Der erstaunliche Mr. Limpet

Well, this has been some weekend.

I've been trying to figure out for years if I actually saw this film as a kid in the 70's and didn't just dream it up. Absolutely no- one knew what I was talking about, including my Mother, and I just put it down to an amazingly vivid dream.

Then yesterday I visited my old house, where I saw the film, and tonight I'm looking randomly at an old comic site and up pops this image- I was stunned! But delighted.

Like the first reviewer this really stuck in my head for some reason, I guess it must be some tribute to a film to stick in the mind for decades after a single viewing. Something about it seemed very emotional even to a 5 year old.

So grab a copy for your kid and create some long term memories- me, I'm off to Amazon to buy a little piece of my childhood.

This film holds universal appeal for people who dream of one day turning into fish. Henry Limpet is one of these people, and the dream comes true suddenly when he falls off the pier at Coney Island. From this point Henry finds his destiny, finding true love and working for the US Navy to help defeat the Nazis. Sort of a piscatorial Walter Mitty tale, with a very happy ending. Recommended also because it affords viewers the once-in-a-lifetime chance to see Don Knotts serenading a goldfish.

I loved this movie when I was a child so I bought the video for my children. They got so caught up in the movie that they found themselves cheering for Henry and Crusty while they dodged the "torpedees" (as Crusty called them).

However, they weren't impressed with Mrs Limpet (the human). They thought she was too mean spirited for poor Henry. Early in the movie my daughter said she didn't blame Henry for wishing to be a fish. Anyone would with a wife like that!

As most good films have a good versus evil slant in the plot, this film also does in a sense. I don't mean the obvious Democracy vs Nazi fight, but the good, kind Henry vs the sneering, lecherous Stickle. As children's movies should be, it is toned down, but you still get an immediate sense of sympathy for Henry while secretly wishing Stickle would get his head stuck in a "torpedee" tube! All in all, a terrific film and one of my favourites!

There are not many movies that I can watch and enjoy with my grand kids, but this is one of them. This movie uses Knotts's voice, which was his greatest gift, to portray a fish who becomes a hero that Henry Limpet (classified 4f), could not be in real life. This movie is funny because it has the Navy recognizing a fish for a decoration and pay for his widow. The go between is Jack Weston, who plays the "other man" between Limpet and his wife. Weston seems more interested in Limpet's wife, while Limpet is more interested in fish. It's this gloss-over that makes it possible to watch the movie with youngsters without too many questions being asked. The ability to write scripts and make movies that can appeal to different levels at the same time seems to be lacking in today's movies.

Also found in this movie, and lacking in many current movies, is the obvious desire of Limpet to do his part in facing the enemy of the time. The movie is a flash back to WWII when the Nazi sub force was decimating Allied shipping, even before war was declared. The US Navy had to have loved this movie for helping with its recruiting, and they had to laugh at some of the "career boosters" for those involved in using a fish to fight subs.

Contrary to some previous posts, this movie does have enemies and victims. The Limpet and the Navy blew up a lot of ships. The nice thing about WWII was that our enemies were more clearly defined.

It is a simplistic movie with a kid like charm. But maybe thats its strength. With sooo many movies today exhibiting violence, murder, rape, incest, hatred, etc. when it has to do with families and kids and the studios appearing to forget about movies with a REAL warmth about them (unless it is "politically correct" warmth), i.e. - TOO MANY movies today rewrite history like the Disney animated movies of today to make sure the "harmed parties" are put in a good light and others are put in a "bad light" it is always nice to see a movie that doesn't put on any airs to be genuine.

Don Knotts is a comedic genius and there are NONE like him in Hollywood today. It is sad to say that it appears Hollywood has forgotten what really entertains people, they seem to be focused upon what is sensational and appeals to the lowest form of human attention, meaning death, blood and violence and forgetting about the warmth and love of the past. For this reason this movie is a fantasy that will live forever.