Plot-- A neighborhood boy (Donaldson) discovers a caterpillar that dances to a harmonica tune. Meanwhile, show-biz impresario Flynn (Grant) is going bust, and sees the novelty of a dancing insect as his ticket back up the ladder. But how will the businessman get along with the critter's young owner who's got a more personal interest than making a fortune.
Despite the talent involved, the movie overall fails to gel. Unfortunately, director Hall directs at a flaccid pace that drains too many of the comedic aspects. Admittedly, the material is difficult to get a handle on, which I think is the reason for the rather odd prologue. In addition, we never see the dancing caterpillar around which the plot evolves. Instead the fuss appears to amount to no more than a shoebox with an eyehole in it. Couldn't special effects have done at least a dancing silhouette? That would have given viewers something definite to root for, instead of a cheap piece of cardboard.
Cast-wise, little Donaldson is quite persuasive as the willful boy, looking nothing like the usual Hollywood moppet, while movie vet Gleason does his usual cranky old man bit. Seems the well-upholstered Blair is mainly along for the ride and a fashion parade. However, Grant has a few Grant moments, but is largely wasted. Too bad that on the whole a number of lesser actors could have sufficed.
All in all, I can see why the movie's not included in Grant's lengthy canon. As a result, it has drifted into understandable movie obscurity.
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