Watch the Birdie (1950 film)

Everything is going wrong for Rusty Cammeron, a photographer who owns a shop with his pop and grandpop. Rusty owes over $1,100, then loses a camera worth at least that much after borrowing it from a customer who, during a conversation about his work, sparks in Rusty the idea to try to take candid pictures of the rich and famous.

It is during his attempt to photograph an heiress with a yacht, Lucia Corlane, that Rusty loses the camera. Lucia feels somewhat responsible for the mishap and also takes a liking to the clumsy would-be photographer. She arranges for him to take pictures and film of a business interest of hers, Lucky Vista housing subdivision.

He fumbles the assignment overall, but unknowingly catches on film Lucia's estate's manager, Grantland Farns, and a banker named Shanway discussing their stake in Lucky Vista and how they are going to swindle her.

Glamorous Miss Lucky Vista, of whom Rusty takes pictures as part of the publicity promotion for the housing complex, is paid by Farns and Shanway to insinuate herself and create a compromising situation with Rusty, which Lucia walks in on.

Rusty realizes he has the incriminating film evidence and rushes to rescue Lucia from the grips of the crooks, and redeem himself; the couple end up in a bizarre chase as they endeavour to reach the police station. On the way, Lucia and he decide to get married.

• Red Skelton as Rusty / Pop / Grandpop
• Arlene Dahl as Lucia
• Ann Miller as Miss Lucky Vista
• Leon Ames as Grantland Farns
• Pamela Britton as Mrs. Shanway
• Richard Rober as Mr. Shanway
• Lurene Tuttle as Millie
• Andrew Tombes as Doctor
• Joseph Crehan as Police Captain
• Robert Emmett O'Connor as Policeman
• Kathleen O'Malley as Woman Who Undresses
• Willard Waterman as Mayor

The film is notable for Skelton playing the roles of three generations: the central character, his father as well as grandfather. Parts of the film were inspired by the 1928 comedy, The Cameraman, by Buster Keaton, who was at that point in his career working as a gagman at MGM and advising Skelton.[2]

Clips of the 1940 film Boom Town and the 1941 film Johnny Eager are shown in this film.

According to MGM records the film earned $1,318,000 in the US and Canada and $526,000 elsewhere resulting in a profit of $218,000.[1]

• Watch the Birdie at IMDb
• Watch the Birdie at the TCM Movie Database