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'''''The Misadventures of Merlin Jones''''' is a 1964 [[Walt Disney]] production starring [[Tommy Kirk]] and [[Annette Funicello]]. Kirk plays a college student who experiments with mind-reading and hypnotism, leading to run-ins with a local judge. Funicello plays his girlfriend (and sings the film's title song, accompanied by Disneyland's very own harmony quartet, The Yachtsmen, written by brothers [[Robert and Richard Sherman]]).
'''''The Misadventures of Merlin Jones''''' is a 1964 [[Walt Disney]] production starring [[Tommy Kirk]] and [[Annette Funicello]]. Kirk plays a college student who experiments with mind-reading and hypnotism, leading to run-ins with a local judge. Funicello plays his girlfriend (and sings the film's title song, accompanied by Disneyland's very own harmony quartet, The Yachtsmen, written by brothers [[Robert and Richard Sherman]]).<ref>MISADVENTURES OF MERLIN JONES, The
Monthly Film Bulletin; London Vol. 31, Iss. 360, (Jan 1, 1964): 135. </ref>


This film led to a 1965 sequel called ''[[The Monkey's Uncle]]''.
This film led to a 1965 sequel called ''[[The Monkey's Uncle]]''.
Line 50: Line 51:
==Production notes==
==Production notes==
The screen credit for writing reads, "Screenplay by Tom and Helen August", which were the pseudonyms for [[Alfred Lewis Levitt]] and [[Helen Slote Levitt|Helen Levitt]], two writers who were [[Hollywood blacklist|blacklisted]].<ref>[http://www.variety.com/vstory/VR1117434876.html?categoryid=38&cs=1 ''Variety'', April 3, 1997]</ref>
The screen credit for writing reads, "Screenplay by Tom and Helen August", which were the pseudonyms for [[Alfred Lewis Levitt]] and [[Helen Slote Levitt|Helen Levitt]], two writers who were [[Hollywood blacklist|blacklisted]].<ref>[http://www.variety.com/vstory/VR1117434876.html?categoryid=38&cs=1 ''Variety'', April 3, 1997]</ref>

Tommy Kirk and Annette Funicello had previously starred in two films for Disney made for US television but released theatrically in other markets, ''[[The Horsemasters]]'' and ''[[Escapade in Florence]]''. This was originally made for television but Disney decided to release it theatrically.<ref>TV at Bottom of Movie Barrel, Makes Own
Scheuer, Philip K. Los Angeles Times 27 Mar 1966: b5. </ref>


To date Disney has not officially stated whether or not this film was actually two episodes of a planned television series, but this has long been suspected to be the case,<ref>[http://www.scifilm.org/musing2741.html SciFilm.org] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101201185709/http://scifilm.org/musing2741.html |date=2010-12-01 }}</ref> with at least one critic, Eugene Archer, of ''The New York Times'', writing upon its release: <blockquote>
To date Disney has not officially stated whether or not this film was actually two episodes of a planned television series, but this has long been suspected to be the case,<ref>[http://www.scifilm.org/musing2741.html SciFilm.org] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101201185709/http://scifilm.org/musing2741.html |date=2010-12-01 }}</ref> with at least one critic, Eugene Archer, of ''The New York Times'', writing upon its release: <blockquote>
"Movies made for television are commonplace these days, but the idea of screening television shows in movie theaters is still farfetched. Who is expected to spend the $2? Strange as it sounds, this seems to be the explanation behind Walt Disney's latest hit, "The Misadventures of Merlin Jones." It is a pastiche of two separate stories with the same set of characters, each running less than an hour (leaving time for commercials), stitched together in the middle and released yesterday in neighborhood theaters." <ref>[https://movies.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=9906E2D71230E033A25755C2A9659C946591D6CF ''The New York Times'', March 26, 1964]</ref>
"Movies made for television are commonplace these days, but the idea of screening television shows in movie theaters is still farfetched. Who is expected to spend the $2? Strange as it sounds, this seems to be the explanation behind Walt Disney's latest hit, "The Misadventures of Merlin Jones." It is a pastiche of two separate stories with the same set of characters, each running less than an hour (leaving time for commercials), stitched together in the middle and released yesterday in neighborhood theaters." <ref>[https://movies.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=9906E2D71230E033A25755C2A9659C946591D6CF ''The New York Times'', March 26, 1964]</ref>
</blockquote>
</blockquote>
Filming took place in early 1963.<ref>Filmland Events: Miss Pickford, Lloyd Will Receive Honor.
Filming took place in January 1963.<ref>Filmland Events: Miss Pickford, Lloyd Will Receive Honor.
Los Angeles Times (1923-Current File) [Los Angeles, Calif.] 03 Jan 1963: C7.</ref> In March of that year it was reported NBC were so pleased with the results they wanted more Merlin Jones adventures.<ref>ABC Planning the Shocker of All Time Chicago Tribune (1963-Current file) [Chicago, Ill.] 16 Mar 1963: d19.</ref> It appears that Disney then decided to release the movie theatrically.
Los Angeles Times 3 Jan 1963: C7.</ref>
In March 1963it was reported NBC were so pleased with Annette Funicello that they wanted Disney to make two more films with the same character. <ref>ABC Planning the Shocker of All Time Chicago Tribune (1963-Current file) [Chicago, Ill.] 16 Mar 1963: d19.</ref> It appears that Disney then decided to release the movie theatrically.


