MGM worked with Red on 2 feature films this year. In this one, the got one of the writer's of Chaplin's silent classic "The Kid" and then stuck in a musical director from MGM to pace the film differently from just Skelton's maniac paced comedy. The result is kind of mixed, but does showcase Skelton's talent as a clown and an actor in a "B" budget film meant as part of 1950's Double Features.
Tim Considine who makes his debut here, is effective as the little boy being shoved between mom and dad with his father DoDo, a clown whose down on his luck. This is the same actor who would go on to fame later on Spin and Marty and My Three Sons plus other Disney related stuffed. Ironically in this movie, Skelton slaps him because later he would get slapped by George C. Scott as Patton. After trying to revive his career in the early 2000's and now is very quiet at age 75.
I think audiences were surprised in movies when this one was released. During the same time period, Martin & Lewis did a serious film and I think that Skelton did better in a serious role than expected, this one was relegated to a minor film even though MGM did get a fairly good supporting cast including Jane Greer.
An error here might have been doing the tragedy at the end with Dink being at DoDo's death bed. A comedy film like this one deserved a brighter ending.
Tim Considine who makes his debut here, is effective as the little boy being shoved between mom and dad with his father DoDo, a clown whose down on his luck. This is the same actor who would go on to fame later on Spin and Marty and My Three Sons plus other Disney related stuffed. Ironically in this movie, Skelton slaps him because later he would get slapped by George C. Scott as Patton. After trying to revive his career in the early 2000's and now is very quiet at age 75.
I think audiences were surprised in movies when this one was released. During the same time period, Martin & Lewis did a serious film and I think that Skelton did better in a serious role than expected, this one was relegated to a minor film even though MGM did get a fairly good supporting cast including Jane Greer.
An error here might have been doing the tragedy at the end with Dink being at DoDo's death bed. A comedy film like this one deserved a brighter ending.