The Incredible Mr. Limpet on DVD

There’s something fishy going on in this Don Knotts vehicle. Really fishy.

Knotts stars as Henry Limpet, a mild mannered bookkeeper who at the outbreak of World War II tries to enlist to help his country. But he’s rejected because of his lousy eyesight and returns home, dejected, to his wife and his beloved aquarium full of tropical fish.

Even more than he wants to serve his country, he wants to be a fish (perhaps he wants to work for scale?), which his wife (not surprisingly) finds more than a bit strange.

And wouldn’t you know, when visiting Coney Island he falls into the water and - abradadabra! - turns into a fish, an animated fish complete with Limpet’s spectacles. Talk about a movie spectacle!

While his wife mourns, Henry learns and savors his new life and new environment, meeting and befriending a crusty okd hermit crab named, appropriately, Crusty, and saving the life of, and falling in love with, a lovely female fish he names Ladyfish.

Limpet’s inspiration come when he realizes that he can now become America’s secret weapon in the battle against the German submarines that are massing off the US East coast. He finds the subs and transmits their location to the US Navy, who take the appropriate action.

It’s a marriage made in heaven, until the Germans come up with a secret weapon designed to make Mr. Limpet a tad less incredible by turning him into sushi.

In all, it’s kind of silly but it means well and has some nice moments. Some pretty good, though minor, songs as well.

Knotts is likeable as Limpet, even though he isn’t really on screen for most of the movie. The other actors, including Carole Cook, Jack Weston, and Andrew Duggan, are fine in their rather thankless roles as they play second fiddle to an animated fish. We wonder how that looks on a resume...

The DVD’s pretty good. Presented in anamorphic widescreen (16x9 TV compatible) and Pan&Scan on opposite sides of the same disc (which is the way to do it if you simply must offer Pan&Scan), the picture quality is excellent, with razor sharp images and beautiful color. Audio is Dolby Digital mono and it’s okay.

Extras include a new introduction to the film by Mr. Knotts himself, an original “behind the scenes” featurette and a rather lame “Henry Limpet’s Fish Tank” game. There’s also some DVD ROM stuff including some games, and the theatrical trailer.

The Incredible Mr. Limpet, from Warner Home Video
99min. anamorphic widescreen (1.85:1), 16x9 TV compabile/Pan&Scan; Dolby Digital mono
Starring Don Knotts, Carole Cook, Jack Weston, Andrew Duggan
Produced by John C. Rose,
Written by Jameson Brewer & John C. Rose, Directed by Arthur Lubin

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