Reviews

This 1964 Disney film, like many other of it's era have been long forgotten except by certain aficionados such as myself. The Misadventures of Merlin Jones stars Tommy Kirk as the title character and the unforgettable Annette Funicello in the female lead.

For those of you with short attention spans this movie actually wraps up one story line and continues to conclude another one...not only that, it's left open for a sequel called The Monkey's Uncle! Merlin Jones is the college campus genius who's wacky "scientific" experiments land him in more trouble than any good kid deserves. As a result of one experiment he gets his driver's license revoked, as a result of another he can suddenly read minds...including the mind of the judge that took his license away...and it seems that the good judge isn't all that good. Yet a 3rd experiment gets the judge himself into the same hot water that Merlin is usually in! Just as the title indicates this movie is one misadventure after another.

Don't try to analyze this movie, just sit back and enjoy it. This is the kind of movie whose sole purpose is to celebrate life's little absurdities. If you enjoy being silly then you'll enjoy this Disney gem.

The cast of this 1969 movie alone is enough to recommend it. A pre Odd Couple Tony Randall. A post Psycho Janet Leigh as his wife . Jim Backus being Jim Backus. Roddy McDowell somewhere between Flicka and Planet of the Apes. Richard Dreyfus facing his FIRST shark encounter (sharks were old hat to him by the time Jaws came around) Ken Barry actually playing a bad guy! And Charlotte Rae who apparently had other charges in her care prior to Willis, Arnold, Blair, Jo, Natalie and Tootie.

If that doesn't give you an idea of the delightful absurdity of this movie add in a couple of dolphins that have seen 1 too many Lassie movies. Sprinkle it with sonar jamming rock music and Harvey Lemboeck. I defy anyone with an ounce of humor in their soul not to laugh at the silliness of this movie.

So what's the movie about? Okay if you MUST know, Tony Randall has invented an underwater home and to prove to his boss (Jim Backus) that living under water isn't a crazy idea Tony talks his family into moving into his invention for a month. Tony and Janet have 2 teenagers that are part of a rock band that's about to go big time thanks to record company owner and boy-genius Roddy McDowell, so naturally the entire band goes along for the ride including a lead guitarist played by Richard Dreyfus. You'll find Janet's "futuristic" kitchen quite amusing...as well as the idea that when the kids practice their rock music it jams Navy sonar! Oh, did I mention that Ken Barry is a conniving coworker of Tony's and who's trying to sabotage Tony's work and take his job??

The Ghost Breakers is a black and white movie from 1940 Starring Bob Hope and Paulette Goddard.

Bob Hope plays a New York City radio newscaster, named Larry Lawrence that specializes in political gossip. When he inadvertently offends a local gangster, his attempt to get back into the gangster's good graces results in him being accused of a murder he didn't commit.

Enter Paulette Goddard as Mary Carter a damsel in distress who has just inherited a haunted castle in Cuba. To escape the police and impress the beautiful damsel in distress Larry accompanies her to Cuba. (1940 Cuba is pre-Castro) Upon arrival at the castle they are met by a zombie, a witch doctor and a genuine ghost...but THEY aren't the villains of the piece! This movie pokes fun at stereotypical ghost stories without grossing you out. This parody is pure INNOCENT fun. No, fancy special effects, no blood or gore, just plain simple FUNNY characters reacting to exaggerated circumstances

I love this movie.

There are some inside jokes that kids today might not understand such as references to Kim Novak and Dior creations, but over all it's a wonderful coming of age movie.

Mary Clancy (Hayley Mills)is an irrepressible trouble-making orphan that is sent to a convent school by an absentee playboy uncle who says that "he'll lay odds the nuns could straiten her out" To which Mary responds "what odds?" At this school Mary becomes fast friends with the somewhat shyly inept Rachel Devry and bitter enemies (or so she thinks) with the school dragon known as Mother Superior. (Rosalind Russell) You'll find yourself laughing in wicked delight and anticipation each time Mary utters the phrase "I have a scathingly brilliant idea".

If you are feeling that there is something very familiar about this movie, that would be Mary Wicke driving the bus for St. Frances just as she did in the movies Sister Act 1 & 2.

This movie (based on a book called Mother Carey's Chickens) is for anyone who spent their Sunday nights watching The Wonderful World of Disney while growing up and wants to share that same feeling with their own children. Turn on the closed caption, gather up your little girls and sing along with the movie.

The Carey family is saved from having to live in "a hovel...that's not in a very nice neighborhood, either" by a mysterious "Mr. Hamilton" via the town postmaster/constable/general store owner Osiam Poppham. The eldest daughter Nancy's (Hayley Mills) boundless enthusiasm and interaction with a fun assortment of characters such as a homeless cousin that "Thinks she's the pink of perfection" to Mrs. Poppham (Una Merkle-whom Hayley Mills fans will recognize from the original Parent Trap movie) who believes in a "good solid black cloud with no silver linings"