One Night in the Tropics is a 1940 comedy 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.

Plot

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.

Cast

Allan Jones ... Jim Moore

Nancy Kelly      ... Cynthia Merrick

Bud Abbott    ... Abbott

Lou Costello        ... Costello

Robert Cummings  ... Steve Harper

Mary Boland  ... Aunt Kitty Marblehead

William Frawley  ... Roscoe

Peggy Moran  ... Mickey Fitzgerald

Leo Carrillo        ... Escobar

Don Alvarado    ... Rodolfo

Nina Orla       ... Nina

Richard Carle   ... Mr. Moore

Production

One Night in the Tropics was filmed from August 26 through September 30, 1940 under the film's working title, Riviera. The film is based on a 1914 novel, Love Insurance by Earl Derr Biggers, the creator of Charlie Chan.

World premiere

The film had its world premiere in Costello's home town of Paterson, New Jersey on October 30, 1940.

Rerelease

The film was re-released (at 69 minutes) in 1950 with The Naughty Nineties and in 1954 with Little Giant.

Trivia

• Just prior to the beginning of production, on August 21, 1940, Jones and Cummings were guests on Abbott and Costello's radio show.
• Frawley worked with Abbott and Costello a second time in 1951's Abbott and Costello Meet the Invisible Man.

DVD Release

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

External links