"One Night in the Tropics" (1940)

Now that we're in the new year, I'm changing direction a tiny bit!

I've been enjoying matching up the movie sheet music with contemporary recordings and I'll still do that, but I'm going to focus on the films of Bud Abbott & Lou Costello!

Fans know that their early films featured a lot of musical numbers, which some modern viewers don't like. I do, though!

I'll also be talking about their non-musical movies as they come up.

So, let's begin with "One Night in the Tropics" from Universal in 1940, the team's movie debut!

The boys are supporting players in this one, proving the comedy relief and they are awesome!

The rest of the movie when they're not onscreen is a little clunky, but entertaining enough.

Allan Jones with Nancy Kelly

As a musical, its strongest point is Allan Jones, who had moved over from MGM to Universal.

He does most of the singing, but the non-singing female leads, Nancy Kelly and Peggy Moran, lip-synch to some dubbed vocals.

The songs are by no less than esteemed composer Jerome Kern with lyrics by the talented Dorothy Fields, but non of hem really went anywhere.

But we do have some records!

First up is Sammy Kaye with Tommy Ryan singing "You and Your Kiss" on Victor Records:

I say it all the time, but that's so Sammy Kaye!

Also on Victor is Leo Reisman's version of "Remind Me" with vocalist George Griffin:

Nice rumba (rhumba?) beat there!

Guy Lombardo is always popping up and he cut "Your Dream (Is the Same as My Dream)" with Mert Curtis on Decca:

As I mentioned, "One Night in the Tropics" is pleasant but not overly memorable unless Bud and Lou are on-screen.

Rounding out the attractive cast is Robert Cummings as the other male lead who looks about the same as he did years later on his 1950s sitcom.

Also on board is William Frawley, who looks like he did on "I Love Lucy" years later.

The difference is that Bob looks young and Bill already looks old!

So, we're off to a good start!