Customer Reviews

Misadventures of Merlin Jones [VHS]

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I'm in strong agreement with the complaints in these reviews regarding Disney's shoddy DVD releases: fullscreen, skimpy or no extras (not even movie trailers which bring back the first view of the next, highly anticipated Disney film), scratchy and dull prints, and comparatively very high prices.

Regarding its aspect ratio, however, this film was made for TV but ended up in theaters instead. Filmed in November 1962 for the 1963-64 season of "Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color," it so pleased Walt Disney that he decided to release it to theaters. The DVD presents its original aspect ratio, one intended for TV. It was filmed to be presented at 1.33:1 -- even though it was matted for theatrical presentation, probably at 1.75:1.

But there are other problems with this DVD. The print is clearly inferior to the one used for years on The Disney Channel. Color timing is off, shifting in individual cuts within a scene; faces change color with the light. There are scratches. It is not sharp. It is not worthy of a DVD but looks more like a good VHS tape.

As others here have pointed out, Disney used to be known for providing only the best quality in every product. The company has fallen very far short from that excellent standard. (It could have used one of the excellent prints still kept in the vaults -- but, as with so many recent releases -- it didn't bother.) What more could be expected from a company that fired the person responsible for the excellent-but-cancelled "Vault Disney" DVD line? I will be very reluctant to buy additional Disney DVDs until there's a clear turnaround by the company. Disney should announce it realizes it's gotten things wrong and will in the future always offer DVDs from the best -- or restored -- prints and at the correct aspect ratio.

"The Misadventures of Merlin Jones" is a very likable film from Walt Disney. Tommy Kirk is excellent as the absent-minded student genius Merlin Jones attending Midvale College. Annette Funicello is Jennifer his girlfriend who constantly tries to get his attention. Leon Ames plays the pivital role of Judge Hornsby. This is one of those movies from the 60s containing a lot of campus mayhem and mishaps. The main title song, "Merlin Jones" was composed by the Sherman brothers and performed by Annette Funicello. It's a fun movie.

It's a shame that Disney refuses to exert that little bit of extra effort (and possibly expense - "there's the rub") to restore its films and release them in their original theatrical ratios (aka: widescreen). These films appeal mainly to "grown-up" Disney fans, scholars, and collectors. For a modest comedy like this, the ratios aren't too distracting; for major productions - like Babes in Toyland, The Moon-Spinners, and Blackbeard's Ghost -- the pan-and-scan is horrible. It would be better for Disney to slow down its release schedule and take the extra time to prepare first class DVD's. The Disney name used to stand for quality and technical innovation; appparantly, those standards no longer apply.

Why is it that MGM treated Annette Funicello so very well with her classic Beach movie series in widescreen, yet Disney - Annette's original employer - acts like she's a $2 tramp?

First Annette's Babes In Toyland got the shaft and now this. Absolutely outrageous! This would never have happened on Walt's watch - or Roy's, either, for that matter. It all goes to prove what a total JERK Mike Eisner, the current head of Disney, is. Hopefully they'll finally vote him COMPLETELY out, and he won't be allowed on the lot. What a dummy!

Another reviewer has correctly noted that Disney titles including Babes In Toyland, The Moon-Spinners, and Blackbeard's Ghost have also been thrown into the horrible pan-and-scan scrap heap. What's the matter - they weren't good enough for the "Vault Disney" treatment? WHY NOT?

Disney even choked on the DVD for The Absent-Minded Professor... that is, until an enraged public boycotted them! Then Disney saw the light and rushed out another version in its proper widescreen format. But why must we fans - with all our big buying dollars - be put through all of this hassle on a case by case basis in the first place? Hey, Disney - just give us ALL your movies in cleaned up widescreen and decent stereo and shut up.

And let's look at another very stupid move by Disney's pathetic DVD hacks - like the Apple Dumpling Gang duo, both of which star Don Knotts and Tim Conway. They release the original Apple in widescreen, yet for some strange reason Rides Again gets only pan-and-scan?* HUH?!

Anyway, one can only hope that some year we'll be able to enjoy Merlin Jones (and Babes In Toyland) - featuring the awe-inspiring beauty of Annette Funicello - in the original widescreen that their directors intended. But it probably won't be THIS year!

Boycott all Disney DVDs after 1955 that are not in widescreen!

(*Update: Disney later released a second version (in 2005) of ADG2. They'd caved in and finally put it in widescreen.)

