Theodore Pratt's book becomes somewhat uncertain comedy-drama-adventure taking place in 1890 Miami, with land owner/confidence man Robert Cummings spreading word amongst the residents that a railroad will soon be running through South Florida. Jerome Courtland is the mail courier for the U.S. government who doesn't buy Cummings' story, especially after both men begin vying for the affections of runaway teen Terry Moore. Initially fluff-headed nonsense turns serious by the second half, with murderous scavengers trying to halt the progress, and swampland alligators giving everyone the bite. Cummings, talking as fast as Robert Preston in "The Music Man", looks every inch the dapper scoundrel, yet the writing doesn't give him a whole lot to work with (the script is plot-heavy without ironing out the characters). The overlit, occasionally gloppy color photography isn't helped by sequences that change from location shoots to studio replicas in the blink of an eye, and the wavering tone is disconcerting, yet director Earl McEvoy manages to keep everyone's spirits up and the picture is seldom dull. **1/2 from ****
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boblipton22 July 2008This is a pleasant enough comedy set in turn-of-the-century Miami as Bob Cummings plays a swindler who's been swindled: he's been given a deed to a large plot of mangrove swamp in the out-of-the-way community. So he decides to con the locals, some of whom are not as honest as he....
There are a few good points to this movie, including some nice scenery, both around the mangrove swamps and Terry Moore. Will Geer has a nice role as mayor-postmaster-sheriff, and probably Lord High Poobah and Arthur Shields slides easily through his role as Terry Moore's father. But Bob Cummings is a little too one note in his performance to make this more than average good. -
blanche-215 January 2022Robert Cummings, Terry Moore, and Jerome Courtland star in "The Barefoot Mailman" from 1951.
Cummings is Sylvanus, who blows into town after inheriting some land. The land turns out to be a swamp. He also learns that the townspeople have been socking away their money because they don't have much to spend it on. Sylvanus lets it be known he wants to build a railroad and is ready to invest. He goes into partnership with Dan Paget (Will Geer).
Sylvanus needs to travel, so he signs on as foot traffic with the mailman (Courtland) who follows a dangerous route that often includes robber interference, led by John Russell. A 12-year-old runaway (Moore) is desperate to get to her father and begs to be taken along. They agree, not realizing she is a beautiful 19-year-old. Both men become interested in her, which sets up a rivalry.
Sylvanus' plan is to collect everyone's money, split it with Paget, and leave town. Before he can do that, problems ensue.
Cummings plays a Music Man/Harold Hill type conman. He does a good job. Terry Moore is adorable. I love when she comes crashing into the bedroom in a blue, off the shoulder dress, surprising the woman who is helping her unpack and can't understand what a 12-year-old is doing with such sexy clothes.
All in all, pleasant film. -
mark.waltz29 November 2017Truly, the alligators in this unbelievable drama with comic moments are the most interesting characters. Robert Cummings is a Harold Hill like traveling con-artist who stirs up swamp folks in the styx of what is now Miami to turn it into a city. Along the way, he meets hunky Jerome Courtland, rich man's daughter Terry Moore and a host of eccentrics, attempting a con against them and nearly getting Moore killed when she discovers the truth. Filmed in color on palm tree laden sets, this looks pretty, but the story isn't necessarily interesting or believable. Will Geer is sly as a combination postmaster and mayor, and future "Waltons" wife Ellen Corby is seen, along with "Jiggs and Maggie" star Renee Riano as the town gossip. Other familiar faces round out the case of character actors, but the story and some outlandish plot elements (a miniature gun the size of a nail clipper!) just makes this as insipid a B movie as you can get. After the third time Cummings attempts to talk the town out of stringing him up, I was seriously ready to start screaming, "Would you shoot him already so this can just end?" I simply just found this to be absolutely absurd in every way.