The Misadventures of Merlin Jones (1964)

Merlin Jones, a precocious and intelligent high-school boy, experiments with hypnosis and creates a mind-reading machine. However, his experiments land him in deep trouble with the law.

Director:

Robert Stevenson

Writers:

Bill Walsh (screen story), Alfred Lewis Levitt (screenplay),

Stars:

Tommy Kirk, Annette Funicello, Leon Ames

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Tommy Kirk	...	Merlin Jones
Annette Funicello	...	Jennifer (as Annette)
Leon Ames	...	Judge Holmsby / Lex Fortas
Stuart Erwin	...	Police Captain Loomis
Alan Hewitt	...	Professor Shattuck
Connie Gilchrist	...	Mrs. Gossett, Holmby's Housekeeper
Dal McKennon	...	Detective Hutchins
Norman Grabowski	...	Norman, Midvale Football Player

Storyline

Merlin Jones, a precocious and intelligent high-school boy, experiments with hypnosis and creates a mind-reading machine. However, his experiments land him in deep trouble with the law.

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Plot Keywords:

hypnosis | mind reading | teen scientist | medfield college | science | 

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Taglines:

WHEN THE I.Q. REACHES FOR THE CAMP Q.T.

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Genres:

Family | Comedy | Sci-Fi

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

25 March 1964 (USA)

Also Known As:

As Desventuras de Merlin Jones

Filming Locations:

Walt Disney Studios, 500 South Buena Vista Street, Burbank, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Walt Disney Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

91 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound Recording)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Did You Know?

Goofs

Judge Holmsby obviously has no lenses in his glasses frames.

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Connections

References King Kong (1933)

User Reviews

Fluffy and mindless but still fun

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.