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Did you know
- TriviaRed Skelton launched his 12th year in television with this episode and an expanded version of his long-running comedy/variety series from thirty minutes to a full hour. Reflecting the fact that Red now had an extra half-hour to play with, his show was rechristened The Red Skelton Hour. In the main comedy sketch, guest Harpo Marx plays a bumbling guardian angel who is sent down from "Up There" to help henpecked husband George Appleby (Skelton) escape the wrath of his nagging wife, Clara (Virginia Grey). Harpo also appears with Red in a new weekly segment, 'The Silent Spot', wherein the two master clowns enact a pantomime sketch about a German and American soldier forming a fast friendship on the battlefields of WWI. Musical highlights included Harpo's harp solo of his own composition 'Guardian Angel', Mahalia Jackson's rousing 'Come On, Children' and 'I Asked the Lord', The Modernaires' 'Clap Yo' Hands', and the ensemble production number '4:20 AM.'
- ConnectionsReferences The Jack Benny Program (1950)
Featured review
Red and Harpo mime together
I've been dipping into the Red Skelton museum collection of TV shows and this is my favorite episode I've seen so far. I would say this is the most popular one because of Harpo Marx's appearance on it. He and Red team up well together especially in the 'silent film' sequence towards the end. I wonder if Harpo's insistence on miming all his roles was partly as a love of the silents of the early movie period. He gets to play the harp here with his self-composed 'Guardian Angels' tune. Lyrics to this music have been recorded by Mario Lanza and Placido Domingo. Other music in this episode includes two songs by the Queen of Gospel Mahalia Jackson. Her powerful devotional delivery is heard singing here on 'Come Up To Bright Glory' and 'I Thank God For Anything.' Virginia Grey (Marx Brothers 'The Big Store) appears as one of her ten Clara Appleby characterization outings on the show as Red Skelton's wife. A 25 year old Dyan Cannon also gets a look-in as a replacement Clara in one sequence of the main play. Red Skelton seems to forget his lines a couple of times in front of a live audience presumably as these mistakes are left in on this pre-recorded show.
helpful•10
- greenbudgie
- Nov 8, 2021
Details
- Runtime1 hour
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 1.33 : 1
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