Excuse My Dust
Theatrical release poster
Directed byRoy Rowland
Edward Sedgwick
Written byStephanie Nordli
George Wells
Bellamy Partridge
Buster Keaton (uncredited)
Produced byJack Cummings
StarringRed Skelton
Sally Forrest
Macdonald Carey
William Demarest
Monica Lewis
Raymond Walburn
CinematographyAlfred Gilks
Edited byIrvine Warburton
Music byGeorge Stoll
Production
company
Distributed byLoew's, Inc.
Release date
  • June 29, 1951 (1951-06-29)
Running time
82 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$1,789,000[1]
Box office$2,298,000[1]

Excuse My Dust is a 1951 musical comedy film starring Red Skelton. It was directed by Roy Rowland and an uncredited Edward Sedgwick. It is based on the 1943 book of the same name by Bellamy Partridge.

Plot

Amateur inventor Joe Belden has his Indiana hometown in a tizzy over his new "horseless carriage" in 1895. It runs on gasoline, but the townspeople aren't impressed and only Joe's mom and his sweetheart Liz Bullitt are supportive.

Mechanical breakdowns make Joe even more unpopular with some, including Liz's father, who prefers his daughter's other suitor, Ivy Leaguer Cyrus Ransom, Jr.

A $5,000 first prize in a road race attracts newfangled contraptions from all over the land. Cy enters one himself that runs on ether and cheats in every way he can to drive Joe off the road. He succeeds, but Liz comes to the rescue and joins Joe all the way to the finish line—well, almost all the way.

Cast

Production

The film was an original script by George Wells. Van Johnson was at one stage intended to star.[2]

Musical numbers

  • I'd Like to Take You Out Dreaming

Performed by Macdonald Carey and Chorus

  • Lorelei Brown

Performed by Monica Lewis and Chorus, introduced by Herbert Anderson and Sally Forrest

  • Goin' Steady

Sung by Macdonald Carey, Monica Lewis, Sally Forrest, Red Skelton and Chorus

  • Spring Has Sprung

Performed by Red Skelton and Sally Forrest (dubbed by Gloria Gray)

  • Get a Horse

Performed by Macdonald Carey, William Demarest and Chorus

  • That's for Children

Performed by Monica Lewis, Red Skelton and Chorus

  • Lorelei Brown (reprise)

Danced by Sally Forrest and Chorus

  • Spring Has Sprung (reprise)

Sung by Sally Forrest (dubbed by Gloria Gray)

Reception

According to MGM records, the film earned $1,645,000 in the US and Canada and $653,000 elsewhere, resulting in a loss of $501,000.[1]

References

  1. 1 2 3 The Eddie Mannix Ledger, Los Angeles: Margaret Herrick Library, Center for Motion Picture Study.
  2. ↑ Schallert, E. (Jul 24, 1950). "Skelton to go straight; rains in sea thriller; U-I buys best seller". Los Angeles Times. ProQuest 166104700.


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