Watch the Birdie

WATCH THE BIRDIE is certainly one of Red Skelton's lesser efforts. Storyline has good potential, but something went wrong. Looks like scenes were maybe filmed but cut as the movie jumps around with not much logic. Due to the short run time I'm sure much was left on the cutting room floor. No explanation as to how the Arlene Dahl character knows Red's name and where he works. A lot of other missing information. The worse part is the clips of two old MGM films. Just stops the movie dead. However, if it weren't for that scene the movie would have been barely an hour long. Only for Skelton fans, or not even. Arlene Dahl is a real beauty and Ann Miller is her usual perky self. Not much else is worthwhile.

According to IMDb, "Watch the Birdie" is a remake of the old Buster Keaton film "The Cameraman". While the newer film did borrow a few bits, the plot is so different that I wouldn't consider it a remake at all. This is great, because I hate remakes and both films are a lot of fun.

Red Skelton plays Rusty Cammeron--a nice schnook who works at his family's camera store. Like "The Cameraman", Rusty decides to make money by taking newsreel shots and selling them for bit bucks--exactly like in the Keaton film. However, this portion of the film doesn't last long at all and in the process he ends up meeting Lucia Corlane (Arlene Dahl) and he is instantly smitten. However, she's rich and successful and he's just a bit of an idiot--a very nice and likable idiot, nevertheless.

While working for Lucia, he's filming the groundbreaking on her company's big housing project. However, unintentionally, he films her trusted adviser making an underhanded deal to destroy the company! When Rusty and Lucia discover this, they rush to the police with the film--with the baddies in hot pursuit.

As I watched this film, I was surprised by my wife's reaction. She just thought Red was cute and very, very likable. In fact, she liked him so much, she was willing to forgive the few missteps the film took (such as having Lucia TELL the baddies that she's on her way to the police....who is THAT dumb?!?!). I would agree but do think the high-speed (or not so high-speed) chase did go on a bit long and because of this, I give the film a still respectable 7. Pleasant and worth seeing.

By the way, when everyone is viewing the film Rusty took from the roof of his truck, the camera angle is all wrong--like it was filmed about 5 feet lower. I am surprised they didn't notice this discrepancy. Also, make sure you watch all the movie--even the opening credits. It's rather funny listening to Skelton walking about the cast and crew as the credits roll.

Red Skelton plays multiple members of the Cammeron family which owns a camera shop. Rusty Cammeron is drowning in debt and then he's saved from real drowning by wealthy land developer Lucia Corlaine.

There is a Stooge-like changing room gag. This needs something more to push this fully into a laugh out loud comedy territory. Red Skelton is throwing a lot of his silly physical humor into this. The side-by-side Red Skelton double can be visually static. He's not great in any of the roles. He's not a good romantic lead. Lucia also needs to be more dynamic and more time to develop some romantic chemistry. This is mostly for Red Skelton fans and has a few fun physical gags.

Remake of Buster Keaton's 1928 success "The Cameraman" features Red Skelton at his most amiable, playing a salesman in his family's camera store (Cammeron & Son & Son) who helps the heiress of a major construction company thwart her crooked partner, who's planning on driving her out of business. The plot isn't taken at all seriously; instead, the film is comprised mainly of comic vignettes, some hilarious, with Skelton also playing his own father and wily grandfather. Gets off to a wonderful start, but loses steam along the way despite slapstick climax. The cramped dressing room bit has hardly any relation to the story yet remains a laugh-out-loud highlight, and Ann Miller is a hoot as a beauty contest winner who's always getting slugged. The star does funny double takes, and pratfalls--and, as usual, he's quietly charming while attempting to win over the girl of his dreams. **1/2 from ****

Red Skelton takes a leaf out of Alec Guinness and Peter Sellers' book and plays three generations in Watch The Birdie. Red plays the grandfather, father, and son who own a camera shop.

During the course of the film Red comes to the attention of the beautiful Arlene Dahl who has inherited a construction company from her father. The last project her father was on is a site that rival construction company owner Leon Ames wants very badly and is not above chicanery to get it.

The other woman in Red's life is Ann Miller who while she doesn't dance a step uses that figure to full advantage. Jane Russell had nothing on Miller for being a full figure gal. Miller is a beauty contest winner and her character is drawn from the one who chased Jules Munshin in On The Town.

There's a very funny sequence with Red and Dick Wessel as the two try to change clothes in a small dressing room with Skelton having a cold and sneezing all over the place. The climax chase scene with the bad guys chasing Skelton and Dahl is also well staged.

Fans of Red Skelton will like Watch The Birdie.