I like old Disney films and I know what to expect when I watch them. Sometimes they're really good and other times they're really bad. 'The Misadevntures of Merlin Jones' falls somewhere in the middle, it's actually pretty good, but cetainly not one of the studio's finest. The DVD transfer looks pretty good to me and I'm fairly picky. I have read some of the other reviews and I do not feel this print looks all that bad. It is presented in it's original aspect ratio, but unfortunately, there isn't anything else here. If you like the film, don't hold your breath for a better release...it probably won't happen anytime soon!

A classic example of Disney family comedy can be found in the 1964 hit, "The Misadventures of Merlin Jones." Starring "Old Yeller" and "The Shaggy Dog" lead Tommy Kirk in the title role, Merlin is a highly intelligent, science-obsessed college student whose experiments and inventions repeatedly land him in trouble, even with the law. Merlin's girlfriend, Jennifer (Annette Funicello), is adoring and understanding (usually), and his one true comrade. Together, they have misadventures throughout the film, just as the title indicates, virtually splitting the film into two separate parts, but as a whole it remains entirely funny and enjoyable.

In the first half, one of Merlin's experiments has a Dexter Riley effect (several years prior, of course), resulting in Merlin acquiring the ability to hear people's thoughts. When he overhears Judge Holmsby plotting out a crime in his head, Merlin's new powers land him into a world of trouble with the authorities. Once all that is squared away, the second half of the film revolves around Merlin's experiments with hypnosis. This involves a laboratory chimp named Stanley, paving the way for the as yet unreleased (to DVD) sequel, "The Monkey's Uncle," which is also a great Disney comedy classic.

"The Misadventures of Merlin Jones" is a true Disney comedy treat, and the Disney fanatic will love it for all its peak Disney era comedy staples, such as the family of stars that make up its excellent cast and the classic cut-out style opening with Sherman Brothers music! Many folks are bashing this DVD release due to the full-screen format. However, it is my understanding that the original aspect ratio of this film is currently a subject of debate, so any hardcore consumer anger might as yet be premature. That item aside, the DVD thankfully includes two extras. One is a nice gallery of posters and lobby cards. The other is a video gallery of famous Disney inventors, though true fans will notice many faces missing. Gyro Gearloose, anyone? Gadget? Okay, so they couldn't include them all, but Gyro is a major one in my opinion. This second extra isn't that necessary and something tied more to the film would have been preferred, but it's a nice bit of fluff. Just wish it had been presented as one featurette rather than a video gallery. Anyway, without a doubt, if you enjoy family comedies or are a Disney fanatic, "The Misadventures of Merlin Jones" is a must own!

The Misadventures of Merlin Jones stars two regulars from the Disney troupe of actors, namely Tommy Kirk, who is renowned for his starring role in The Shaggy Dog, and Annette Funicello, renowned for being the favorite of the Mouseketeers (T.V. show). The film begins with a catchy song, sung by Annette. The words appear below.

Then comes two stories. Both stories deal with the paranormal. The first story deals with mind-reading, while the second story concerns hypnosis. The first story rates FIVE STARS, in that all the elements hang together nicely to form a coherent tale. In a nutshell, during the course of a laboratory experiment, Merlin Jones acquires the abilty to read other person's minds. He tests this ability with Annette, who thinks, "Hold my hand." Later, in the college library, Merlin hears the thoughts of other students. For example, he hears the thoughts of a chubby coed thinking about a chocolate sundae, the thoughts of a pretty coed musing about how cute is Merlin Jones, and the thoughts of a beatnik male student composing beatnik poetry. But then, Merlin Jones, in his role as a part-time waiter in a cafe, hears the thoughts of a judge, conspiring crimes. Thus, the plot centers around Merlin Jones' efforts as a self-styled detective, in tracking down the judge's participation in crime. (The story has a surprise ending).

To give an example of the clever dialogue, early on in the story there is a confrontation betwen Merlin Jones and a football jock. The football jock wants to be Annette's boyfriend, so he attempts to put down Merlin Jones with the following statement. He attempts to make fun of Merlin Jones by exclaiming, "I can hear the crowd roar when he tackles a physics problem!"

