Fans of Red Skelton will enjoy Watch the Birdie, a pleasant little comedic outing that doesn't rank among the funny man's finest. The set- up, taken from Buster Keaton's The Cameraman, is solid enough: would-be photographer accidentally films a business scam, which fact gets him involved in plot complications. But the trio of screenwriters don't really run with the idea. They use it as a springboard for comedic situations which, for the most part, just don't come off as amusingly as they should. There are some genuine laughs, though, starting off with an amusing credits sequence in which Skelton comments amusingly about the people involved. The tiny shared dressing room sequence is also good for a few guffaws, and while the end chase sequence is not as consistently funny as it should be, it does work on the whole. Skelton is in fine form, but also not at his best; even in the sequence where he plays himself, his own father and his own grandfather, which should be a no-brainer, doesn't show off his talents the way it should. The supporting cast is quite good, with Ann Miller scoring well and Arlene Dahl looking quite appealing.