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Watch the Birdie

Play trailer Poster for Watch the Birdie 1950 1h 10m Comedy Play Trailer Watchlist
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Tomatometer 2 Reviews 75% Popcornmeter Fewer than 50 Ratings
Rusty Cammeron (Red Skelton), the owner of a floundering film supply shop, borrows a client's camera one day to try and earn some extra money. However, he ruins it when he falls into the river while filming wealthy Lucia Corlane's (Arlene Dahl) new yacht leaving port. The good-hearted Lucia generously helps Rusty by buying up all his shop's stock and offering him a job documenting the housing project she is financing. In the process, Rusty unknowingly films a conspiracy to bankrupt her.

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Watch the Birdie

Critics Reviews

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Noel F. Moran Sunday Independent (Ireland) Jan 8, 2026
Amusing, without striking a particularly high note. Go to Full Review Dennis Schwartz Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews Apr 21, 2016
C-
A dreadful strained comedy that was inspired by Buster Keaton's great The Cameraman (1928). Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Aug 28, 2014 It depends on your liking for Skelton whether you'll enjoy this minor comedy or not. See more Nov 30, 2013 a remake of keaton's 'the cameraman" as vehicle for red See more May 27, 2010 Red Skelton is great in one of his better pictures. It's a good story, doesn't go on too long and has a great pace. Good direction and supporting cast, but it is Skelton's movie all the way. He is ideally cast. See more Jul 23, 2005 70/100. Red Skelton is great in one of his better pictures. It's a good story, doesn't go on too long and has a great pace. Good direction and supporting cast, but it is Skelton's movie all the way. He is ideally cast. See more Read all reviews
Watch the Birdie

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Cast & Crew

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Jack Donohue

Director

Red Skelton

Rusty Cammeron

Arlene Dahl

Lucia Corlane

Ann Miller

Miss Lucky Vista

Leon Ames

Grantland D. Farns

Pamela Britton

Mrs. Shanway
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Watch the Birdie

Watch the Birdie (1951) Watch the Birdie (1951) Watch the Birdie (1951) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis Rusty Cammeron (Red Skelton), the owner of a floundering film supply shop, borrows a client's camera one day to try and earn some extra money. However, he ruins it when he falls into the river while filming wealthy Lucia Corlane's (Arlene Dahl) new yacht leaving port. The good-hearted Lucia generously helps Rusty by buying up all his shop's stock and offering him a job documenting the housing project she is financing. In the process, Rusty unknowingly films a conspiracy to bankrupt her.
Director
Jack Donohue
Producer
Harry Ruskin
Production Co
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Genre
Comedy
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Dec 11, 1950, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Jul 7, 2016
Runtime
1h 10m
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