Customer Reviews

Merton of the Movies [VHS]

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This movie is great. I gave it a 4 because it was so good, they should of added 20 mins more to the movie. I know MGM was good for making people stars and spotting talent, but they sure overlooked Virginia O'Brien, she was a talent, and a very funny woman, had wit and a great sense of humor, most of her movies she didn't talk, she just sung with no expressions, her nickname back in Hollywood was "Miss Red Hot Frozen Face", or the "Girl Who Never Smiles. But the films she did get to talk in she always gave it her all and left you wanting more, but for some reasons MGM didn't want more. I don't know why they didn't make her a star, she was very pretty, attractive, tall, she did fit the beauty standards that MGM had. This movie is worth watching on a Rainy Day with some popcorn. Red Skelton is funny as always, but with Virginia its even funnier, MGM should of put them both into some more leading comedy roles, this could of led to what Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz did, or what George Burns and Gracie Allen were doing. Because Red and Virginia worked magic together, they could of did a series of movies together, but MGM didn't really care much for comedy. It most be good because they found it in a vault and made it commercially available, there's a lot of other good movies not made into video, but they picked this one because they knew people would enjoy it. Watch this, and I bet you, you'll become a Virginia O'Brien fan, and you'll wonder why MGM didn't make her into a big star. Another great movie she was in, was with Judy Garland in The Harvey Girls, she singing It's A Great Big World with Judy, let me tell she gave Judy a run for her money, Virginia had a strong voice, like Judy, she almost was louder then Judy was. Ms. Virginia O'Brien died last year January 23, 2001, may she rest in peace, we still remember you. Hopefully this post will make people watch her movies and make the film people make more of her movies commercially, or maybe someone will write a book on her.

This is a very sweet and nostalgic movie with alot of the Red Skelton charm. It is funny at times and touching at others. Virginia O'Brien is excellent. Her character is alot more serious and sober than most of the roles she played. She proves she can hold your attention with out singing a note. The interaction between Red and Virginia is very sincere & poignant. It is a nice movie if you are a sentementalist like me.

This movie is quite typical of Red's work. It has all the ingredients: mix-ups, love interests, and the loveable, apparent failure who ultimately makes good. Put this all in a blender and add some sight gags and solid Red Skelton humor. Watch for just over an hour, and out comes great family fun.

"Merton of the Movies" was a 1919 book and a 1922 play (by George S. Kaufman) that became a 1924 silent film starring Glenn Hunter. It was remade in 1932 as "Make Me a Star" with Stu Erwin. This 1947 version stars Red Skelton who was the biggest star on the MGM lot at the time.

Red Skelton (1913-97) is best known as a world class comedian, but in the 40s and early 50s he was busy making films, the funniest of which was "The Fuller Brush Man" (1948). Here he plays an usher who wants to be a movie star.

Virginia O'Brien (1919-2001) was famous for her deadpan expression in MGM's 40s musicals like "Ziegfeld Follies" (1945) and "The Harvey Girls" (1946). She was dropped by MGM after this, her biggest film, and then made only 2 more films before retiring. She plays a stunt women turned actress who befriends Skelton.

FWIW - O'Brien does all her own stunt work in this film.

Sexy Gloria Grahame (1923-81) was one of the Queens of film noir. She was nominated for Best Supporting Actress for "Crossfire" (1947) with Robert Mitchum (one of the Kings of film noir), won for "The Bad and the Beautiful" (1952) with Kirk Douglas, and gave memorable (if not award worthy) performances in other noirs such as "In a Lonely Place" with Humphrey Bogart, "Sudden Fear" (1952) with Joan Crawford and Jack Palance, and Fritz Lang's "Human Desire" (1954) with Glenn Ford. Grahame plays a film actress and one of Skelton's idols.

Leon Ames (1902-93) plays the leading matinee idol of the times, and the actor whom Skelton hopes to emulate. Ames appeared in more than 100 films between 1931 and 1986. His most famous roles were as Judy Garland's father in "Meet Me in St Louis" (1944) and the DA in "The Postman Always Rings Twice" (1947).

Alan Mowbray (1896-1969) appeared in more than 140 films from 1931 to 1962, often playing a butler. He had a recurring role in the "Topper" series and made memorable contributions to films such as "The King and I" (1956) and "The Man who Knew Too Much" (1956). He worked with John Ford in "My Darling Clementine" (1946) and "Wagon Master" (1950), playing the same character in two unrelated films. He plays a film director.

Look for funny man Chester Conklin (1886-1971) as one of the Keystone cops. Conklin, of course, was one of the original Keystone Cops, and considered by many to be one of the pioneers of silent film comedy.

This was the first of only two directing jobs for Robert Alton (1906-57) who worked mostly as a second unit director handling musical numbers for MGM.

1947 wasn't the best year for films. The Oscar winners were "Miracle on 34th Street" and "Gentlemen's Agreement" and the box office leaders included "Unconquered", "The Bachelor and the Bobby Soxer", "Mother Wore Tights" and "Life with Father." Other notable films that year were "Dark Passage" (Bogart), "The Lady From Shanghai" (Orson Welles), and "Possessed" (Joan Crawford).
The NY Times said "It sounded promising...but it didn't work out anywhere nearly as well as anticipated" and called it "a brutishly slapstick prank" and proclaimed "it's not the least bit funny."

If you're a big fan of Red Skelton, you'll probably enjoy this film. He's in virtually every scene and the film is adapted to his type of humor and pathos. But he is clearly better in many other of his films, and his TV programs are even better.

This isn't the best film Red Skelton ever made. That is probably either "The Fuller Brush Man" or maybe even when he was teamed with Fred Astaire in "Three Little Words". However, it is funny enough and very sweet. Skelton plays Merton Gill, an usher from a small town that dreams of making it big in films back in 1914. He unintentionally foils a robbery attempt at the theater where he works and attributes his success to his movie hero, Lawrence Rupert. Rupert's publicist thinks it would be good publicity for Rupert if Gill were invited to Hollywood for a few photos labeling Gill as Rupert's protege. Unfortunately, Morton believes he really is Rupert's protege and is disappointed when he is told to take a hike after the publicity campaign is over. He takes several stabs at making it in the movies, but his overacting and clumsiness get him ejected every time. What Morton doesn't know is that what is hideous acting in a drama is perfect for the slapstick comedies of the 1910's, and this leads to his big break. Skelton is perfect as the naive and easily rattled Merton, and Virginia O'Brien is very good as the stunt woman who ends up Merton's protector and love interest.

The original silent version of this film made in 1924 is lost, and one interview with Buster Keaton prior to 1924 had him saying that he would really like to make this film himself. He did in a way. He was an uncredited gagman on this and many other of Skelton's MGM films, and you can see the Keaton touch in several of the gags throughout the film. Recommended if you want to watch something that will make you laugh and also warm your heart.