==Reception==
==Reception==
Line 61: Line 67:
The ''[[Chicago Tribune]]'' called it "a kooky comedy of the type young people will enjoy thoroughly... good natured nonsense."<ref> "Disney Film Good Fun for Family: "THE MISADVENTURES OF MERLIN JONES"
The ''[[Chicago Tribune]]'' called it "a kooky comedy of the type young people will enjoy thoroughly... good natured nonsense."<ref> "Disney Film Good Fun for Family: "THE MISADVENTURES OF MERLIN JONES"
TINEE, MAE. Chicago Tribune (1963-Current file) [Chicago, Ill] 14 Feb 1964: b16. </ref>
TINEE, MAE. Chicago Tribune (1963-Current file) [Chicago, Ill] 14 Feb 1964: b16. </ref>

The ''Los Angeles Times'' called it "the kind of offbeat, screwball farce at which Disney is past master."<ref>Entertainment: Disney Films Fun Picture
Los Angeles Times 3 Jan 1964: C6. </ref>


===Box office===
===Box office===
Although critics were not impressed, audiences seemed to love it, as the film grossed over $4 million in North America, surprising even Disney.<ref>Disney: Self-Perpetuating Money Machine: 'Mary Poppins' Works Her Magic for Happy Shareowners
Although critics were not impressed, audiences seemed to love it, as the film grossed over $4 million in North America, surprising even Disney. "Nobody knows what a picture will do," said E. Carton Walker, Disney's vice president in charge of advertising. "''Merlin Jones'' grossed $4 million... and surprised everybody."<ref>Disney: Self-Perpetuating Money Machine: 'Mary Poppins' Works Her Magic for Happy Shareowners
VanderVeld, Richard L. Los Angeles Times (1923-Current File) [Los Angeles, Calif] 18 July 1965: h1.</ref> It made enough money to encourage [[The Monkey's Uncle|a sequel in 1965]].<ref>Disney Announces Diverse Schedule: Doris Day Winner (Again); Ill Wind a Boon to Actors Scheuer, Philip K. Los Angeles Times (1923-Current File) [Los Angeles, Calif] 04 Jan 1965: B7.</ref>
VanderVeld, Richard L. Los Angeles Times 18 July 1965: h1.</ref
It made enough money to encourage [[The Monkey's Uncle|a sequel in 1965]].<ref>Disney Announces Diverse Schedule: Doris Day Winner (Again); Ill Wind a Boon to Actors Scheuer, Philip K. Los Angeles Times (1923-Current File) [Los Angeles, Calif] 04 Jan 1965: B7.</ref>


==References==
==References==

Revision as of 13:09, 15 April 2019

The Misadventures of Merlin Jones
Directed byRobert Stevenson
Written byStory:
Bill Walsh
Screenplay:
Alfred Lewis Levitt
Helen Levitt
Produced byWalt Disney
Ron Miller
StarringTommy Kirk
Annette Funicello
Leon Ames
CinematographyEdward Colman
Edited byCotton Warburton
Music byBuddy Baker
Production
company
Distributed byBuena Vista Distribution
Release date
March 25, 1964 (1964-03-25)
Running time
91 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Box office$4,000,000 (US/ Canada)[1]

The Misadventures of Merlin Jones is a 1964 Walt Disney production starring Tommy Kirk and Annette Funicello. Kirk plays a college student who experiments with mind-reading and hypnotism, leading to run-ins with a local judge. Funicello plays his girlfriend (and sings the film's title song, accompanied by Disneyland's very own harmony quartet, The Yachtsmen, written by brothers Robert and Richard Sherman).[2]

This film led to a 1965 sequel called The Monkey's Uncle.

