Independent Films, Film Profiles

Merry Andrew (film)

Merry Andrew is a 1958 American musical film directed and choreographed by Michael Kidd. The screenplay by Isobel Lennart and I.A.L. Diamond is based on the short story "The Romance of Henry Menafee" by Paul Gallico. Saul Chaplin composed the music and Johnny Mercer wrote the lyrics for the film's score.Andrew Larabee teaches at a school run by his headmaster father Matthew, a traditional man who disapproves of his son's methods despite their popularity with the students. Andrew's special interest is archaeology, and he hopes to earn his father's respect though this field of study.During the school holidays, Andrew bicycles to ancient ruins where he believes a statue of Pan can be found. Such a discovery would enable him to publish and subsequently wed Letitia Fairchild, his fiancée of five years, who insists he earn a promotion before she marries him. At the site he encounters the Gallini family traveling circus, which has been ordered to pack up and leave by the local police because the land recently has been purchased by Lord Elmwood for a dairy farm. The five Gallini brothers and their sister Selena mistake Andrew for a contractor, and when he tells them he doesn't mind if they remain, the Gallinis begin to set up their tent. Lord Elmwood arrives and threatens to remove both Andrew and the circus, but Andrew realizes he's a former Oxford classmate about whom he knows an embarrassing secret. Threatened with exposure, Lord Elmwood agrees to give Andrew and the Gallinis a week before he starts construction on the land.Andrew discovers an underground tunnel on the site and burrows through its ceiling and directly into the middle of the lion act during a performance. His amusingly masterful way with the animals impresses Selena, who tells him he is a born entertainer, and she teaches him to juggle. With ringmaster Antonio suffering from laryngitis, Andrew is coaxed into replacing him at the matinee. Unfortunately, Letitia and his brother Dudley arrive to check on his progress, and Selena disguises Andrew as a clown.After the performance, Selena is overcome with jealousy at the sight of Andrew and Letitia together. Following him to the tunnel, she inadvertently causes a cave-in, trapping both of them overnight. When the Gallini brothers discover them, they accuse Andrew of improper behavior with their sister and insist the two wed immediately. Antonio announces the wedding will be held on the following Saturday.Meanwhile, chimpanzee Angelina has discovered the Pan statue Andrew was seeking and has concealed it in her cage. Andrew convinces Selena his obligations at school override their wedding plans and he returns home, where he discovers his father has promoted him and Letitia is ready to accept him as her husband. On the night before the ceremony, Selena brings Andrew the statue she found in Angelina's cage.Andrew's class disappears on the day of the wedding, and he goes to the circus in search of them. His father and brothers discover the statue and follow him to the circus, where they find Andrew performing in the Gallini brothers' high wire act. Andrew admits he loves Selena, and Dudley confesses he loves Letitia, and Matthew gives Andrew and Selena his blessing.