In another clever episode, Merlin Jones has hooked himself up to a brain wave detector. In the science lab, he persuades Annette to hold still so that he can kiss her. The brain wave detector goes off scale. Then, Merlin Jones asks Annette to hook herself up, and to kiss him. She complies, saying, "Well, if its part of a scientific experiment, I suppose its all right." But when she kisses him, her brain waves result in a flat line. This causes Merlin Jones to be dismayed, but Annette points out that an electric plug in the machine had been disconnected. This is just another example of the finely written light comedy in the first story.

If there can be any criticism of the first story, it is that some of the actors portraying college students look like they are at least 35 years old.

But the second story deserves TWO STARS, as it is no better than a typical TV situation comedy. It is not boring, but it is simply not as good as the first story. The second story contains the same characters (Tommy Kirk, Annette, the judge, and the football jock), but it also contains a chimpanzee.

As a parting note, it might be fun to compare The Misadventures of Merlin Jones with Ferris Bueller's Day Off. In Merlin Jones, the authority figure is a judge. Tommy Kirks' goal, throughout the entire movie, is to collect evidence that the judge is a criminal, e.g., involved in a diamond robbery, murder, and other crimes. The judge acts cool and dignified throughout.

In Ferris Bueller's Day Off, the authority figure is the school principal. Matthew Broderick's goal, thoughout the entire movie, is to trick the principal into becoming a buffoon and to commit crimes and the like, e.g.,crime of breaking and entering, and parking in front of a fire hydrant. The principal complies, and becomes, in the eyes of the school community, a progressively greater buffoon.

In Merlin Jones, the girlfriend (Annette) collaborates with Tommy Kirk, when they both masquerade as plumbers and snoop in the judge's home. What is amusing is that the toolbox carried by Annette is marked with, "BZ PLUMBERS." (Get it? Busy plumbers! Get it?) In Ferris Bueller's Day Off, the girlfriend collaborates with Matthew Broderick, in Broderick's mission of trickery, when she poses as his daughter.

Annette sings the following song:

They call him Merlin Jones, the scrambled egghead, Merlin Jones, the campus kook. But my heart's whirling, I'm the girl in love with Merlin Jones.

I heard weird noises late one night as I passed the science wing. I looked inside and there he was working on the darndest thing. The thing got up and buzzed and beeped, and walked right out the door. And Merlin said, "At last it works, I wonder what it's for."

They call him Merlin Jones, the scrambled egghead, Merlin Jones, the campus kook. But my heart's whirling, I'm the girl in love with Merlin Jones.

Although I know his way-out brain is on cloud nine, his kisses make me want to be his Mrs. Frankenstein.

Call him crazy, call him mad, with oddball overtones. All I know I've got it bad for Mr. Merlin Jones.

Lots of fellas in the school have asked her out on dates. But this crazy way out wig is the only one that rates.

I can't help being proud of him when he puts his brain in gear. Although a voice inside says, "Hey get me out of here."

The Misadventures of Merlin Jones is a good movie, I first saw it when it had been shown on TV and as I had never seen it before I decided to watch it and I'm glad I did because it was a cute movie and became one of my favorite Disney movies and I'm glad it's on DVD and the only thing I'm wondering about is the aspect ratio? Was this move filmed in widescreen or fullscreen? The DVD is fullscreen and I'm wondering if that is the right aspect ratio or is if it's just another pan & scan edit of a widescreen movie?

This is a great movie. That has given the proper respect that it deserves.

Merlin Jones(Tommy Kirk) is a campus know it all who's girlfriend Jennifer (Annette Funicello) has a big crush on him. Well Merlin is always experimenting with things and one day when Merlin is taking Jennifer to the library. He gets pulled over for supossedly making a major disturbance. The Traffic Judge is the Judge Homesby (Leon Ames) Well Judge Homesby throws the book at Merlin and takes away his licsence. Well Merlin gets really mad about it. The next day Merlin has major brain shock and he is able to read minds. well the next day when he is working at his job at the Medfield DIner he hears Judge Homesby's thoughts. And undoughtedly Judge Homesby is thinking about crimes and what to do for his next crime. After Merlin hears this shocking news. He calls Jennifer and tells her. Well this movie goes on and they find out that He is actually the Crime Book Author Lex Fortis. Well after this Merlin gets into Psychology. And finds a chimp and frees it from the school lab. Great Disney Classic Movie.

The movie is about the zainy antics of the campus egg head Merlin Jones. Merlin takes an old football helmet and uses a series of electrical ciruits to increase his memory. The fun really begins when on of the football players uses Merlin's Memory Helmet in his college studies. This is a can't miss early Walt Disney Film!