A couple of other reviewers said it seemed as though Abbott and Costello were inserted into this film at the last minute. They certainly aren't part of the main story. "One Night in the Tropics" is a good comedy romance in which the famous comic team seem to be an add-on. Perhaps it was Universal's way to introduce them on film. The plot without them is quite funny with just the four main characters.
Bob Cummings, as Steve Harper, is the principal butt of most of the humor. Allan Jones plays his best friend, Jim Moore, and I think he gives a lot of spark to his role. Nancy Kelly is Cynthia Merrick and Peggy Moran is Mickey Fitzgerald. They are the two love interests of Steve and Jim, but nobody's sure which is for which. Sorting that out is a lot of the fun in the film. The movie is based on a novel by Earl D. Biggers who created the Charlie Chan character. Others have noted how the plot resembles Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream." I surely don't decry that. I have enjoyed all of the different productions of Shakespeare plays and movies I've seen over the years. When something is that good, it should be copied or imitated. Hollywood has been doing that for years. Consequently, we've had some wonderful new films come out of old stories – as well as some stinkers.
This film has some very funny sequences of exchanges between actors with dialog and facial expressions to match. In one such scene, the four leads are attending a bullfight. Steve, "Where's the bull?" Cynthia, "Why darling, there's plenty of it around here." Mickey, looking at the matador, "Hasn't he the most beautiful legs you've ever seen?" Steve, "Who, the bull?" Cynthia, "Oh, there is a man." Steve, "Now look here, Mickey." Jim, "Uh, that's Cynthia, Mickey's here." Cynthia, "Yes, you boys are a little confused, I'm afraid."
Bud and Lou have just a small amount of time in this film. They do a couple routines, including their oft performed hilarious baseball skit, "Who's on First?" They did that routine on their later TV shows and in other movies. This one was OK but short. One of the best is in their 1945 film, "The Naughty Nineties." This is a nice little comedy romance with or without Abbott and Costello.
Bob Cummings, as Steve Harper, is the principal butt of most of the humor. Allan Jones plays his best friend, Jim Moore, and I think he gives a lot of spark to his role. Nancy Kelly is Cynthia Merrick and Peggy Moran is Mickey Fitzgerald. They are the two love interests of Steve and Jim, but nobody's sure which is for which. Sorting that out is a lot of the fun in the film. The movie is based on a novel by Earl D. Biggers who created the Charlie Chan character. Others have noted how the plot resembles Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream." I surely don't decry that. I have enjoyed all of the different productions of Shakespeare plays and movies I've seen over the years. When something is that good, it should be copied or imitated. Hollywood has been doing that for years. Consequently, we've had some wonderful new films come out of old stories – as well as some stinkers.
This film has some very funny sequences of exchanges between actors with dialog and facial expressions to match. In one such scene, the four leads are attending a bullfight. Steve, "Where's the bull?" Cynthia, "Why darling, there's plenty of it around here." Mickey, looking at the matador, "Hasn't he the most beautiful legs you've ever seen?" Steve, "Who, the bull?" Cynthia, "Oh, there is a man." Steve, "Now look here, Mickey." Jim, "Uh, that's Cynthia, Mickey's here." Cynthia, "Yes, you boys are a little confused, I'm afraid."
Bud and Lou have just a small amount of time in this film. They do a couple routines, including their oft performed hilarious baseball skit, "Who's on First?" They did that routine on their later TV shows and in other movies. This one was OK but short. One of the best is in their 1945 film, "The Naughty Nineties." This is a nice little comedy romance with or without Abbott and Costello.