Le héros du jour

Those who are expecting some of Red Skelton's more outlandish comedy routines will be somewhat disappointed in Half A Hero. In this film Red essays a role that just post World War II would have been offered to James Stewart. Who's to say this script wasn't seen by Stewart.

Still he and Jean Hagen play a decent post war average couple with her doing the June Cleaver home making and Red working as a writer, or should I say rewriter at a magazine owned by Charles Dingle. One of my favorite character actors, Dingle is at his pompous tyrannical best as Skelton's boss who likes the fact that Skelton and Hagen live in a small New York City apartment and within their means. Listening to Dingle prattle on about that subject I could hear Lionel Barrymore as Mr. Potter talking about the merits of a thrifty working class.

Anyway Skelton and Hagen do move to the suburbs and face the same problems a lot of post World War II young marrieds face, like my parents for instance. Dingle however wants an expose of these people who don't save who will turn the nation into a mass of suburban slums. Skelton tries to give him what he wants, but he's got his own ideas as well.

The old and young Jimmy Stewart could have phoned in his performance if he had the lead in Half A Hero. Skelton does all right with the part even if it is offbeat casting. Outside of Dingle in the cast, the best performance is by Willard Waterman as a most unctuous real estate salesman.

It's not typical Red Skelton, but it's more than all right.

Half A Hero was a cute bit of fluff. It was a cute story, with the main interest watching Red Skelton perform. He is a real doll to watch. I could relate to his struggles. It was funny, clever, very much the same things we struggle with currently. Tho' I disagreed with his decisions. It was pleasant, but mainly I just enjoyed seeing Red. He is one of the greats that is gone from this world forever, to a much better place I pray.

Ben Dobson (Red Skelton) gets a job at a popular national magazine. He is a little disappointed to be only rewriting other people's work. His wife Martha (Jean Hagen) takes the opportunity to argue for a baby. She claims that it's going to save them money. It is the start of their family life and his professional journey over many years.

There is some minor humor going on here from time to time. I am surprised with the darker relationship dabbling in a 50's family comedy. I am often taken by my preconceived notions. My big issue is that I don't like Martha and the couple has little chemistry. Maybe we need to see their meet-cute. Anyways, I like Red and that keeps me engaged.

I saw this movie many years ago, but couldn't remember anything about it. Watching it again, I think I know why. "Half a Hero" is probably enjoyed better as a drama or a view of the world at a certain point in time. Watching Red Skelton is always enjoyable, but wanting this movie to be a comedy can make the viewing almost painful.

Men working hard is great and women wanting to make house & home is wonderful -- whether it's today or 60 years ago. The pain for me surfaces when this couple are at odds during their financial difficulties, bringing up talks that should precede marriage and not deferred until after getting a mortgage.

So if you approach this movie from a non-comedy perspective, I think you will enjoy it. Skelton's performance is almost as good as in _The Clown (1953)_ (qv). Jean Hagen demonstrates a wonderful difference from _Singin' in the Rain (1952)_ (qv) where everyone remembers "Lina Lamont". Single scene participants of 'Kathleen Freeman (I)' (qv) and 'Mary Wickes' (qv) made me smile.

This production made a profit when it was released and then quietly disappeared. If you can find a copy of it, Skelton fans should definitely watch it. Maybe young people getting ready for marriage can learn one or two things as well.

Trite sitcom from director Don Weis and writer Max Schulman has Red Skelton cast as a harried husband and father over-his-head in trouble after his caustic spouse convinces him to move the family from New York City to the suburbs. As Skelton's wife, miscast Jean Hagen is all wrong for this scenario (she's so brittle, she makes poor Red look hen-pecked, deadly in a family comedy). Supporting cast (including Mary Wickes, Billie Bird, and Polly Bergen playing herself) is much more at ease with this kind of silly material; though, unfortunately, star Skelton isn't given very much to do. Extremely minor fare. *1/2 from ****