Though
Merry Andrew
is more subdued than earlier Danny Kaye efforts, it's still a lot of fun. Kaye is cast as Andrew Larabee, a mild-mannered but highly unorthodox archeology professor at a British boy's school. While on an expedition in Italy, Andrew allows a traveling circus to pitch camp on his archeological site. Falling in love with Selena (
Pier Angeli
), the acrobat daughter of carnival owner Antonio Gallini (
Salvatore Baccaloni
), Professor Larabee soon finds himself participating in their show as a clown, ringmaster, and (accidental) lion-tamer. When time comes for Andrew to return to his stuffy academic existence -- not to mention his equally stuffy fiancée (
Patricia Cutts
) -- he chooses instead to hit the sawdust trail in the company of the fair Selena. The five
Saul Chaplin
-
Johnny Mercer
songs are enjoyable, but the engaging "patter numbers" written by Kaye's wife,
Sylvia Fine
, are sorely missed.