I had the pleasure of finding and watching this gem over the weekend on Netflix and I loved it. Great acting, witty dialogue and just charming characters all around. In fact, I think it was a tad ahead of its time and risqué for the era. I also loved seeing Johns and Tomlinson together so early in their careers (their older versions were the parents on Mary Poppins if you recall), and Tomlinson went on to become a regular character and voice-over for many Disney films from the 1950's-70's. I normally don't like Romantic-comedies because they're often too "schmaltzy" for my taste, but this one is very well done and a true classic. Take some time out of your busy day to watch it. ;o)

I noticed one reviewer gave this film a 10. Hmmm,...so apparently this film is as good as GONE WITH THE WIND, BEN HUR or GIGI?! Sorry, but while this is a good film, that's really about all there is to it. In many ways the film reminded me of MR. PEABODY AND THE MERMAID with a very odd twist. Instead of a man catching a mermaid and trying to keep it a secret, a man hooks onto a mermaid and agrees to bring her back home to meet the family and see London! All this is possible because unlike Mr. Peabody's mermaid, this one is perfectly coiffed and has perfect British diction and deportment. How, exactly, she learned such lovely and lilting English is an enigma. The mermaid (Glynis Johns) said that she learned English and customs from Vogue magazine, though how this help with her sterling pronunciation is a mystery! Well, if you ignore all this and just turn off your brain, the film is a delightful thing to watch. Ms. Johns is quite alluring in the title role and all the men who meet her are captivated by her...and they DO NOT realize she is in fact a mermaid! It's all cute and silly fun and a film that is improved by good acting throughout. But a 10? Nah,...I don't think so.By the way, if you liked this film, see MAD ABOUT MEN--a sequel to this film that also stars Ms. Johns.

Risque to say the least for this post war British comedy with a twist in the tail - quite literally. Glynis Johns is the delightful mermaid with a penchant for young men - wooing them with her charm alone. Interesting in part for its treatment of 'disabled' people as Miranda is treated as such throughout. Googie Withers is great as the harassed wife while Margaret Rutherford sparkles in a relatively small role - but at least she gets to dance. Of everyone, David Tomlinson is perhaps the most comical as a lovesick young butler and that really is Maurice Denham as the fish salesman. Acceptable but not for all.

This film about an Englishman on holiday, fishing in the sea and catching, or rather being caught by, a mermaid, may not rank high on the critics lists, but I love it. I used to see it occasionally on the late show many years ago. It probably has not been aired in over 25 years. This movie is not to be confused with another mermaid movie from 1948 called Mr. Peabody and the Mermaid. One wonders which film came first, and if one film was influenced by the other. The plots are roughly similar, although the themes differ. Miranda was followed six years later with a color sequel called Mad about Men (1954) which I only saw once on the late show over 30 years ago. Hopefully, someday these films will see the light of day.