Half a Hero (1953)

This Red Skelton comedy provides a social commentary of its time that’s not as dated as one might think. In fact it reminded me of a recent “keep up with the Jones” commercial for a financial lending organization at first with a little bit of Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House (1948) later. Skelton plays a New York magazine writer named Ben Dobson whose ambitious – one might even say ‘social climbing’ – wife Martha (Jean Hagen) ‘encourages’ him to continuously ‘evolve’ into the husband (for the life) she wants. It was directed by Don Weis and written by Max Shulman. Polly Bergen appears as herself in a restaurant club scene that feels out of place in the story.

Ben finds a job working for Mr. Bascomb (Charles Dingle) at Everybody’s magazine in New York City; “Everybody loves Everybody’s” (a kind of a “Life” magazine). Bascomb is a man of “sound principles” who insists that his employees are as thrifty as he is. During the job interview Ben more or less goes along with or agrees with whatever Bascomb says and is hired. Ben had been a freelance writer but this new steady job provides Martha with the opportunity to ‘enhance’ their domestic situation. First she manipulates him into having their first child then (after five years which pass in less than 10 minutes of screen-time) into moving out of their city apartment to a suburban home with their son Pete (Hugh Corcoran). Willard Waterman plays the friendly and convincing (if conniving) real estate agent Charles McEstway.

Once ensconced in Williams Landing Martha persuades Ben to ‘improve’ their lives with one purchase after another and soon the Dobsons are treading on thin ice using credit for furniture a television set and other home improvements (and plumbing repairs). Ben decided not to tell his boss – Bascomb would surely not approve – about their moving to the suburbs which leads to an awkward/unusual moment (that may have been funnier at the time of the film’s release than it plays today). Ironically Bascomb wants Ben to write his first article – he’d been a rewriter (e.g. an editor of sorts) all this time – about the folly of suburbia and going into debt to buy a home and all the associated “things” (pretty current eh?). While initially reluctant Ben feels forced into taking the assignment by Martha’s never ending desire for more; her “need” for a car convinces him to do it. He decides to accept the role of “Community Chest” collector (this is a dated concept) in order to get to know his neighbors better and learn about how everyone else in Williams Landing is “up to their eyeballs in debt”. He figures that after his articles are published Martha will be so embarrassed – and the Dobsons so ostracized – that she’ll have to let them move back to the city.

Several comic scenes follow: Ben learns about one neighbor’s new addition – an activities room – and another’s outdoor grilling/eating patio. His articles are caustic just the kind of impactful stuff that his boss wants. But when Martha finds and reads them (before they’re published) while not happy she finally understands and agrees to let Ben list the house. However when McEstway brings a couple (Mary Wickes and Frank Cady) of prospective buyers to see the house their comments about what the Dobsons have built (and call home) make Ben defensive. His perspective changes and so does the conclusion of his series of articles; upon reading it Bascomb is at first perplexed and then angry. But henpecked Ben follows his wife’s script (we learn later) to get a promotion and a raise just in time for the coming of their second child.

Purchase this DVD now at