Mister Scoutmaster
   HOME

TheInfoList



Click Here for Items Related To - Mister Scoutmaster
OR:
Mister Scoutmaster on:   [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Amazon]

''Mister Scoutmaster'' is a 1953
comedy film A comedy film is a category of film which emphasizes humor. These films are designed to make the audience laugh through amusement. Films in this style traditionally have a happy ending ( black comedy being an exception). Comedy is one of the o ...
about
Boy Scouts Boy Scouts may refer to: * Boy Scout, a participant in the Boy Scout Movement. * Scouting, also known as the Boy Scout Movement. * An organisation in the Scouting Movement, although many of these organizations also have female members. There are t ...
, starring
Clifton Webb Webb Parmelee Hollenbeck (November 19, 1889 – October 13, 1966), known professionally as Clifton Webb, was an American actor, singer, and dancer. He worked extensively and was known for his stage appearances in the plays of Noël Coward, i ...
. It is based on the book ''Be Prepared'' by Keith Monroe, writing under the pseudonym Rice E. Cochran.


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 Webb Parmelee Hollenbeck (November 19, 1889 – October 13, 1966), known professionally as Clifton Webb, was an American actor, singer, and dancer. He worked extensively and was known for his stage appearances in the plays of Noël Coward, i ...
) 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 Frances Marion Dee (November 26, 1909 – March 6, 2004) was an American actress. Her first film was the musical ''Playboy of Paris'' (1930). She starred in the film '' An American Tragedy'' (1931). She is also known for starring in the 1943 ...
), 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 George Karl Wentzlaff, whose stage name was George "Foghorn" Winslow (May 3, 1946 June 13, 2015), was an American child actor of the 1950s known for his stentorian voice and deadpan demeanor. He appeared in several films, opposite such stars as ...
) 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 Edmund Gwenn (born Edmund John Kellaway; 26 September 1877 – 6 September 1959) was an English actor. On film, he is best remembered for his role as Kris Kringle in the Christmas film ''Miracle on 34th Street'' (1947), for which he won th ...
) 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 tries to hide the fact that he lives with an irresponsible aunt in the city's waterfront district. Mike comes to the Scoutmaster's rescue in the woods when Jordan gets trapped inside a sleeping bag at the bottom of a ravine. The Jordans decide to adopt the boy, and Robert's television show is continued.


Cast

*
Clifton Webb Webb Parmelee Hollenbeck (November 19, 1889 – October 13, 1966), known professionally as Clifton Webb, was an American actor, singer, and dancer. He worked extensively and was known for his stage appearances in the plays of Noël Coward, i ...
as Robert Jordan *
Frances Dee Frances Marion Dee (November 26, 1909 – March 6, 2004) was an American actress. Her first film was the musical ''Playboy of Paris'' (1930). She starred in the film '' An American Tragedy'' (1931). She is also known for starring in the 1943 ...
as Helen *
Edmund Gwenn Edmund Gwenn (born Edmund John Kellaway; 26 September 1877 – 6 September 1959) was an English actor. On film, he is best remembered for his role as Kris Kringle in the Christmas film ''Miracle on 34th Street'' (1947), for which he won th ...
as Dr. Stone *
George Winslow George Karl Wentzlaff, whose stage name was George "Foghorn" Winslow (May 3, 1946 June 13, 2015), was an American child actor of the 1950s known for his stentorian voice and deadpan demeanor. He appeared in several films, opposite such stars as ...
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 Lee William Aaker (September 25, 1943 – April 1, 2021)Goldrup, Tom & Goldrup, Jim (2002) Growing Up on the Set: Interviews with 39 Former Child Actors of Classic Film and Television', McFarland & Co Inc, , pp. 5–12 was an American child actor ...
as Arthur * Mickey Little as Chick * Jon Gardner as Larry *
Sarah Selby Sarah Elizabeth Selby (born August 30, 1905 – January 7, 1980) was an American actress. Career Selby was a character actress who played minor roles for the most part – usually a town gossip, maiden aunt, or teacher. Beginning her career as a ...
as Mrs. Weber *
Amanda Randolph Amanda E. Randolph (September 2, 1896 – August 24, 1967) was an American actress, singer and musician. She was the first African-American performer to star in a regularly scheduled network television show, appearing in DuMont's ''The Laytons' ...
as Savannah, the Maid


Further reading

*


References


External links

* * * {{AFI film, id=50946, title=Mister Scoutmaster 1953 comedy films 1953 films 20th Century Fox films American comedy films Films shot in Los Angeles American black-and-white films Films based on American novels Films scored by Cyril J. Mockridge Films about the Boy Scouts of America Films directed by Henry Levin 1950s English-language films 1950s American films