A Midsummer Daydream

This twenty-minute piece is an episode of the Hal Roach "Screen Director's Playhouse" that ran for one season in the mid-1950s. Roach drew on his forty years in the industry (he lived to be over a hundred and was still active at the end of his life). In this one he collared William Saroyan to pen a quirky little piece about a couple of people, looking to get married, who meet in a marriage bureau.

It's directed a bit stagily; Kim Hunter seems to be pitching her voice for the back row, but it comes off as nervousness and is quite charming. Keenan Wynn makes the most of his role as a fast-talking wastrel. It's the sort of performance he had perfected during his time as a supporting comic at MGM and which he used through the rest of his career.

Screen Directors Playhouse: A Midsummer Daydream (1955)

** 1/2 (out of 4)

Incredibly far-fetched romantic comedy about a man (Don Hanmer) who has wanted to get married his entire life but always is too scared to talk to the girl he likes. He ends up hanging out in a marriage license bureau where he begins chatting with the clerk (Kim Hunter) but of course he's too scared to ask her the big question and soon a slick gambler (Keenan Wynn) comes in and try to make a move. Those familiar with the work of John Brahm will probably remember stuff like THE UNDYING MONSTER and THE LODGER so seeing his name attached to something like this is going to be a new treat. The "daydream" in the title is so true because if you go into this film and take anything serious then you're going to find it to be the most pathetic and stupid thing you've ever seen. As long as you can buy the fantasy aspect of the story then it's a fairly decent little movie. The big and unique thing is that the Hanmer character has always saved his money for the day that he gets married. Having saved all his money it ends up coming to $27,000 and this is when he quit his job to search for that bride. Even the clerk has a big backstory that makes you want to see the two get together but you also have the gambler and his charm. Overall this is a pretty good film that manages to get three fine performances from the leads. Hanmer was charming in his part even though, in all honesty, the character was just inches away from being a stalker or a creeper. Hunter was also quite charming in her part and there's no question that she had some nice chemistry with Hanmer. Wynn does his typical routine but it's always worth watching. For the most part Brahn handles the material quite well but this is certainly a long way from THE LODGER.

This is a worthwhile addition to Saroyan's work. Known for "The Human Comedy" (film and book), short stories, and the play "The Time of Your Life," he was also considered someone who never fulfilled his initial promise. Rodgers and Hart's song "Zip from "Pal Joey" includes the stripper's questions and observations while she is stripping, which include, "Will Saroyan ever write a great play?" This is a slight, whimsical story that has charm. If television had been invented earlier, it would have been Saroyan's medium. It's fun to see him introducing the show. Hunter, Wynn, and Hammer are all good.