dougdoepke A Skelton movie is always good for at least a few laughs. Even when the storyline is pretty well hacked up, as it is here, some of his slapstick bits still register. Here he's an inept camera store-owner turned inept photographer, who gets involved with a housing developer (Dahl). Trouble is her housing project is being sabotaged by insiders. Skelton stumbles across their plot and now they're after him. So, will pa Skelton and grandpa Skelton get their youngest and his girl out of the stew, (Red in three roles!).I agree with others—this is a lesser Skelton vehicle. It never really gels. Instead, the narrative resembles beads of comedic bits strung along a choppy string. Nonetheless, there are some funny sketches—Red and a fat guy undressing in what amounts to a closet; Red photographing a bedecked doorman that he takes to be an admiral, et al. There's also some funny lines-- Red commenting on the opening credits, which is unlike anything I've seen. But the overall impression is that, except for the climactic chase, the bits could have been worked easily into his TV show instead of awkwardly strung out into a movie.(In passing—Note in one segment the extensive housing project under construction. In short, it's suburban housing opening up like blossoms in LA's post-war sunshine. Can clogged freeways be far behind.)

MartinHafer According to IMDb, "Watch the Birdie" is a remake of the old Buster Keaton film "The Cameraman". While the newer film did borrow a few bits, the plot is so different that I wouldn't consider it a remake at all. This is great, because I hate remakes and both films are a lot of fun.Red Skelton plays Rusty Cammeron--a nice schnook who works at his family's camera store. Like "The Cameraman", Rusty decides to make money by taking newsreel shots and selling them for bit bucks--exactly like in the Keaton film. However, this portion of the film doesn't last long at all and in the process he ends up meeting Lucia Corlane (Arlene Dahl) and he is instantly smitten. However, she's rich and successful and he's just a bit of an idiot--a very nice and likable idiot, nevertheless.While working for Lucia, he's filming the groundbreaking on her company's big housing project. However, unintentionally, he films her trusted adviser making an underhanded deal to destroy the company! When Rusty and Lucia discover this, they rush to the police with the film--with the baddies in hot pursuit.As I watched this film, I was surprised by my wife's reaction. She just thought Red was cute and very, very likable. In fact, she liked him so much, she was willing to forgive the few missteps the film took (such as having Lucia TELL the baddies that she's on her way to the police....who is THAT dumb?!?!). I would agree but do think the high-speed (or not so high-speed) chase did go on a bit long and because of this, I give the film a still respectable 7. Pleasant and worth seeing.By the way, when everyone is viewing the film Rusty took from the roof of his truck, the camera angle is all wrong--like it was filmed about 5 feet lower. I am surprised they didn't notice this discrepancy. Also, make sure you watch all the movie--even the opening credits. It's rather funny listening to Skelton walking about the cast and crew as the credits roll.

ron-fernandez-pittsburgh WATCH THE BIRDIE is certainly one of Red Skelton's lesser efforts. Storyline has good potential, but something went wrong. Looks like scenes were maybe filmed but cut as the movie jumps around with not much logic. Due to the short run time I'm sure much was left on the cutting room floor. No explanation as to how the Arlene Dahl character knows Red's name and where he works. A lot of other missing information. The worse part is the clips of two old MGM films. Just stops the movie dead. However, if it weren't for that scene the movie would have been barely an hour long. Only for Skelton fans, or not even. Arlene Dahl is a real beauty and Ann Miller is her usual perky self. Not much else is worthwhile.

moonspinner55 Remake of Buster Keaton's 1928 success "The Cameraman" features Red Skelton at his most amiable, playing a salesman in his family's camera store (Cammeron & Son & Son) who helps the heiress of a major construction company thwart her crooked partner, who's planning on driving her out of business. The plot isn't taken at all seriously; instead, the film is comprised mainly of comic vignettes, some hilarious, with Skelton also playing his own father and wily grandfather. Gets off to a wonderful start, but loses steam along the way despite slapstick climax. The cramped dressing room bit has hardly any relation to the story yet remains a laugh-out-loud highlight, and Ann Miller is a hoot as a beauty contest winner who's always getting slugged. Skelton has some wonderful scenes, double takes, and pratfalls--and, as usual, he's quietly charming while attempting to win over the girl of his dreams. **1/2 from ****