The Misadventures of Merlin Jones
Brief Synopsis
A nerdy college student creates a machine that can read minds.
Cast & Crew
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Robert Stevenson
Director
Tommy Kirk
Merlin Jones
Annette Funicello
Jennifer
Leon Ames
Judge Holmby
Stuart Erwin
Police Captain Loomis
Alan Hewitt
Professor Shattuck
Film Details
Genre
Comedy
Release Date
Jan
1964
Premiere Information
Saint Louis opening: 5 Feb 1964
Production Company
Walt Disney Productions
Distribution Company
Buena Vista Distribution Co., Inc.
Country
United States
Technical Specs
Duration
1h 28m
Sound
Mono (RCA Sound System)
Color
Color (Technicolor)
Synopsis
College student Merlin Jones, constantly involved with mind experiments, devises an electronic helmet that when connected to an electroencephalographic tape records mental activity. Wearing the helmet while driving, he is stopped by traffic officer Muller and brought before Judge Holmby, who suspends his license. Returning to his laboratory, Merlin discovers accidentally that his equipment enables him to read minds. Judge Holmby visits the coffeeshop where Merlin has a part-time job, and through his powers Merlin discovers that the judge is planning a crime. He rushes to the police with the information but is brushed aside as a crackpot. Merlin and Jennifer, his girl friend, break into the judge's home looking for evidence but are arrested by the police. The judge confesses that he is the popular detective novelist Lex Fortis, and requests that this identity remain a secret. Merlin's next experimentation involves hypnotism. After successfully hypnotizing Stanley, the laboratory chimpanzee, into standing up for his rights against Norman, his bullying keeper, Merlin brawls with Norman, and as a result he is brought again before Judge Holmby. Fascinated by his experiments, the judge enlists Merlin's aid in devising a plot for his next mystery. Working on the assumption that no honest person can be made to commit a crime against his will, Merlin hypnotizes the judge and commands him to steal Stanley. Surprised when the judge actually commits the crime, Merlin and Jennifer return the chimp but are themselves charged with the theft. Unaware of his part in the crime, the judge sentences Merlin to jail. Jennifer, outraged at the injustice, convinces Judge Holmby of his own guilt, and he admits that perhaps there is a little dishonesty in everyone.
Director
Robert Stevenson
Director
Cast
Tommy Kirk
Merlin Jones
Annette Funicello
Jennifer
Leon Ames
Judge Holmby
Stuart Erwin
Police Captain Loomis
Alan Hewitt
Professor Shattuck
Connie Gilchrist
Mrs. Gossett
Dal Mckennon
Detective Hutchins
Norman Grabowski
Norman
Kelly Thordsen
Muller
Stanley
Himself, a chimpanzee
June Ellis
Crew
Xavier Atencio
Special titles
Helen August
Screenwriter
Tom August
Screenwriter
Buddy Baker
Music
Bob Brunner
Orchestration
Gertrude Casey
Costumes
Carroll Clark
Art Director
Edward Colman
Director of Photography
Robert O. Cook
Sound
Walt Disney
Company
Walt Disney
Presented By
Hal Gausman
Set Decoration
Bill Justice
Special titles
Chuck Keehne
Costumes
Evelyn Kennedy
Music Editor
Emile Kuri
Set Decoration
La Rue Matheron
Hairstyles
Joseph L. Mceveety
Assistant Director
Pat Mcnalley
Makeup
Ron Miller
Associate Producer
Richard M. Sherman
Composer
Robert B. Sherman
Composer
William H. Tuntke
Art Director
Bill Walsh
Story
Cotton Warburton
Film Editor
Film Details
Genre
Comedy
Release Date
Jan
1964
Premiere Information
Saint Louis opening: 5 Feb 1964
Production Company
Walt Disney Productions
Distribution Company
Buena Vista Distribution Co., Inc.
Country
United States
Technical Specs
Duration
1h 28m
Sound
Mono (RCA Sound System)
Color
Color (Technicolor)
Articles
The Misadventures of Merlin Jones
A nerdy college student creates a machine that can read minds.
The Misadventures of Merlin Jones
A nerdy college student creates a machine that can read minds.
Quotes
Trivia
Notes
Although Tom August and Helen August were given credit for the screenplay when the film was initially released, according to official WGA records, Tom and Helen August were pseudonyms for writers Alfred Lewis Levitt and Helen Levitt. The WGA changed the screenplay credit to read: "Screenplay by Alfred Lewis Levitt and Helen Levitt. Screen Story by Bill Walsh." The copyright record for the film lists a running time of 91 minutes.
Miscellaneous Notes
Released in United States 1964
Film was followed by a sequel "The Monkey's Uncle"
Released in United States 1964
