Mister Scoutmaster

WARNING: MAY contain some minor spoilers.

Hard to say anything bad about this movie, except for one thing.

YOU DON'T GET TO SEE IT MUCH ANYMORE !!!! Then again, maybe that's because you have to be home in the morning or at 3 am to catch it the Fox Movie channel.

Too bad, for this is another gem lost to time, Clifton Webb takes his patented sour, know-it-all demeanor he had perfected as Lynn Belvedere ("Sitting Pretty" and sequels), and turns 'Nature Boy'.

Actually, it's like this.

Webb plays Robert Jordan the host of a Sunday children's educational program that is losing audience share, and the network breaks it to him that he needs to do something about it, or else.

Part of the problem may be due to the fact that the married host has no children.

BUMMER !!! But as such things happen, the local church pastor needs a leader for an unruly troop of Boy Scouts, and finds a willing victim ... ahhhh 'VOLUNTEER' ... in the host, so Jordan he takes the position.

Problem solved, RIGHT ???

WRONG !!! This being a movie there are other problems.

For example, it turns out one of the Scouts is the son of his boss at the TV station, which causes a little friction; especially since the kid is overweight, has asthma as well as an attitude.

And he is the more reasonable one.

Also, there is this Cub Scout, Mike (George Winslow) who wants to hang around, being the 'stray puppy' type.

As it turns out, the reason is that he has no folks of his own, but is cared for by a relative who hasn't much time for him.

It is things like this that makes his job harder than expected.

All in all, Webb becomes more understanding of kids, and not only saves his show but learns a rewarding lesson, and eventually even adopts Mike.

Still a great movie after all these years.

A middle aged man, Robert Jordan, set in his ways, takes on a boy scout troop after his predecessor leaves under duress. Jordan takes on the pack mostly to learn what the boys like so he can revive his flagging radio program which is losing it's appeal to the younger set. He has a rough go at first with the boys, especially so with Mike, an 8 year old who forms an attachment for the older man which is anything but reciprocated. Do things work out for Jordan and the scouts? Check out this entertaining and amusing film from the old days.

Clifton Webb as "Mr. Scoutmaster" is one of the all-time greats for comedy and remembering an innocence, now diminished in the world. I cannot understand why the networks like American Movie Classics and such do not show this movie, although I have requested it time and again.

This movie should be shown to children now for its portrayal of loyalty, respect, dedication and resolve to achieve the best possible on an individual basis. There is so much low self-esteem talked about in present daily lives, but this movie, among many, many others, would be a wonderful learning tool for the present-day younger generation to see what can be accomplished by common sense and decency and pride in yourself and your achievements to better yourself. Sad that this type of movie does not appeal to modern audiences. It certainly appealed to us 'baby boomer' generation of yesterday. OLD LESSONS ARE UNIVERSAL AND TIMELESS.

The book (titled 'Be Prepared!')was written as a semi-autobiographical account by Keith Monroe, using Rice Cochran as a pseudonym. Since he was in his 30's at the time the book was published and had been a scoutmaster for only a few years, it has been suggested that many of the experiences belonged to his father, also a scoutmaster for many years. Rumor was that the head of Boy Scouts at the time was enraged by the book, and called for the head of the author. The book, if you can find it, is an excellent read and offers profound insight into the life of a scoutmaster. Clifton Webb's portrayal as a curmudgeonly yet lovable leader, somewhat naive to the behavior of boys, is enjoyable but the movie is more fluff than substance. I must admit my bias, having earned Eagle Scout in the author's troop.

If you love Mr. Belvedere, chances are you'll like to see Clifton Webb in similar comedies. He didn't always play the structured stuffed shirt, but frequently his audience liked to see him like that. In Mister Scoutmaster, he plays a television personality who hates children but gets roped into becoming a scoutmaster. His wife, Kay Francis, has her heart set on adopting a child, but Edmund Gwenn, in charge at the orphanage, thinks Clifton isn't sincere. To prove it, Clifton volunteers to be a scoutmaster to a bunch of impressionable scouts.

George Winslow (the child actor with the 'froggy' voice) is a wannabe boy scout who likes to hang around the older boys and Clifton. He's a pathological liar who frequently gets into trouble, but Kay takes a liking to him. While she has it in mind to adopt him, Clifton has his hands full just keeping an eye on him while the other boys are trying to be serious scouts. Do you think the little kid will soften Mr. Belvedere's heart? Check out this family friendly flick to find out. It's not the best in the world, but it won't hurt you.