Monday, 15th APRIL 2002 ON THE ROAD AGAIN
featuring: EXCUSE MY DUST (1951) Joe Belden, struggling inventor in a small American town circa 1895, has problems with his latest invention - a car driven by a gasoline motor - a "gas-a-mobile". The whole town is making fun of his "crazy contraption", especially the owner of the local livery stable, who, unfortunately for Joe, also happens to be the father of the only person who has any faith in Joe, Joe's girlfriend Liz. When he becomes halfway successful, threatening his potential father-in-law's livelihood, another woman, Daisy Lou, tries to win his heart, and Liz begins to think Joe has dumped her. But in a race for those new-fangled horseless buggies, he gets in trouble and it is only his true love who is able to help him. This 1951 musical-comedy from MGM's Jack Cummings unit is probably Red Skelton's best movie. Skelton was the poor man's Bob Hope. Sally Forrest is pretty as a picture and a heck of a dancer, and Monica Lewis socks two comedy numbers across to help you past Skelton's stock in trade dum-dum physical comedy. Forrest is known mostly for film-noir roles, especially those for director IDA LUPINO, but she was a great dancer born to star in lavish musicals. The highlight is when Red imagines her in modern clothes doing a sexy jazz dance. Forrest had an unusual dance style like tap slowed down to jazz. See also SON OF SINBAD (1955) for Sally's sexiest dance sequence - also in color, and THE STRIP (1951), a b&w Mickey Rooney film-noir cheapie featuring Miss Forrest as a night-club dancer.
A smart, pleasing little musical that doesn't wear out its welcome. Red's dopey slapstick is kept to a minimum ( - just two set-pieces, at the beginning and at the end), and what's in between is surprisingly gentle and well-written Americana... in sunny TechnicolorTM! The underrated score, by Dorothy Fields and Arthur Schwartz (who wrote another wonderful score for Broadway that year, the equally underrated "A Tree Grows In Brooklyn"), is solidly integrated into the plot, and the musical staging by HERMES PAN is bright and inventive. (The movie contains what may be the LEAST plot-motivated "dream ballet" ever, but even it is quick and unpretentious.) Dir. BUSTER KEATON (uncredited), Roy (THE 5000 FINGERS OF DR. T, 1953) Rowland, Edward Sedgwick (uncredited). Wr. BUSTER KEATON (uncredited), Stephanie Nordli, George Wells. Cast: RED SKELTON (Joe Belden), Sally Forrest (Liz Bullitt), MACDONALD CAREY (Cyrus Random), Jr., Monica Lewis (Daisy Lou Shultzer), WILLIAM DEMAREST (Harvey Bullitt), Raymond Walburn (Mayor Fred Haskell), JANE DARWELL (Mrs. Belden). Prod. Jack Cummings. Mus. Paul Dunlap, Arthur Schwartz - Song: "Get a Horse". Phot. Alfred Gilks. Ed. Cotton Warburton (as Irvine Warburton). Art Dir. Randall Duell, Cedric Gibbons. Choreo. HERMES PAN. 82 mins. NFVLS.
THE FENDER BENDERS (1972) Episode from the Brady bunch!! Immediately after Carol’s accident in a parking lot ,the other driver (Jackie “UNCLE FESTER” Coogan) & Carol agree to pay their own damages. Later that evening however, he visits the Bradys and claims it was Carol’s fault, saying he’ll take her to court if she doesn’t pay to have his car fixed! Robert Emhardt is the judge in the case. Prod Co: Paramount. Prod. Howards Leeds. Dir. Allen Baron. Wr. David P. Harmon. Phot. Robert G Hager. Mus. (FRANK) DEVOL. Ed. Marshall Neilan. Created by SHERWOOD SCHWARZ. Cast: Robert Reed, florence Henderson, Ann B.Davis, Maureen McCormick, Eve Plumb, Susan Olsen, Baryy Williams, Jackie Coogan. 26 mins. NFVLS. THE TEN TOWN ROCKET CAR (196?) The winner of the Wallaby Creek Cup will win the favour of Lady Poynting, who is being pursued by a number of eligible suitors. To help out Mr. McGlurk, one of their number’s dad, the terrible Ten build a rocket car. The only possible mix up is with the Prof’s special rocket-starting fuel, which comes in soft-drink cans. Watch out for the Sennet’s ice cream sign! Prod Co: Pacific Film Productions. Prod: Roger Mirams. Dir: David (THE GREAT McCARTHY, 1975) Baker. 12 mins. AAC. BIMBO’S AUTO (1954) Bimbo throws his old car on the junk heap & buys an agressive new one. Prod co: Eric (MISTER SHEEN) Porter Studios. Dir: Eric Porter. Sd: Arthur Browne. Mus: John Kay. Anim: R. Leach, V. Walker. Ed: Alex Ezard. Bkgrds: Rowl Greenholgh. 7 mins.NFVLS.
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