On Our Merry Way (A Miracle Can Happen) (1948)

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Also known as A Miracle Can Happen, On Our Merry Way is a multipart comedy linked by inquiring reporter Burgess Meredith. It is Meredith's job to interview several people, asking them what effect children have had on their lives. First he checks with two itinerant musicians (James Stewart and Henry… More Also known as A Miracle Can Happen, On Our Merry Way is a multipart comedy linked by inquiring reporter Burgess Meredith. It is Meredith's job to interview several people, asking them what effect children have had on their lives. First he checks with two itinerant musicians (James Stewart and Henry Fonda), who earn extra under-the-counter money by fixing a music contest so the mayor's son will win. Next he meets Hollywood extras Dorothy Lamour and Victor Moore, who are hired to work with a precocious child star. Finally, the old "Ransom of Red Chief" twist is given to the tale of hoboes Fred MacMurray and William Demarest, who find themselves at the mercy of a preteen prankster, whose wealthy uncle (Hugh Herbert) won't take the kid back unless the hoboes pay him. Meredith returns to the newspaper office with a black eye, which earns him the sympathy and affection of coworker Paulette Goddard. Though the direction is credited to Leslie Fenton, portions of On Our Merry Way were actually directed (sans credit) by George Stevens and King Vidor. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 47 min.
Directed By: John Huston, King Vidor
Written By: Lou Breslow, Laurence Stallings
Genres: Comedy, Drama

In Theaters: Feb 3, 1948 Wide
On DVD: Jun 6, 2000

Critic Reviews

Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
Strained slapstick comedy with a star-studded cast.
Brandon Judell, Bay Area Reporter
The highlight is Lamour singing a spoof about her on-screen sarong persona. For some fetishists, seeing Meredith's shaven bare chest might supply another.

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Featured Audience Ratings

AJ V

A drama anthology film if that interests you, I found it annoying, they should have stuck with the first story.

Cast

            Burgess Meredith as Oliver Pease

            Paulette Goddard as Martha Pease

            Fred MacMurray as Al

            Hugh Herbert as Eli Hobbs

            James Stewart as Slim

            Dorothy Lamour as Gloria Manners

            Henry Fonda as Hank

            Victor Moore as Ashton Carrington

            Eilene Janssen as Peggy Thorndyke

            William Demarest as Floyd

            Dorothy Ford as Lola

            Charles D. Brown as Mr. Sadd

            Betty Caldwell as Cynthia

            David Whorf as Edgar Hobbs

            Frank Moran as Bookie

            Tom Fadden as Deputy Sheriff

            Paul Hurst as Sheriff

            Carl "Alfalfa" Switzer as Zoot

            Walter S. Baldwin as Livery Stable Man

            Nana Bryant as Housekeeper

            Paul E. Burns as Boss--Want Ad Dept

            Jack Cheatham as Cop

            Eduardo Ciannelli as Maxim Cordova

            Chester Clute as Bank Teller

            Joe Devlin as Parent

            Greta Granstedt as Secretary

            Daniel Haight as Squirt

            Harry James as Himself

            George Lloyd as Mover

            Lucien Prival as Jackson

            John Qualen as Mr. Atwood

            Almira Sessions as Mrs. Cotton

            Max Wagner as Mover

            Charles Anthony Hughes as Cop

            Leo Kaye as Bartender

            George Davis as Mover
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