{"id":5592,"date":"2008-05-22T12:08:07","date_gmt":"2008-05-22T19:08:07","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=5592"},"modified":"2021-01-27T11:14:18","modified_gmt":"2021-01-27T18:14:18","slug":"mr-peabody-and-the-mermaid-1948","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=5592","title":{"rendered":"Mr. Peabody and the Mermaid (1948)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>&#8220;There&#8217;s much to be said for a woman &#8212; even an imperfect one &#8212; who lives, breathes, and exists only for the man she loves.&#8221;<\/strong><\/p>\n<table>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/05\/Mr-Peabody-Poster-1.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/05\/Mr-Peabody-Poster-1-194x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"194\" height=\"300\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-66365\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/05\/Mr-Peabody-Poster-1-194x300.jpg 194w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/05\/Mr-Peabody-Poster-1-83x128.jpg 83w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/05\/Mr-Peabody-Poster-1-175x270.jpg 175w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/05\/Mr-Peabody-Poster-1.jpg 500w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 194px) 100vw, 194px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Synopsis:<\/strong><br \/>\nA middle-aged man (William Powell) on vacation in the Caribbean falls in love with a mermaid (Ann Blyth), and finds his marriage (to Irene Hervey) threatened.\n<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>\n<strong>Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Ann Blyth Films<\/li>\n<li>Fantasy<\/li>\n<li>Flashback Films<\/li>\n<li>Infidelity<\/li>\n<li>Mid-Life Crisis<\/li>\n<li>Mermaids<\/li>\n<li>Romantic Comedy<\/li>\n<li>Vacation<\/li>\n<li>William Powell Films<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Review: <\/strong><br \/>\nAs indicated in the quote cited above, this tepid romantic comedy by director Irving Pichel &#8212; based on Guy and Constance Jones&#8217; novel <em>Peabody&#8217;s Mermaid<\/em> &#8212; unabashedly explores sex and relationships from a <em>male<\/em> point of view, specifically that of a 50-year-old married man rapidly embarking upon a mid-life crisis. Structured as a flashback story told to a psychiatrist (Art Smith), <em>Mr. Peabody and the Mermaid<\/em> is clearly meant to satirize the age-old trope of middle-aged men falling for naive girls half their age; indeed, Peabody makes no excuses for himself when describing &#8212; through voiceover &#8212; what he&#8217;s looking for in an ideal woman (&#8220;What I like is a woman who can&#8217;t do <em>anything<\/em> very much&#8221;), or telling the nubile, conveniently mute Lenore that in her eyes there exists both eternal wisdom and &#8220;the beauty of a child, too: simple, direct, uncomplicated.&#8221; <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/05\/Mr-Peabody-Midlife-Crisis2.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/05\/Mr-Peabody-Midlife-Crisis2.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1277\" height=\"923\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-58579\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/05\/Mr-Peabody-Midlife-Crisis2.png 1277w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/05\/Mr-Peabody-Midlife-Crisis2-300x217.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/05\/Mr-Peabody-Midlife-Crisis2-1024x740.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/05\/Mr-Peabody-Midlife-Crisis2-128x93.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/05\/Mr-Peabody-Midlife-Crisis2-768x555.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/05\/Mr-Peabody-Midlife-Crisis2-374x270.png 374w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1277px) 100vw, 1277px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Unfortunately, while it&#8217;s clear that Peabody&#8217;s lust for Lenore is merely a symptom of his own male insecurity, his growing infatuation remains uncomfortable to watch &#8212; yet we&#8217;re stuck with nobody else to root for. While Ann Blyth does a nice job playing a character who must communicate exclusively through facial expressions and body language, she never emerges as a three-dimensional character, and Peabody&#8217;s wife (Irene Hervey) comes across as little more than a close-minded shrew. Meanwhile, an ongoing comedic riff about a morose investigator (Clinton Sundberg) who has recently given up both alcohol and cigarettes &#8212; and must deal with temptation everywhere he goes &#8212; is decidedly unfunny:<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/05\/Mr-Peabody-Sundberg2.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/05\/Mr-Peabody-Sundberg2.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1273\" height=\"919\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-58581\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/05\/Mr-Peabody-Sundberg2.png 1273w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/05\/Mr-Peabody-Sundberg2-300x217.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/05\/Mr-Peabody-Sundberg2-1024x739.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/05\/Mr-Peabody-Sundberg2-128x92.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/05\/Mr-Peabody-Sundberg2-768x554.