Plot

Midvale College student Merlin Jones (Tommy Kirk), who is always involved with mind experiments, designs a helmet that connects to an electroencephalographic tape that records mental activity. He is brought before Judge Holmsby (Leon Ames) for wearing the helmet while driving and his license is suspended. Merlin returns to the lab and discovers accidentally that his new invention enables him to read minds.

Judge Holmsby visits the diner where Merlin works part-time, and Merlin, through his newly found powers, learns that the judge is planning a crime. After informing the police, he is disregarded as a crackpot. Merlin and Jennifer (Annette Funicello), his girlfriend, break into Judge Holmsby's house looking for something to prove Holmsby's criminal intent but are arrested by the police. Holmsby then confesses that he is the crime book author, "Lex Fortis," and asks that this identity be kept confidential.

Merlin's next experiment uses hypnotism. After hypnotizing Stanley, Midvale's lab chimp, into standing up for himself against Norman (Norm Grabowski) - the bully student in charge of caring for Stanley, Merlin gets into a fight with Norman, and is brought before Judge Holmsby again. Intrigued by Merlin's experiments, the judge asks for Merlin's help in constructing a mystery plot for his next book.

Working on the premise that no honest person can be made to do anything they wouldn’t do otherwise – especially commit a crime – Merlin hypnotizes Holmsby and instructs him to kidnap Stanley. Shocked when the judge actually commits the crime, Merlin and Jennifer return the chimp, but are charged for the theft themselves. The judge sentences Merlin to jail, completely unaware of his own role in the crime. Livid at the injustice, Jennifer persuades Holmsby of his own guilt, and the good judge admits that there might be a little dishonesty in everybody.

Cast

Production notes

The screen credit for writing reads, "Screenplay by Tom and Helen August", which were the pseudonyms for Alfred Lewis Levitt and Helen Levitt, two writers who were blacklisted.[3]

Tommy Kirk and Annette Funicello had previously starred in two films for Disney made for US television but released theatrically in other markets, The Horsemasters and Escapade in Florence. This was originally made for television but Disney decided to release it theatrically.[4]

To date Disney has not officially stated whether or not this film was actually two episodes of a planned television series, but this has long been suspected to be the case,[5] with at least one critic, Eugene Archer, of The New York Times, writing upon its release:

"Movies made for television are commonplace these days, but the idea of screening television shows in movie theaters is still farfetched. Who is expected to spend the $2? Strange as it sounds, this seems to be the explanation behind Walt Disney's latest hit, "The Misadventures of Merlin Jones." It is a pastiche of two separate stories with the same set of characters, each running less than an hour (leaving time for commercials), stitched together in the middle and released yesterday in neighborhood theaters." [6]

Filming took place in January 1963.[7]

In March 1963it was reported NBC were so pleased with Annette Funicello that they wanted Disney to make two more films with the same character. [8] It appears that Disney then decided to release the movie theatrically.

Reception

Critical

The Chicago Tribune called it "a kooky comedy of the type young people will enjoy thoroughly... good natured nonsense."[9]

The Los Angeles Times called it "the kind of offbeat, screwball farce at which Disney is past master."[10]

Box office

Although critics were not impressed, audiences seemed to love it, as the film grossed over $4 million in North America, surprising even Disney. "Nobody knows what a picture will do," said E. Carton Walker, Disney's vice president in charge of advertising. "Merlin Jones grossed $4 million... and surprised everybody."Cite error: A <ref> tag is missing the closing </ref> (see the help page).

References

  1. ^ "Updated All-time Film Champs", Variety, 9 January 1974 p 60. Please note figure is rentals accruing to distributors.
  2. ^ MISADVENTURES OF MERLIN JONES, The Monthly Film Bulletin; London Vol. 31, Iss. 360, (Jan 1, 1964): 135.
  3. ^ Variety, April 3, 1997
  4. ^ TV at Bottom of Movie Barrel, Makes Own Scheuer, Philip K. Los Angeles Times 27 Mar 1966: b5.
  5. ^ SciFilm.org Archived 2010-12-01 at the Wayback Machine
  6. ^ The New York Times, March 26, 1964
  7. ^ Filmland Events: Miss Pickford, Lloyd Will Receive Honor. Los Angeles Times 3 Jan 1963: C7.
  8. ^ ABC Planning the Shocker of All Time Chicago Tribune (1963-Current file) [Chicago, Ill.] 16 Mar 1963: d19.
  9. ^ "Disney Film Good Fun for Family: "THE MISADVENTURES OF MERLIN JONES" TINEE, MAE. Chicago Tribune (1963-Current file) [Chicago, Ill] 14 Feb 1964: b16.
  10. ^ Entertainment: Disney Films Fun Picture Los Angeles Times 3 Jan 1964: C6.
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