Excuse My Dust (1951)
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Excuse My Dust is one of the few Red Skelton musicals in which Skelton is not obliged to share screen space with the likes of Eleanor Powell, Esther Williams or Fernando Lamas. Set in 1900, the film stars Red as zany inventor Joe Belden. Enchanted by the new-fangled horseless carriages, Belden vows to become the Henry Ford of his small community. The climax finds Joe competing in a cross-country auto race for a $5000 prize. Though light on slapstick, this closing sequences scores on the nostalgic value of the several genuine vintage autos pressed into service. Sally Forrest co-stars as Skelton's sweetheart, while MacDonald Carey plays his obnoxious rival. The songs for the most part are well-integrated into the story, save for one anachronistically modern production number (explained away as a "dream sequence" wherein Skelton imagines what life will be like in 1950!). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Complete Cast:
- Red Skelton - Joe Belden
- MacDonald Carey - Cyrus Random, Jr.
- Monica Lewis - Daisy Lou Shultzer
- Jane Darwell - Mrs. Belden
- Guy Anderson [Herbert] - Ben Parrot
- Marjorie Wood - Mrs. Random, Sr.
- Alex Gerry - Nick Tosca
- Will Wright - Race Judge
- Edward Peil Sr. - 2nd Man
- Sally Forrest - Liz Bullitt
- William Demarest - Harvey Bullitt
- Raymond Walburn - Mayor Fred Haskell
- Lillian Bronson - Matilda Bullitt
- Paul Harvey - Cyrus Random, Sr.
- Lee Scott - Horace Antler
- Jim Hayward - Nick Tosca
- Sheree North - Club Member
- Director(s):
- Roy Rowland
- Writer(s):
- George Wells
- Producer(s):
- Jack Cummings
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