Mr. Peabody and the Mermaid (1948)

Slow pace in the most part of the movie.

In truth, there is barely enough story here to make a film.

Just intense enough to provide a much-needed diversion, just lightweight enough to make you forget about it soon after it’s over. It’s not exactly “good,” per se, but it does what it sets out to do in terms of putting us on edge, which makes it … successful?

One of the most extraordinary films you will see this year. Take that as you want.

I'm not sure whether Mr. Peabody's(William Powell) tale of falling in love with a singing mermaid is simply a bizarre manifestation of a midlife crisis, or perhaps the result of a bout of schizophrenia, or maybe the result of taking a psychoactive drug. In any case, his tale clearly was disturbing to those he told it to. Clinton Sundberg's character was so disturbed that he resumed drinking alcohol and smoking cigarettes: 4 at a time! Strangely, no one else saw what he saw, only a big fish. For the most part, I found the film boring. Perhaps it was meant mostly to entertain children, in the manner of "The Little Mermaid". It might have been made more palatable if Lenore(Peabody's name for Ann Blyth's mermaid) was given the capacity to talk as well sing eerily. She seemed to understand English, so why couldn't she talk, thus providing some insight into her past and life? His wife(Polly) confused his ardor for Lenore with an interaction with Cathy(Andrea King): a casual acquaintance, who seemed to take a liking to him. Polly got mad and left Peabody for home. Incidentally, Irene Hervey , who played Polly, looked a good deal like Myrna Loy, Powell's frequent costar, as in "The Thin Man "series. See it, if you wish, at YouTube.

I saw this as a child and never forgot it although it took years and repeated viewings to appreciate it. The story of a man approaching middle age ("50, the old age of youth, the youth of old age") who thinks he knows what he wants to rejuvenate himself and finds out, when given a choice, that he was wrong. There are three female figures in this film: the wife, calm, understanding and feisty (when she thinks he's been unfaithful she walks out and flies home from their vacation in the middle of the night), a muscial comedy star who is aggressively on the make for Peabody, and the Mermaid, docile, adoring and silent-and totally dependent. At one point Peabody says he wants a woman who "can't do much of anything", his mermaid, but when he gets her he doesn't really know what to do with her (and she almost drowns him at the end when she tries to take him to her underwater world). What he finds at the end is that the woman he really wants is his wife, who combines elements of the other two: loving without clinging, strong without being aggressive..I find this rather hopeful and a positive ending as opposed to those who find it bittersweet. The scenery, amazing photography, haunting music and dialogue are superb (special mention to Mary Field who hilariously tries to keep her composure and serve Mr Peabody in her "Wee Shop of Intimate Things" as he tries to buy first a sweater and then just a bikini top for his mermaid).And who would not want to spend the entire winter on St Hilda's island ("more than we could afford really, but it was all so beautiful, like heaven. And if you can find a little piece of heaven, who cares what it costs") where there's nothing to do but fish, swim, shop and have a party every night. A beautiful, magical film with William Powell a master. Get it on DVD!

William Powell stars as Mr. Peabody, a married man and on the verge of 50, and Ann Blyth as a mermaid he snags on his fishing rod one fanciful day, and ultimately falling for her. Usually I don't read other reviewers, but I did happen to scan over a few and found most of them liked this film. You can't help but like anything that William Powell is in; he gives anything he's in charm and a high regard it may not possess without him.Having said that, this movie suffers mostly from a weak script and an awkward feel to it due to its staginess and the use of a flashback, in the form of telling the story to a psychiatrist. I can't help feeling it would have been more effective in the present day, as it was happening right now. It does a mystical feel to it and I can see how someone would have fond feelings for it having seen it as a child and therefore see past its technical flaws.Ann Blyth is good and quite striking as the mermaid, who rightly doesn't speak a word, unlike Glynis Johns in "Miranda." With Glynis Johns' "Miranda" being made in 1948 also, I get the feeling that this was made to capitalize on "Miranda"'s success. It may not have the magic and humor that "Miranda" has, but, if you like William Powell and like his usual quirky approach to life's dilemmas, you'll be pleased for 90 minutes.

As a girl of 9 I saw Mr Peabody and the Mermaid and was blown away by it. It stayed in my memory as a mysterious and haunting film, with her song still ringing in my ears 56 years later.Luckily I found out that my TV/video is compatible with the NTSC system.(There is no DVD made as far as I know.) So through the magic of E-bay I bought the video from someone in America, who posted it to me in Australia. Tonight I played it. I saw that the humor of it went over my head as a child, but I still enjoyed it immensely. How divine and delightful is Anne Blythe! Loved her also in Rose Marie and The Student Prince. Leonie