Marshmallow Moon(or Aaron Slick from Punkin Crick) is an okay film, but after a few days it is not much more than that. There are a fair number of things to redeem it. The costumes, sets and photography are striking enough, and while not particularly memorable the music especially Marshmallow Moon is quite pleasant. The film is decently directed too, but the main attraction is the cast. Alan Young, Dinah Shore, Adele Jurgens and especially Robert Merrill(yes the very same Robert Merrill the baritone) give it their all and their efforts are commendable. However, the film is rather ponderously paced, complete with a hokey story, predictable set-ups and scenes comedy wise and a disjointed script. So overall, a decent watch but rather forgettable. 5/10 Bethany Cox
11 Reviews
Entertaining corn, as fresh as an icy glass of Lemonade on a Summer's Day.....
mark.waltz12 July 2012
Warning: Spoilers
No, this is not the kindly grandfather from the Pepperidge Farm's Cookie Commercial, but there is no more appropriate way to describe this precursor to "Green Acres" or "The Beverly Hillbillies". The film is a reverse sort of "The Egg and I" where country folk venture to the big city to find a new life and deal with a couple of con-artists. Who better to star than Alan Young who later conversed with a talking horse? (Mr. Ed) His lovely lady friend is none other than the future queen of the 70's talk show, Dinah Shore, a bit older and wiser after an earlier movie bomb ("Belle of the Yukon"), if still not Sarah Bernhardt. Young has a hysterical sequence in a nightclub where chorus girls dress him up as a baby for their big number ("I'd Like To Baby You") while Shore and her "Ma Kettle" like aunt (Minerva Urecal) have all sorts of adventures as well. This will never be classified as a rival to "Oklahoma!" or "Seven Brides For Seven Brothers" as far as home-spun musicals are concerned. Most of the songs by Jay Livingston and Ray Evans are sweet but forgettable, although Shore is lovely singing them. Robert Merrill and Adele Jergens are your typical big city slicker con-artists, while Young's naiveté sometimes gets too unbelievable. So if you put aside your cynicism, you can enjoy the corn. At least, unlike Judy Garland in "Summer Stock", they didn't let the city folk put on a Broadway show in their barn!
Silly nonsense
jjnxn-112 December 2012
I have to admit I watched this oddity out of curiosity because of Dinah Shore's oft repeated put-downs of it. Whenever her film career was brought up over the years on her television show Dinah would mockingly mention this film with a wry smile and a chuckle, it's easy to see why that would be her reaction.
Maybe not the worst movie ever made but a dumb, flat footed concoction to be sure. If the horrible title wasn't enough of a warning, although the alternate title "Marshmallow Moon" isn't much better, the basic plot summary should warn off most people. Stereotypes abound and the musical numbers are mediocre but it has nice color photography and an amusing supporting performance by Minerva Urecal. As for the two leads, Dinah is almost idiotically naive and too chipper for words, Alan Young starts out as an annoying bumpkin but gets better as the film goes along. A forgettable enterprise best viewed, if at all, by those who enjoy campy foolishness.
Maybe not the worst movie ever made but a dumb, flat footed concoction to be sure. If the horrible title wasn't enough of a warning, although the alternate title "Marshmallow Moon" isn't much better, the basic plot summary should warn off most people. Stereotypes abound and the musical numbers are mediocre but it has nice color photography and an amusing supporting performance by Minerva Urecal. As for the two leads, Dinah is almost idiotically naive and too chipper for words, Alan Young starts out as an annoying bumpkin but gets better as the film goes along. A forgettable enterprise best viewed, if at all, by those who enjoy campy foolishness.
Uninspired oddity is better left forgotten...
Doylenf1 November 2006
It's not that ALAN YOUNG and DINAH SHORE don't try to bring some life to a lifeless, uninspired script co-authored by Claude Binyon, who directed this mess. Considering what they have to work with, they sometimes rise to the occasion and produce a few chuckles. And as the villains of the piece, ROBERT MERRILL and ADELE JERGENS contribute somewhat to what few laughs there are.
Shore is a country bumpkin lass who longs for the big city and is taken in by on-the-lam gangsters (Merrill and Jergens) who are really after the $20,000 worth of savings. Young is the equally country hick neighbor enamored by Shore and willing to go to the extreme to extricate her from the clutches of the villains.
It has a L'IL ABNER flavor to the sets and costumes but the score is rather commonplace and no help in bringing any entertainment value to the ponderous farce.
It's films like this that probably put a hex on DINAH SHORE's stab at a film career. Wisely, she was content to enjoy her TV stardom.
Shore is a country bumpkin lass who longs for the big city and is taken in by on-the-lam gangsters (Merrill and Jergens) who are really after the $20,000 worth of savings. Young is the equally country hick neighbor enamored by Shore and willing to go to the extreme to extricate her from the clutches of the villains.
