The Incredible Mr. Limpet Reviews

Incredible as it sounds, this is an enjoyable film. Knotts is a nervous little Brooklyn bookkeeper who is excessively fond of fish. Of course, this annoys his wife (Cook) no end, especially since Knotts actually wants to be one of his deep-sea friends. After he is rejected by the Navy for service in WW II, he takes a walk along Coney Island with Cook and his friend, Weston, who (to add insult to injury) has been accepted by the Navy. Knotts slips off the pier and--lo and behold!--is turned into a fish, through the miracle of animation. He meets a snail who shows him the ropes, falls in love with a lady fish, and eventually becomes a war hero by helping the Navy track down German U-boats. In the end he explains his new life to Cook and swims off to spawn with his finned female love. Sure it's absurd, but it's done well and it's fine for the kids. The animated Knotts comes complete with horned-rimmed glasses, and the fantasy works well as a whole, with a nice combination of live action and animation. Producer Rose was a long-time Disney associate and the Disney influence is evident. Appropriately, the premiere of THE INCREDIBLE MR. LIMPET was held underwater, in a specially designed, glass-enclosed room 20 feet below the surface at Weeki Wachee Springs, Florida. Songs include "The Mr. Limpet March (Super Doodle Dandy)," "I Wish I Were a Fish," "Be Careful How You Wish," "Deep Rapture," "Hail to Henry Limpet."