The Incredible Mr. Limpet (1964)

Director:

Arthur Lubin

Writers:

Jameson Brewer (screenplay) &
John C. Rose (screenplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

28 March 1964 (USA)

Genre:

Animation | Comedy | Family | War | Fantasy

Tagline:

GLUB! The Face That Launched A Thousand Torpedoes!

Plot:

Milquetoast Henry Limpet experiences his fondest wish and is transformed into a fish. As a talking fish...

Plot Keywords:

Fish | Submarine | U.S. Navy | German | Shark

Cast

Don Knotts	...	Henry Limpet
Carole Cook	...	Bessie Limpet
Jack Weston	...	George Stickel
Andrew Duggan	...	Harlock
Larry Keating	...	Adm. P.P. Spewter
Oscar Beregi Jr.	...	Nazi admiral (as Oscar Beregi)
Charles Meredith	...	Fleet Admiral
Elizabeth MacRae	...	Ladyfish (voice)
Paul Frees	...	Crusty (voice)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Phil Arnold	...	Short fisherman (uncredited)
Louie Elias	...	Sailor (uncredited)
Sam Harris	...	Officer at Fleet Admiral's briefing (uncredited)
Harold Miller	...	Officer at Fleet Admiral's briefing (uncredited)

Directed by
Arthur Lubin

Writing credits
Jameson Brewer		(screenplay) &
John C. Rose		(screenplay)
Joe DiMona		(adaptation)
Theodore Pratt		(novel)

Produced by
John C. Rose	....	producer

Original Music by
Frank Perkins

Cinematography by
Harold E. Stine		(director of photography) (as Harold Stine)

Film Editing by
Donald Tait

Art Direction by
LeRoy Deane

Set Decoration by
William L. Kuehl

Makeup Department
Gordon Bau	....	makeup supervisor
Jean Burt Reilly	....	supervising hair stylist

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Sergei Petschnikoff	....	assistant director

Sound Department
Stanley Jones	....	sound

Animation Department
Gerry Chiniquy	....	associate animation director: special piscatorial effects
Robert McKimson	....	sequence director: special piscatorial effects
Maurice Noble	....	animation production designer: special piscatorial effects
Don Peters	....	background styling: special piscatorial effects
Hawley Pratt	....	animation production designer: special piscatorial effects
Hawley Pratt	....	associate animation director: special piscatorial effects
Bill Tytla	....	supervising animation director: special piscatorial effects (as Vladimir Tytla)
Art Babbitt	....	animator (uncredited)
Hugh Fraser	....	animator (uncredited)
Phil Roman	....	animator (uncredited)

Music Department
Carl Brandt	....	orchestrator
Frank Perkins	....	conductor

Other crew
John W. Dunn	....	story developer: special piscatorial effects (as John Dunn)

Production Companies

• Warner Bros. Pictures (presents)

Distributors

• Warner Bros. Pictures (1964) (USA) (theatrical)
• Warner Home Video (2002) (Canada) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2002) (USA) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2006) (USA) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (USA) (VHS)
• Warner Home Video (USA) (laserdisc)
• Warner Home Vídeo (Brazil) (VHS)

Other Companies

• Department of Defense, The  thanks
• International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE)  this picture made under the jurisdiction of (as I.A.T.S.E.®)
• U.S. Navy, The  thanks

Also Known As:

Be Careful How You Wish (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

99 min (DVD)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound Recording)

Certification:

USA:G (DVD rating) | Canada:PG (Canadian Home Video rating) | USA:Approved (Certificate No. 20319)

Filming Locations:

Weeki Wachee, Florida, USA

Company:

Warner Bros. Pictures

Trivia:

The United States Destroyer used in the film was the USS Alfred A. Cunningham (DD-752) which was commissioned in November 23, 1944. It served in World War II and the Korean War before being decommissioned in 1971. It was sunk as a target in 1979.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: When Henry is dreaming about his military parade a flying wing is shown and is jet propelled. There were no jet propelled flying wings during WWII for the Americans.

Quotes:

Henry Limpet: What if I told you I used to be a human being?
Ladyfish: I don't care how terrible your past was, Limpet.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "The Venture Bros.: The Incredible Mr. Brisby (#1.4)" (2004)

Soundtrack:

The Mr. Limpet March (Super Doodle Dandy)

I would highly recommend this film for children.

I saw this movie when I was a child, maybe 3 or 4 years old. It made such a big impression on me that I have thought about it off and on for my entire adult life, but couldn't remember the movie's name. For Christmas this year, out of the blue, my mother gave me the DVD as a present. She told me that she knew I would like it because it affected me so much. This movie made me cry even as an adult.

I would highly recommend that children see this movie, at any age. It has a strong message about believing in one's self and one's abilities.

Don Knotts was a very gifted actor, and now that he has passed away, I think people should reflect on his career and his genius.