It has a L'IL ABNER flavor to the sets and costumes but the score is rather commonplace and no help in bringing any entertainment value to the ponderous farce.
It's films like this that probably put a hex on DINAH SHORE's stab at a film career. Wisely, she was content to enjoy her TV stardom.
Ignored for all this time?
uds36 November 2003
May not be one of the greats...but I would have thought it well-known enough that some over-45 IMDb contributor would have compiled a review by now.
Alan Young makes a pleasant enough Aaron Slick, a likeable hayseed you would expect to see in GREEN ACRES. After Josie (a young Dinah Shore) is tricked into selling her farm she gets herself mixed up with the Mob until homespun Crick comes to her rescue. Very much a product of 50's American provincial theater.
Few laughs, a few songs..nothing much to remember five minutes after its finished. Hasn't stood the test of time either and is dated as all hell now.
Alan Young makes a pleasant enough Aaron Slick, a likeable hayseed you would expect to see in GREEN ACRES. After Josie (a young Dinah Shore) is tricked into selling her farm she gets herself mixed up with the Mob until homespun Crick comes to her rescue. Very much a product of 50's American provincial theater.
Few laughs, a few songs..nothing much to remember five minutes after its finished. Hasn't stood the test of time either and is dated as all hell now.
A highly sophisticated drama
bkoganbing29 October 2020
I remember listening to one of Bing Crosby's old radio shows Dinah Shore was his
guest and she was hawking this new film she did for Paramount, Aaron Slick From
Punkin' Crick. Said Bing who opined that it sounds like one highly sophisticated piece of work.
Maybe if the rather large score that Jay Livingston and Ray Evans had contained a memorable song the film might be better known.
Alan Young plays the title role and he and Dinah Shore own adjoining farms in the bustling metropolis of Punkin' Crick. The two get involved with a pair of sharpies Robert Merrill and Adele Jergens and it's country versus city folk. Guess who wins.
For the life of me why Robert Merrill signed for this film is beyond me. If he was going to do a film adaption of some Broadway musical I would understand. But none of this material is worthy of that voice.
Aaron Slick From Punkin' Crick is mildly amusing. Alan Young comes out best.
Maybe if the rather large score that Jay Livingston and Ray Evans had contained a memorable song the film might be better known.
Alan Young plays the title role and he and Dinah Shore own adjoining farms in the bustling metropolis of Punkin' Crick. The two get involved with a pair of sharpies Robert Merrill and Adele Jergens and it's country versus city folk. Guess who wins.
For the life of me why Robert Merrill signed for this film is beyond me. If he was going to do a film adaption of some Broadway musical I would understand. But none of this material is worthy of that voice.
Aaron Slick From Punkin' Crick is mildly amusing. Alan Young comes out best.
Silly musical
mullcat3 July 2020
Alan Young and Robert Merrill Make It Worth Watching
jayraskin30 June 2012
At best, this old fashioned, country mouse versus city slickers story is amusing and disarmingly cute. At worst, it occasionally becomes dull. There are several things that make the movie possibly worth watching.
First, there's Alan Young. He's kind of a low rent Danny Kay with a gentle boyish style of acting reminiscent of Harry Langdon. He became a big star with the talking horse comedy series "Mr. Ed" in the early 60's. This movie shows that Young is talented and entertaining even without a talking horse. As far as I can tell, this was his only starring movie. Its too bad. He has a lovely and unique quality that should have led to a much bigger career. He makes every scene he's in amusing and interesting to watch.
Second, there's Robert Merrill. He became famous as a great Metropolitan Opera singer. This was his only straight starring acting role. He is actually quite natural and funny. Again we have an actor who shows a lot of screen presence. Unfortunately, the Hollywood studios didn't agree. He went back to the opera stage permanently after this film failed at the box office.
Third, we have Dinah Shore. She was famous as a singer and successful as a television talk show host later in the 1960's and 70's. This seems to be her only real staring movie role. She comes off as a low rent Doris Day. Unlike Merrill or Young, its hard to see her really being a movie star, she has a dull but pleasantly folksy personality, perhaps best suited to second banana roles. She probably made a good decision to stick with the singing.
This is a sweet movie which I think kids 8-12 would really enjoy. It should probably be seen in conjunction with the 1940 and 1959 versions of "Li'l Abner." Some of the humor matches up.
I won't argue that it is a lost masterpiece, but it is a generally pleasant little musical 75% of the time. If you want to be put into a mild and nostalgic mood, give it a try.
First, there's Alan Young. He's kind of a low rent Danny Kay with a gentle boyish style of acting reminiscent of Harry Langdon. He became a big star with the talking horse comedy series "Mr. Ed" in the early 60's. This movie shows that Young is talented and entertaining even without a talking horse. As far as I can tell, this was his only starring movie. Its too bad. He has a lovely and unique quality that should have led to a much bigger career. He makes every scene he's in amusing and interesting to watch.
