Merton of the Movies

Merton of the Movies

82 mins | Comedy, Romance | Oct. 11, 1947

In 1915, Kansas theatre usher Merton Gill is a rabid silent-movie fan. When he brings Mammoth Studios free publicity by imitating star Lawrence Rupert's heroics, they bring him to Hollywood to generate another headline; he thinks he'll get a movie contract. Disillusioned, he haunts the casting offices, where he meets and is consoled by Phyllis Montague, bit player and stunt-woman. When Merton finally gets his "break," though, it's not quite what he envisioned.

Merton of the Movies

82 mins | Comedy, Romance | Oct. 11, 1947

Merton of the Movies
In 1915, Kansas theatre usher Merton Gill is a rabid silent-movie fan. When he brings Mammoth Studios free publicity by imitating star Lawrence Rupert's heroics, they bring him to Hollywood to generate another headline; he thinks he'll get a movie contract. Disillusioned, he haunts the casting offices, where he meets and is consoled by Phyllis Montague, bit player and stunt-woman. When Merton finally gets his "break," though, it's not quite what he envisioned.
IMDb rating 6.3
Producers Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Original title Merton of the Movies
Directors Robert Alton
Writers Harry Leon Wilson, George S. Kaufman, Marc Connelly, Lou Breslow, George Wells

Cast

Red Skelton

as Merton Gill aka Clifford Armytage

Virginia O'Brien

as Phyllis Montague

Gloria Grahame

as Beulah Baxter

Leon Ames

as Lawrence Rupert

Alan Mowbray

as Frank Mulvaney

Charles D. Brown

as Jeff Baird

Hugo Haas

as Von Strutt - Director

Harry Hayden

as Mr. Gashwiler

Tom Trout

as Marty

Douglas Fowley

as Phil

Dick Wessel

as Chick

Morris Ankrum

as Goodfellow's Club Manager (uncredited)

King Baggot

as Man in Audience (uncredited)

William Benedict

as Von Strutt's Assistant (uncredited)

Oliver Blake

as Mr. Purdie (uncredited)

Chester Conklin

as Keystone Kop (uncredited)

Jim Davis

as Von Strutt's Assistant (uncredited)

Hal K. Dawson

as Gus Blanchard - Agent (uncredited)

Franklyn Farnum

as Man Raising Theatre Curtain (uncredited)

Mitchell Lewis

as Set Guard (uncredited)

George Magrill

as Gateman - Mammoth Studios (uncredited)

Frank Marlowe

as Ernie - Prop Man (uncredited)

Robert Emmett O'Connor

as Mac - Restaurant Counterman (uncredited)

Constance Purdy

as Landlady (uncredited)

Gordon Richards

as Kristen - Beulah's Butler (uncredited)

Tim Ryan

as Mammoth Studio's Night guard (uncredited)

Almira Sessions

as Mammoth Studio's Nurse (uncredited)

Celia Travers

as Secretary (uncredited)

Mary Treen

as Gladys (uncredited)