Mister Scoutmaster
Mister Scoutmaster is a 1953 comedy film about Boy Scouts, starring Clifton Webb.[3] It is based on the book Be Prepared by Keith Monroe, writing under the pseudonym Rice E. Cochran.[4]
| Mister Scoutmaster | |
|---|---|
 Poster for Mister Scoutmaster | |
| Directed by | Henry Levin |
| Produced by | Leonard Goldstein |
| Screenplay by | Leonard Praskin Barney Slater |
| Based on | Be Prepared 1952 novel by Rice E. Cochran (Keith Monroe) |
| Starring | Clifton Webb Edmund Gwenn George Winslow |
| Music by | Cyril J. Mockridge |
| Cinematography | Joseph LaShelle |
| Edited by | William B. Murphy |
Production company | 20th Century Fox |
| Distributed by | 20th Century-Fox |
Release date |
|
Running time | 87 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $795,000[1] |
| Box office | $1.6 million (US rentals)[2] |
Plot
An arrogant, aloof television personality gets more than he bargained for when he consents to be leader to a troop of Boy Scouts. The sponsor of Robert Jordan's (Clifton Webb) TV program says he might cancel the show because Jordan appeals only to a middle-aged following and is out of touch with a younger audience.
Jordan takes his troubles home to wife Helen (Frances Dee), who wants a child of her own. When he learns that Helen has donated a favorite suit to a Boy Scout clothing drive, Jordan goes to retrieve it, but is flabbergasted when 8-year-old Mike Marshall (George Winslow) insists he pay full price for it.
The boy returns the money, impressing the Jordans. When the couple pursue adoption through the local church, Rev. Dr. Stone (Edmund Gwenn) mentions that the Scout troop is in need of a new scoutmaster. Jordan sees it as a chance to find out more about children, but is appalled by their rowdy behavior. Mike is too young to be a Scout, but persists in joining every activity.
Jordan discovers that Mike is an orphan who lives with an irresponsible aunt. Mike comes to the Scoutmaster's rescue in the woods when Jordan gets trapped inside a sleeping bag. The Jordans decide to adopt the boy, and Robert's television show is continued.
Cast
- Clifton Webb as Robert Jordan
- Frances Dee as Helen
- Edmund Gwenn as Dr. Stone
- George Winslow as the Boy (Mike)
- Veda Ann Borg as Blonde
- Orley Lindgren as Ace
- Jimmy Hawkins as Herbie Weber
- Jimmy Moss as Vernon Swanson
- Sammy Ogg as Harold Johnson
- Skip Torgerson as Christy Kerns
- Lee Aaker as Arthur
- Mickey Little as Chick
- Jon Gardner as Larry
- Sarah Selby as Mrs. Weber
- Amanda Randolph as Savannah, the Maid
Further reading
- Rice E Cochran (1952). Be prepared!: The life and illusions of a scoutmaster. ASIN B0007E4WS0.
References
- Solomon, Aubrey (1989). Twentieth Century Fox: A Corporate and Financial History. The Scarecrow Filmmakers Series. Lanham, Maryland: Scarecrow Press. p. 248. ISBN 978-0-8108-4244-1.
- "The Top Box Office Hits of 1953". Variety. January 13, 1954.
- "Mr Scoutmaster". TCMDB.
- "Keith Monroe". Scouting. May 2004. p. 6.