Excuse My Dust (1951 film)

Plot

Amateur inventor Joe Belden has his Indiana hometown in a tizzy over his new "horseless carriage" in 1895. It runs on gasoline, but the townspeople aren't impressed and only Joe's mom and his sweetheart Liz Bullitt are supportive.

Mechanical breakdowns make Joe even more unpopular with some, including Liz's father, who prefers his daughter's other suitor, Ivy Leaguer Cyrus Ransom, Jr.

A $5,000 first prize in a road race attracts newfangled contraptions from all over the land. Cy enters one himself that runs on ether and cheats in every way he can to drive Joe off the road. He succeeds, but Liz comes to the rescue and joins Joe all the way to the finish line—well, almost all the way.

Cast

Production

The film was an original script by George Wells. Van Johnson was at one stage intended to star.

Musical numbers

Performed by Macdonald Carey and Chorus

Performed by Monica Lewis and Chorus, introduced by Herbert Anderson and Sally Forrest

Sung by Macdonald Carey, Monica Lewis, Sally Forrest, Red Skelton and Chorus

Performed by Red Skelton and Sally Forrest (dubbed by Gloria Gray)

Performed by Macdonald Carey, William Demarest and Chorus

Performed by Monica Lewis, Red Skelton and Chorus

Danced by Sally Forrest and Chorus

Sung by Sally Forrest (dubbed by Gloria Gray)

Reception

According to MGM records the film earned $1,645,000 in the US and Canada and $653,000 elsewhere, resulting in a loss of $501,000.