Watch the Birdie (1950 film)


Watch the Birdie is a 1950 comedy film directed by Jack Donohue and starring Red Skelton, Arlene Dahl, and Ann Miller.

Plot

Everything's going wrong for Rusty Cammeron, a photographer who owns a shop with his pop and grandpop. Rusty owes over $1,100, then loses a camera worth at least that much after borrowing it from another man who suggested Rusty try to take candid pictures of the rich and famous.
One of the latter is Lucia Corlane, an heiress with a yacht. She is being swindled by her estate's manager, Grantland Farns, and a banker named Shanway, who have business interests in the Lucky Vista housing subdivision.
Rusty is asked by Lucia to take pictures of glamorous Miss Lucky Vista for publicity purposes. He ends up in a compromising position with her, making Lucia angry, unaware that the gentlemen betraying her have paid Miss Lucky Vista to seduce the photographer. Rusty has incriminating photos they want back, but the bad guys underestimate him, and Lucia ends up marrying him.

Cast

The film is notable for Skelton playing the roles of three generations: the central character, his father as well as grandfather. Parts of the film were inspired by the 1928 comedy, The Cameraman, by Buster Keaton, who was at that point in his career working as a gagman at MGM and advising Skelton.

Reception

According to MGM records the film earned $1,318,000 in the US and Canada and $526,000 elsewhere resulting in a profit of $218,000.