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Whistling in Brooklyn (1943) starring Red Skelton, Ann Rutherford, Rags Ragland

Whistling in Brooklyn [Red Skelton]

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Whistling in Brooklyn (1943) starring Red Skelton, Ann Rutherford, Rags Ragland

Movie review of Red Skelton’s third, and final, appearance as Wally Benton, aka. The Fox, a radio personality and amateur detective. In this installment, The Fox is still trying to marry his fiancee. But he’s on the run from the police after being blamed for the murders of the mysterious “Constant Reader”. Danger and comedy in equal parts, with an appearance by the Brooklyn Dodgers as well!

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Movie review of Merton of the Movies (1947), starring Red Skelton, Virginia O'Brien

Merton of the Movies

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Movie review of Merton of the Movies (1947), starring Red Skelton, Virginia O’Brien

Merton of the Movies is set in the silent movie era of Hollywood. Red Skelton plays the part of Gil Merton, a naive, movie-struck young man. He’s given a chance to be a star…. But he doesn’t realize it. A very funny, and sweet, Red Skelton movie co-starring Virginia O’Brien.

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Whistling in Dixie, starring Diana Lewis, Red Skelton, Ann Rutherford

Whistling in Dixie

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Red Skelton, Ann Rutherford and Diana Lewis in a publicity still from Whistling in Dixie (1942)
 Red Skelton in a publicity photo for Whistling in Dixie, with the lovely Diana Lewis and Ann Rutherford

Whistling in Dixie (1942) starring Red Skelton, Ann Rutherford, Rags Ragland

Whistling in Dixie is the sequel to the popular Whistling in the Dark.  Red Skelton again plays the role of Wally Benton, €˜aka. The Fox. He’s a radio detective, who simply wants to take off two weeks of vacation so he can get married. To his long-suffering fiancee Carol Lambert (played by Ann Rutherford).   Wally pretends to be on the verge of a nervous breakdown in order to twist his radio sponsor’s arm in order to get that vacation. Only to have Carol change their plans when she’s contacted by Ellamae (Diana Lewis), her sorority sister from Georgia, U.S.A. Ellamae’s boyfriend appears to have been murdered.   Carol convinces Wally to go down to Georgia to get married, and Wally complies. Only to get involved in the unraveling mystery.

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Movie review of A Southern Yankee (1948) starring Red Skelton, Arlene Dahl, Brian Donlevy

A Southern Yankee

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Movie review of A Southern Yankee (1948) starring Red Skelton, Arlene Dahl, Brian Donlevy

Buy from Amazon.com  A Southern Yankee is a very funny movie, set at the tail end of the American Civil War. Red Skelton plays the role of Aubrey Filmore, an inept bellboy at a Northern hotel. He manages to catch €œthe Grey Spider €, a very famous (and dangerous) Southern spy.  

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Whistling in the Dark  (1941) starring Red Skelton, Conrad Veidt, Ann Rutherford, Eve Arden, Rags Ragland

Whistling in the Dark

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Whistling in the Dark  (1941) starring Red Skelton, Conrad Veidt, Ann Rutherford, Eve Arden, Rags Ragland

 Whistling in the Dark was  Red Skelton‘s first starring role. It gave him the opportunity to strut his comedic muscles.   The movie begins with the meeting an odd cult, Silver Haven.  “We part in radiant contentment,” is their recurring phrase.  Silver Haven is quickly revealed as a  scheme to bilk gullible people out of their money.

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Poor You lyrics - music by Burton Lane, lyrics by E.Y. Harburg, sung in Ship Ahoy by Frank Sinatra

Poor You lyrics

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Poor You lyrics – music by Burton Lane, lyrics by E.Y. Harburg, sung in Ship Ahoy by Frank Sinatra

Poor you, I’m sorry you’re not me
For you will never know what loving you can be
Poor you, you’ll never know your charms
You’ll never feel your warmth, you’re never in your arms

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The Yellow Cab Man (1950) starring Red Skelton, Gloria DeHaven, Walter Slezak

The Yellow Cab Man [Red Skelton]

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The Yellow Cab Man (1950) starring Red Skelton, Gloria DeHaven, Walter Slezak

 The Yellow Cab Man begins with a very funny title sequence. The accident-prone “Red” Pirdy, portrayed by Red Skelton, falls down stairs and ends up in the hospital. He confides to the audience, “You know this is the best cast I’ve ever been in”. With the various cast members having “signed” his cast.   The film proper begins with character actor Charles Lane, an agent for an insurance company, turning Red down for insurance …. Since he’s accident prone.

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