problems 'adding' to MySQL DBs

using Apache 1.3.20 and MySQL 3.23-49a, i can connect to the database using mysql_connect no problem, but for some reason, when i try to add to the database, there is blank output. when i check the database, it only registers blanks ... relevant code as follows: submitform.php: <html> <body> <? php mysql_connect("localhost", "test", "testpw"); mysql_select_db("testdb"); msyql_query("insert into firsttab (first_name, last_name) values ('$first_name', '$last_name')"); print ($first_name); print (" "); print ($last_name); print ("<p>"); print ("blah blah blah"); ?> </body> </html> i have used the appropriate grant privileges to ensure said user can indeed do the requested action in the script. any help is appreciated. thanks. cin