The Rocket Man * (1954, Charles Coburn, Spring Byington, Anne Francis, John Agar, Beverly Garland, John Agar, George ‘Foghorn’ Winslow) – Classic Movie Review 4834

Wait for it! ‘Out-of-this-world laughter and down-to-earth charm when the face from space turns out to be…the kid next door!’ But alas any acid wit, high-spirited fun or real charm are sorely lacking from director Oscar Rudolph’s lame, would-be whimsical 1954 family sci-fi fantasy comedy story. It stars Charles Coburn, Spring Byington, Anne Francis and John Agar.

An alien visits the Earth and hands a small orphan lad (George ‘Foghorn’ Winslow) a magical ray gun that makes everyone speak the truth, ordering him that he must employ it for human betterment. A greedy politician (Emory Parnell) plans to sell the lad’s orphanage after oil is found in the grounds, but the boy uses the gun to stop him drunkenly killing a child with his car.

With a screenplay by Lenny Bruce and Jack Henley, from a story by George W George and George F Slavin, it makes for an often very silly and mostly boring movie, though the cast have charm and the skills to save it.

Also in the cast are Beverly Garland, Stanley Clements, June Clayworth, Don Haggerty, Lawrence Ryle, Ralph Moody, Byron Foulger, Harry Harvey, Paul Brinegar, Jack Daly and Dale Van Sickel.

Child star kid with the deep voice George ‘Foghorn’ Winslow (born George Karl Wentzlaff) died on 13 June 2015, aged 69. He was best known for playing Marilyn Monroe’s young admirer in 1953’s Gentlemen Prefer Blondes and in Monkey Business with Cary Grant. He retired from acting at the age of 12.

© Derek Winnert 2016 Classic Movie Review 4834

Check out more reviews on http://derekwinnert.com