Merton of the Movies
“RED SKELTON'S HOWLING HIT ABOUT HOLLYWOOD!”
Synopsis
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.
Top Cast
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Red Skelton
Merton Gill aka Clifford Armytage
Virginia O'Brien
Phyllis Montague
Gloria Grahame
Beulah Baxter
Leon Ames
Lawrence Rupert
Alan Mowbray
Frank Mulvaney
Charles D. Brown
Jeff Baird
Hugo Haas
Von Strutt - Director
Harry Hayden
Mr. Gashwiler
Tom Trout
Marty
Douglas Fowley
Phil
Dick Wessel
Chick
Morris Ankrum
Goodfellow's Club Manager (uncredited)
King Baggot
Man in Audience (uncredited)
William Benedict
Von Strutt's Assistant (uncredited)
Oliver Blake
Mr. Purdie (uncredited)
Chester Conklin
Keystone Kop (uncredited)
Jim Davis
Von Strutt's Assistant (uncredited)
Hal K. Dawson
Gus Blanchard - Agent (uncredited)
Release History & Theatrical Window
October 11, 1947
Wide Cinema Exhibition
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Robert Alton
- Screenplay & Story
- George Wells, Lou Breslow, Marc Connelly, George S. Kaufman, Harry Leon Wilson
- Original Title
- Merton of the Movies
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 1h 22m
- Production Studios
- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Robert Alton
George Wells, Lou Breslow, Marc Connelly, George S. Kaufman, Harry Leon Wilson
Department Leadership Roster
Robert Alton
Director
George Wells
Writer
Lou Breslow
Writer
Irene
Costume Design
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
NR: Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.
International Certification Matrix
Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for Merton of the Movies.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Merton of the Movies
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is Merton of the Movies about?
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.
Who directed Merton of the Movies?
Merton of the Movies was directed by Robert Alton.
Who stars in Merton of the Movies?
The principal cast of Merton of the Movies includes Red Skelton, Virginia O'Brien, Gloria Grahame, Leon Ames, Alan Mowbray.
When was Merton of the Movies released and how long is it?
Merton of the Movies was released in 1947 with a total runtime of 1h 22m.
Is Merton of the Movies based on a book or true story?
Merton of the Movies is adapted from the following source material: Novel: "Harry Leon Wilson".
What is the age rating and content advisory for Merton of the Movies?
Merton of the Movies holds official age classifications: US: NR (Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.).