Second, there's Robert Merrill. He became famous as a great Metropolitan Opera singer. This was his only straight starring acting role. He is actually quite natural and funny. Again we have an actor who shows a lot of screen presence. Unfortunately, the Hollywood studios didn't agree. He went back to the opera stage permanently after this film failed at the box office.
Third, we have Dinah Shore. She was famous as a singer and successful as a television talk show host later in the 1960's and 70's. This seems to be her only real staring movie role. She comes off as a low rent Doris Day. Unlike Merrill or Young, its hard to see her really being a movie star, she has a dull but pleasantly folksy personality, perhaps best suited to second banana roles. She probably made a good decision to stick with the singing.
This is a sweet movie which I think kids 8-12 would really enjoy. It should probably be seen in conjunction with the 1940 and 1959 versions of "Li'l Abner." Some of the humor matches up.
I won't argue that it is a lost masterpiece, but it is a generally pleasant little musical 75% of the time. If you want to be put into a mild and nostalgic mood, give it a try.
Delightful Time
Stanjaudit25 October 2012
This is a wonderful show with an outstanding cast. The movie is based on the play Aaron Slick From Punkin Crick, a delightful play. When I was in Jr. High School we put this play on in our church and I played the part of Aaron Slick. So.i was quite naturally drawn to this title on Netflix.
This was the time period when musicals were popular but somehow this movie missed the mainstream even with such a power house lineup that included Robert Merrill, Dinah Shore and Edy Williams. One cannot go wrong by spending time with this movie. It is a great family movie! So grab the kids pop some corn and snuggle up and enjoy some fine entertainment. I had a blast as a kid participating in the play as Aaron Slick.
This was the time period when musicals were popular but somehow this movie missed the mainstream even with such a power house lineup that included Robert Merrill, Dinah Shore and Edy Williams. One cannot go wrong by spending time with this movie. It is a great family movie! So grab the kids pop some corn and snuggle up and enjoy some fine entertainment. I had a blast as a kid participating in the play as Aaron Slick.
Not the greatest, but fun
rdfarnham19 January 2011
Warning: Spoilers
Taken from a 1919 stage play "Aaron Slick" was an unlikely story to make into a movie. The whole thing revolves around the title character, Aaron Slick, a farmer in mid-west America and his neighbor and would-be fiancé, Josie Berry. Aaron loves the farm but Josie dreams of the big city. She wants to sell her farm and travel while Aaron wants her to marry him and settle down but he is too shy to ask her. When a show visits the town Josie agrees to let two of the performers, William Merridew and his partner Gladys, stay at her house. Merridew pretends that Gladys is his cousin while she is, in reality, his accomplice in crime. The two are confidence artists who are on the run after pulling a land sale scheme in Chicago and are looking for a place to hide out. While walking in the pasture on Josie's farm Merridew steps in some mud near a spring and discovers oil on his foot. Convinced that there is oil on the property he schemes to cheat Josie and offers to buy her land. Aaron, who has an idea what is going on, makes a counter-offer. Merridew thinks that Aaron is after the oil as well so he offers Josie $20,000. Josie sells her farm and goes to Chicago to "live it up". After a short time she finds that the "good life" is not what she really wants. She is homesick for the farm and she misses Aaron. In the meantime Merridew and Gladys find out that the oil in the spring is there because Aaron had accidentally dropped a bucket of oil near the spring a few days before. Convinced that they have been out-slicked by Aaron and Josie the two swindlers decide they must get their money back from Josie. Merridew and Gladys go to Chicago (a dangerous move since they are wanted there for their previous scam) to try and find Josie and get her to buy the farm back. He is surprised and outraged to find that Josie, unused to living in the city, has spent $4000 in just a few days. Aaron also goes to Chicago to protect Josie and, living up to his name, out-slicks Merridew again. In the end Josie gets her farm back, the swindlers start running a "snake-oil" medicine show selling bottles of the miracle cure "Lohocla" (alcohol spelled backwards) and Josie and Aaron become engaged.
10/10
exepellinglogin18 October 2021
The hillbilly Aaron Slick has been unsuccessfully wooing the young widow Josie Berry for many years. Josie is eager to take a trip in the big city. Bill Merridew and his "kissing cousin" Gladys hide in the trunk of a $20,000 obtained from an improper transaction. Relatively speaking, they held a touring tent show on Josie's farm. Merridew actually went into hiding, thinking that there was oil on the farm. Aaron knew that was not the case and tricked him into buying the farm for a large sum of money. Josie ran to Chicago with the money, and Meridou realized that he had been cheated and pursued him. Aaron arrived in time to prevent Josie from letting Meridou "invest" her money.
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