Mr. Peabody and the Mermaid

Mr. Peabody and the Mermaid
Mr. Peabody and the Mermaid
	Theatrical film poster
Directed by	Irving Pichel
Screenplay by	Nunnally Johnson
Based on	Peabody's Mermaid; 1946 novel; by Guy Pearce Jones and Constance Bridges Jones
Produced by	Nunnally Johnson; Gene Fowler Jr. (associate producer)
Starring	William Powell; Ann Blyth
Cinematography	Russell Metty
Edited by	Marjorie Fowler
Music by	Robert Emmet Dolan
Production; company	Nunnaly Johnson Productions
Distributed by	Universal-International Pictures
Release date	August 11, 1948 (U.S.);
Running time	89 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English

Mr. Peabody and the Mermaid is a 1948 American romantic fantasy film directed by Irving Pichel starring William Powell and Ann Blyth in the title roles. The film was based on the 1945 novel Peabody's Mermaid by Guy and Constance Jones. Sequences were shot at the Weeki Wachee Springs in Florida;^[1] Blyth's swimming doubles were Nancy Tribble and Mary Ann Ziegler.^[2]

Plot

Much of the story is shown in flashback as Arthur Peabody tells a skeptical doctor about the source of his malaise.

After a bad bout of influenza, Peabody had gone on vacation with his wife Polly to the fictional Caribbean resort of St Hilda. While there, he hears singing coming from a rocky cay offshore and sails his boat to investigate and do a little fishing. To his embarrassment, he reels in a beautiful mermaid whom he names Lenore. Although mute, she is mischievous and childlike and more than a little alluring – so much so that before long Peabody has taught her to kiss. Meanwhile, he hides Lenore in the resort’s deep fish pond.

Confusion ensues as Peabody's wife Polly, who is herself attracted to suave Englishman Major Hadley, suspects her husband of infidelity with a vacationing singer. Things get more complicated after Polly storms off home without Peabody and police suspect him of murder. A search party pursues him to the cay, where Lenore nearly drowns Peabody by trying to conceal him underwater.

Back at home in Boston, as snow is falling, Peabody is talked into consulting Dr. Harvey and telling his story. In the end, Peabody seems to be persuaded by the doctor that he was hallucinating while undergoing a midlife crisis on the approach of his 50th birthday. There is only Lenore’s comb left to prove the reality of his adventure and this he gives to his wife as a homecoming gift.

Cast

William Powell as Mr. Arthur Peabody
Ann Blyth as Mermaid
Irene Hervey as Mrs. Polly Peabody
Andrea King as Cathy Livingston
Clinton Sundberg as Mike Fitzgerald
Art Smith as Dr. Harvey
Hugh French as Major Hadley
Lumsden Hare as Col. Mandrake
Frederick Clarke as Basil
James Logan as Lieutenant
Mary Field as Wee Shop Clerk
Beatrice Roberts as Mother
Cynthia Corley as Nurse
Tom Stevenson as Charlie - Waiter
Mary Somerville as Lady Trebshaw
Dick Ryan Waiter (as Richard Ryan)
Robert Hyatt as Little Boy (Bobby Hyatt)
Ivan Browning as Sidney (as Ivan H. Browning)

Home media

The film was initially released by on DVD by ATI Corp,^[3] and was re-released by Olive Films (under license from Paramount Home Media Distribution) on DVD and Blu-ray on July 8, 2014.^[4]

References

^ Philip Hayward, Making a Splash: Mermaids (and Mer-Men) in 20th and 21st Century Audiovisual Media, Indiana University 2017, pp.56-7
^ "Mermaid's Tail Plays Large Role in Hecht's Swell Campaign on 'Peabody'." Showmen's Trade Review, 4 September 1948, 13.
^ Mr. Peabody and the Mermaid, ATI Corp. - Amazon.com
^ Mr. Peabody and the Mermaid, Blu-Ray - Amazon.com