Mr. Magoo

About Mr. Magoo (Plot and Summary)

"Mr. Magoo" is a 1997 live action-comedy film that is based on the original cartoon of the same name. The film features Leslie Nielsen as the title character, a wealthy, short-sighted retiree who gets into a series of comical situations due to his nearly sightless condition, amidst a plot of a stolen gem that he unwittingly has and doesn't realize he has, leading a pair of robbers and the police on a wild chase. Even in the midst of chaos and potential danger, Mr. Magoo emerges unscathed due to his unfaltering optimism and always finds his way out of trouble.

Making / Production

The movie was directed by Stanley Tong, and it was written by Pat Proft and Tom Sherohman. It was an attempt to make the famed cartoon character from the 1950's and 1960’s into a beloved big-screen character. However, despite having a renowned cast and significant financial backing, the film struggled to resonate with contemporary audiences.

Actors

• Leslie Nielsen- Played the role of Mr. Magoo, bringing his classic slapstick humor to the nearly blind, affable character.
• Kelly Lynch- She played Luanne LeSeur/Prunella Pagliacco, one of the villains of the story who is after the stolen gem.
• Ernie Hudson- Took on the role of Charles, an FBI agent in pursuit of the gem.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• The film faced protests from groups representing the blind who were concerned about offensive portrayals of blind people.
• Mr. Magoo’s car in the movie, a red 1957 Studebaker Golden Hawk, is a homage to the character's car in the original cartoons.

Quotes

• "Magoo is going up!" – Mr. Magoo
• "I got a stolen ruby here that says I can"- Luanne

Music, Soundtrack

• "Mudda-Dudda" – performed by Chris Desmond
• "The Morning After" – Soundtrack composition by Mike Himelstein