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/05\/Mr-Peabody-Sundberg2-374x270.png 374w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1273px) 100vw, 1273px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>and Peabody&#8217;s biggest crisis &#8212; being double-crossed by Sundberg and eventually accused of murder &#8212; holds little interest. Ultimately, while <em>Mr. Peabody and the Mermaid<\/em> maintains a small coterie of devoted fans (click <a href=\"http:\/\/anotheroldmovieblog.blogspot.ca\/2014\/01\/mr-peabody-and-mermaid-1948.html\">here<\/a> to read a LOT more about this film&#8217;s inception &#8212; including the task of outfitting Blyth in her mermaid tail), it&#8217;s not must-see viewing. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Redeeming Qualities and Moments: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>William Powell as Mr. Peabody<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/05\/Mr-Peabody-Powell.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/05\/Mr-Peabody-Powell.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1267\" height=\"927\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-58582\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/05\/Mr-Peabody-Powell.png 1267w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/05\/Mr-Peabody-Powell-300x219.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/05\/Mr-Peabody-Powell-1024x749.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/05\/Mr-Peabody-Powell-128x94.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/05\/Mr-Peabody-Powell-768x562.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/05\/Mr-Peabody-Powell-369x270.png 369w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1267px) 100vw, 1267px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Ann Blyth as Lenore the Mermaid<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/05\/Mr-Peabody-Blyth2.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/05\/Mr-Peabody-Blyth2.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1277\" height=\"915\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-58578\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/05\/Mr-Peabody-Blyth2.png 1277w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/05\/Mr-Peabody-Blyth2-300x215.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/05\/Mr-Peabody-Blyth2-1024x734.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/05\/Mr-Peabody-Blyth2-128x92.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/05\/Mr-Peabody-Blyth2-768x550.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/05\/Mr-Peabody-Blyth2-377x270.png 377w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1277px) 100vw, 1277px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Powell&#8217;s humorous attempt to buy sweaters &#8212; then simply bikini tops &#8212; for Lenore<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/05\/Mr-Peabody-Purchase.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/05\/Mr-Peabody-Purchase.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1271\" height=\"933\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-58580\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/05\/Mr-Peabody-Purchase.png 1271w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/05\/Mr-Peabody-Purchase-300x220.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/05\/Mr-Peabody-Purchase-1024x752.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/05\/Mr-Peabody-Purchase-128x94.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/05\/Mr-Peabody-Purchase-768x564.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/05\/Mr-Peabody-Purchase-368x270.png 368w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1271px) 100vw, 1271px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Must See? <\/strong><br \/>\nNo; while beloved by some, this dated comedy hasn&#8217;t aged all that well. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Links: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.imdb.com\/title\/tt0040614\/\">IMDb entry<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/fantasticmoviemusings.com\/2016\/08\/27\/mr-peabody-and-the-mermaid-1948\/\">SciFilm Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.moriareviews.com\/fantasy\/mr-peabody-and-the-mermaid-1948.htm\">Moria Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.timeout.com\/film\/reviews\/73331\/mr_peabody_and_the_mermaid.html\">Time Out Capsule Review<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;There&#8217;s much to be said for a woman &#8212; even an imperfect one &#8212; who lives, breathes, and exists only for the man she loves.&#8221; Synopsis: A middle-aged man (William Powell) on vacation in the Caribbean falls in love with a mermaid (Ann Blyth), and finds his marriage (to Irene Hervey) threatened. Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors: Ann Blyth Films Fantasy Flashback Films Infidelity Mid-Life Crisis Mermaids Romantic Comedy Vacation William Powell Films Review: As indicated in the quote cited&#8230;<\/p>\n<p class=\"read-more\"><a class=\"btn btn-default\" href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=5592\"> Read More<span class=\"screen-reader-text\">  Read More<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5592","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-reviews"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5592","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=5592"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5592\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":66366,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5592\/revisions\/66366"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=5592"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=5592"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=5592"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}