Producers: Norman Panama, Melvin Frank.
Copyright 8 November 1951 by Loew's Inc. An MGM picture. New York opening at Loew's State: 5 December 1951. U.S. release: 18 December 1951. U.K. release: 21 June 1952. Australian release: 21 March 1952. 81 minutes. U.K. release title: The Star Said No.
SYNOPSIS: When his corny old westerns prove a tremendous hit on television, a former cowboy star is lured back to Hollywood.
PRINCIPAL MIRACLE: Keel plays two roles, and even fights himself, throwing the first punch by the ingenious use of a traveling matte. The rest of the fight is cleverly carried on by doubles, aided by fast cutting. A split screen is used for the initial confrontation.
COMMENT: This gentle satire on TV and Hollywood would be a lot more dramatic if the punches were less lightweight and a whole lot funnier! And if Panama and Frank allowed the MacMurray character to be more cynical and less likable. True, he does have his share of neat put-downs and there are some clever visual gags. More guest appearances would have helped too.
However, production values are MGM fulsome all the same. The principal players do wonders with their material and no-one will come away from Callaway feeling that he's wasted his time. A little short-changed maybe, but Callaway is still sufficiently amusing and entertaining to rate at least seven stars out of ten.
Copyright 8 November 1951 by Loew's Inc. An MGM picture. New York opening at Loew's State: 5 December 1951. U.S. release: 18 December 1951. U.K. release: 21 June 1952. Australian release: 21 March 1952. 81 minutes. U.K. release title: The Star Said No.
SYNOPSIS: When his corny old westerns prove a tremendous hit on television, a former cowboy star is lured back to Hollywood.
PRINCIPAL MIRACLE: Keel plays two roles, and even fights himself, throwing the first punch by the ingenious use of a traveling matte. The rest of the fight is cleverly carried on by doubles, aided by fast cutting. A split screen is used for the initial confrontation.
COMMENT: This gentle satire on TV and Hollywood would be a lot more dramatic if the punches were less lightweight and a whole lot funnier! And if Panama and Frank allowed the MacMurray character to be more cynical and less likable. True, he does have his share of neat put-downs and there are some clever visual gags. More guest appearances would have helped too.
However, production values are MGM fulsome all the same. The principal players do wonders with their material and no-one will come away from Callaway feeling that he's wasted his time. A little short-changed maybe, but Callaway is still sufficiently amusing and entertaining to rate at least seven stars out of ten.