Synopsis of Movie

Following in the steps of earlier youthful hijinks comedies like The Shaggy Dog and The Parent Trap, Disney’s The Misadventures of Merlin Jones re-teamed Tommy Kirk and Annette Funicello for some pseudo-science wackiness.

Kirk plays the title character, a college student brainiac who invents a mind-reading helmet. Using his psychic headgear, Merlin overhears the thoughts of Judge Holmby, who is planning a robbery. Together with girlfriend Jennifer, the budding genius tries to foil the Holmby’s plot, only to discover they may have misjudged the judge.

Later, while experimenting with hypnotism, Merlin has the judge kidnap the science department chimp. When Merlin gets blamed for the crime, the young man has some serious explaining to do.

Directed by Robert Stevenson (The Absent-Minded Professor, Mary Poppins), the low-key, low-budget Merlin Jones was a big money-winner for Disney. Building on that success, the studio filmed a 1965 sequel, The Monkey’s Uncle.

Movie Release History

1964 - The Misadventures of Merlin Jones
1965 - The Monkey's Uncle

Movie Sub Categories

live-action
sci-fi/fantasy
comedy
disney

Movie Studio

Disney

Cast

Jennifer Annette Funicello
Merlin Jones Tommy Kirk
Judge Holmby Leon Ames
Police Captain Loomis Stuart Erwin
Mrs. Gossett Connie Gilchrist
Professor Shattuck Alan Hewitt
Norman Norman Grabowski
Kohner Michael Fox
Detective Dal McKennon
Bailiff Burt Mustin

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