A Really Important Person (1947)

A policeman's son searches for a suitable subject for an essay about an important person.

Director:

Basil Wrangell

Writers:

Harriet Frank Jr. (screenplay), George B. Seitz Jr. (screenplay),

Stars:

Dean Stockwell, Connie Gilchrist, Clancy Cooper

Cast

Cast overview:
Dean Stockwell	...	Billy Reilly
Connie Gilchrist	...	Mrs. Reilly
Clancy Cooper	...	Police Officer Timothy Reilly
Chick York	...	Librarian
John Nesbitt	...	Narrator (voice)

Storyline

Billy Reilly, the young son of a policeman, wants to enter a contest that offers a baseball glove for the best essay on an important person. As Billy is in the library, struggling to come up with an idea, a man suggests that he look around him instead of looking in books. Later, when Billy is playing ball with his friends, he accidentally breaks a window. Eventually this helps him learn a lesson that also gives him an idea for his essay.

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Plot Keywords:

essay | contest | boy | perseverance | narration | 

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Genres:

Short | Drama

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

11 January 1947 (USA)

Also Known As:

Passing Parade No. 59: A Really Important Person

Filming Locations:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios - 10202 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

11 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Baseball slugger Hank Greenberg is seen on the cover of Look magazine.

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Connections

Follows Nursery Rhyme Mysteries (1943)

User Reviews

Barely entertaining short benefits from Dean Stockwell's performance...

Surely, a better story could have evolved around a boy required to write an essay on "A Very Important Person" and choosing to name his father as recipient of the honor.

In this lackluster short, the boy suddenly decides that his hard working father (a traffic cop) is worthy of being the subject of his prize-winning essay. DEAN STOCKWELL, one of the few natural child actors, is impressive in the central role as the boy who gradually comes to realize that he doesn't have to look far for a worthy subject.

Perhaps if the father had a strong role in the proceedings, the ending might be more believable. As it is, it's a weak message delivered in a routine way by MGM. Contract player CONNIE GILCHRIST has a small role as Dean's hard-working mother.

Narrated by John Nesbitt, it's a bit pretentious and easy to skip.