogbound (played by Johnnie Morris), who is constantly filibustering; and Appassionata Von Climax (played by Mona Ray), a glamorous movie star who comes to Dogpatch to shoot a film.

Overall, Li'l Abner is a delightful comedy that captures the spirit and humor of the comic strip that inspired it. The film is filled with colorful characters, catchy songs, and hilarious jokes, and it is a must-see for fans of classic comedies.

Li'l Abner is a 2013 comedy with a runtime of 1 hour and 18 minutes. It has received mostly poor reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 4.9.