Mr. Belvedere Rings the Bell
Brief Synopsis
Cast & Crew
Henry Koster
Clifton Webb
Joanne Dru
Hugh Marlowe
Zero Mostel
Billy Lynn
Film Details
Technical Specs
Synopsis
One afternoon, famed author and genius Lynn Belvedere is walking in the park when he overhears four elderly people complain about their bleak lives. Belvedere, whose current lecture tour is on the topic "How to Be Young Through Eighty," is intrigued by the idea of entering the Church of John Home for the Aged, where the four oldsters live, and helping them to regain their vigor and enjoyment of life. Telling his manager, Emmett Wilson, that he will join him later, Belvedere goes to see Bishop Daniels, the nominal head of the home. The bishop assumes that Belvedere is Oliver Erwenter, who recently applied for admission to the home, and Belvedere does not correct him. Belvedere's youthful appearance bewilders the bishop, as Erwenter's birth certificate states that he is seventy-seven years old, but Belvedere talks his way into being accepted. At the home, Belvedere meets the four people on whom he had eavesdropped earlier: Mr. Beebe, Mr. R. B. Cherry, Mrs. Hammer and Mrs. Gross, as well as nurse Harriet Tripp and several other residents of the rundown facility. Reverend Charles Watson, who is the home's administrator, is upset to learn that they have a new resident, as the trustees have just informed him that they will soon be halving the already meager budget. Belvedere's officious, egocentric attitude annoys Charles, although Harriet, who is in love with Charles, is herself irritated by Charles' refusal to stand up to the trustees and demand more money. As Belvedere settles into his new quarters, his lively manner intrigues the residents, and he thrills Beebe and Cherry when he tells them that his youthful appearance is due to a secret Tibetian potion. Later that evening, Belvedere woos Harriet in an effort to make Charles jealous, and when Harriet sees Charles watching from his study, she plays along. The next morning, an infuriated Emmett finds Belvedere and demands to know why he did not appear at his last lecture. Belvedere explains that he wants to make the residents young again, and drags Emmett along as he goes to town. There, Belvedere prepares some placeboes at the pharmacy and has them mailed to himself at the home. Upon Belvedere's return, Charles chastises him both for his romance with Harriet and his "upsetting" influence on the other residents. Belvedere insists that his fresh attitude is good for his new acquaintances, then accompanies them on a picnic. Harriet is pleased by the liveliness of the formerly sedate residents and agrees to Belvedere's suggestion that they hold a church bazaar to raise funds. Charles, who has discovered Belvedere's true identity, does not reveal his knowledge upon seeing how happy Belvedere has made everyone. Later that night, Belvedere instructs Emmett to steal furniture and decorations for the garden, and the residents are amazed by the improvement in their surroundings when they awaken in the morning. Beebe and Cherry, who have taken some of Belvedere's placebo pills, are convinced that they are indeed growing younger. Even Charles begins to believe in Belvedere, and thanks him for his help. Belvedere's plans unravel, however, when a group of reporters discover him and reveal his identity to his friends. The new garden furnishings are reclaimed by their irate owners, and Beebe, Cherry and the others turn against Belvedere and become depressed. Harriet tries to convince them that Belvedere was trying to help, but they do not listen. Determined not to give up, Belvedere enlists Charles and spends the night buying back the furnishings and arranging for the bazaar. The next day, the delighted residents enjoy their new supplies and welcome visitors to the bazaar. Charles, who had been praised by Harriet for not revealing Belvedere's identity earlier, is inspired by Belvedere to propose to Harriet, and she happily accepts. With his work accomplished, Belvedere leaves with Emmett but frostily denies that he is "lightening up."
Director
Henry Koster
Cast
Clifton Webb
Joanne Dru
Hugh Marlowe
Zero Mostel
Billy Lynn
Doro Merande
Frances Brandt
Kathleen Comegys
Jane Marbury
Harry Hines
Warren Stevens
Ray Montgomery
Don Kohler
William Provaznik
Ludwig Provaznik
Cora Shannon
J. Farrell Macdonald
Cecil Weston
Thomas Browne Henry
Hugh Beaumont
Edward Clark
Norman Leavitt
Dorothy Neumann
Harry Antrim
Harris Brown
Guy Wilkerson
Ferris Taylor
Luther Crockett
Ted Stanhope
Kathryn Sheldon
Ted Pearson
Robert Malcolm
Harry Carter
Bob Mccord
Donna Beverly
John Caler
Crew
Herschel Daugherty
John De Cuir
Paul J. Fox
André Hakim
Ed Haley
Roger Heman
Robert A. Keiser
Joseph Lashelle
Charles Lemaire
George Leverett
Thomas Little
Ranald Macdougal
Cyril Mockridge
William B. Murphy
Lionel Newman
Ben Nye
Renie
Ad Schaumer
Fred Sersen
Lyle Wheeler
Film Details
Technical Specs
Quotes
Trivia
Notes
The working titles of this film were The Silver Whistle, Mr. Belvedere Blows His Whistle, You're Only Young Twice and You Only Love Twice. According to a May 1949 Hollywood Reporter news item, Charles Feldman originally purchased Robert E. McEnroe's play with the intention of producing it independently for release by Twentieth Century-Fox. The news item also reported that several other studios had been interested in buying the play, and that Feldman was considering Cary Grant for the starring role. A June 1949 Hollywood Reporter news item noted that Paul Jones would produce the picture for Feldman, and that Bing Crosby was also under consideration for the lead. By October 1950, Twentieth Century-Fox had acquired the property as a vehicle for Clifton Webb, although several Los Angeles Examiner news items had earlier speculated that M-G-M would be producing the picture.
As noted in the New York Times review, McEnroe's play did not feature the character "Belevedere," who was inserted into the story by Twentieth Century-Fox. William Lynn, Doro Merande, Jane Marbury, Frances Brandt and Kathleen Comegys reprised their roles from the original stage play. According to a March 1951 Hollywood Reporter news items, the film's opening sequence was shot on location at a park in North Hollywood, CA. Mr. Belvedere Rings the Bell was the third and final entry in Twentieth Century-Fox's "Mr. Belvedere" series, which began in 1948 with Sitting Pretty and continued in 1949 with Mr. Belvedere Goes to College (see AFI Catalog of Feature Films, 1941-50).
