Original subtitles

- Hi Joey!

This is Dennis.

Come on over and I'll treat you to a banana milkshake.

I've already called Tommy, and Mike,

and Eddie, and Dave, and Buddy.

It'll be a real party.

Goodbye!

- Dennis!

Where do you expect to get the money

to buy banana milkshakes for all those boys?

- Oh, I'm not buying them.

I'm making them!

- Oh?

- Sure.

They ought to be ready now.

I dumped a bunch of bananas and six bottles of milk

in the washing machine!

- Dennis!

[theme music]

- Here's the paper, George.

It just came.

- Well, it's about time. What does he say?

What does Krinkie say about me?

- Well, I haven't found anything yet, dear.

Oh, is this it?

Taxpayers meet in protest at City Hall.

- That's it.

Martha, I don't mind telling you,

I saved that whole meeting yesterday single-handed.

- Good for you.

Read it to me.

- I certainly will.

Ah, yes, yes.

Group of irate citizens, so on, So on, so-- Oh.

A large meeting protested to the city assessor.

Aw, aw, aw.

Here we are.

In the midst of a plea by Marvin Quigley, prominent merchant.

- Oh, Mr. Quigley was there?

- The loudspeaker system suddenly went dead

and the assessor immediately moved to adjourn the meeting.

- Oh, fine.

You didn't let him.

- However, it was quickly discovered that the microphone

cord was lose, and one of those present plugged it in again.

Quigley resumed his attack on higher asse--

One of those present?

- Mm?

- Why, this silly paper doesn't even mention my name.

Just says, one of those present plugged it in again.

- Is that what you did, dear?

Just plugged in the microphone?

- Well, Martha, I saved that whole meeting.

If it hadn't been for me, if I hadn't found the trouble

right away, everybody would have gone home!

- I'm sorry, dear.

- Honestly.

Now this is a sample of the kind of recognition

I get in this town.

Why, for two cents, I'd cancel my subscription

to this crazy thing.

- Oh now, dear.

- Well, by golly, I would too, Martha,

if I weren't paid up in advance.

- Hi, Mr. Wilson!

Hi, Mrs. Wilson!

I got a swell idea, Mr. Wilson.

Let's you and me go--

- Dennis, I'm in no mood for any of your swell ideas.

Martha, I'm going upstairs and lie down a while.

- Is he sick, Mrs. Wilson?

- No, Dennis.

He's just a little upset today because he

didn't get his name in the paper.

- That's too bad.

Well, I better be going now.

Tell Mr. Wilson I'll leave my kite in the tree

until he feels more like climbing.

- Hello, Tommy.

It's nice to see you again.

- It's nice to have you back home, Mrs. Mitchell.

I missed you a lot.

- Thank you.

- Nobody can bake cookies as good as these!

- They sure can't!

- What have you got there?

- It's Tommy's new paint set.

You just draw a picture, and you press it down on this stuff

here, and the picture comes off on it.

See?

- Well, isn't that nice!

Oh, you can have a lot of fun with that.

- But I already drew all the pictures I know.

- I know some swell pictures, Tommy!

I'll draw a horse!

- You can do lots of things besides draw pictures

with this.

It says, handbills, calling cards, personal stationary,

print your own newspaper it says.

- Hey, that's a swell idea, Tommy!

We'll be reporters and have our own newspaper like Mr. Krinkie!

- OK.

Yeah!

You know any news?

- We'll do just like reporters do.

We'll go around to everybody and ask them stuff.

That's how you get news.

- Yeah!

We can ask Miss Cathcart if she's

got any news about Mr. Dorfman.

She's always talking about Mr. Dorfman.

- And how about Mrs. Elkins!

Mr. Wilson says she knows everything about everybody!

- Now, wait a minute, boys.

I don't think you'd better bother

Mrs. Elkins or Miss Cathcart.

They might not like it.

- Jeepers, mom.

Everybody likes their name in the paper.

- No, not everybody.

You'd better skip them.

- Gee.

How are we gonna get any news?

- Say!

I know who likes his name in the paper!

Good ol' Mr. Wilson.

He felt real bad today, because it wasn't in it.

- OK!

Let's go get some news on him!

- Swell!

And we'll make the whole newspaper about Mr. Wilson.

And we'll call it The Mr. Wilson News.

- We'll follow him around today and put down

everything he does and says, huh?

- Only we gotta be real careful that he doesn't

know what we're doing or that'll spoil the surprise!

Come on, let's get started!

- Hi, Mr. Wilson!

- Having a drink of water?

- Yes, I'm having a drink of water.

- What you doing?

Setting out flowers Mr. Wilson?

- No, Dennis.

I'm knitting a sweater.

- With a trowel?

- Oh, he's just joking, Tommy.

He makes jokes like that lots of times.

What he's really doing is setting out flowers,

aren't you, Mr. Wilson?

- Well, I'm trying to.

Now, why don't you boys go somewhere else and let me work.

- OK, Tommy.

Let's go someplace else.

Here, right over here.

- All right, Dennis.

If you have to hang around, then be quiet.

I don't even want to talk to you, you hear?

- Yes, sir.

- (WHISPERING) I wonder If he wants to talk to me.

- No, I don't.

I don't want to talk to anybody.

- Don't bother him now, Tommy.

[phone ringing]

- I'll get it!

Hello?

Yes, he's here, but he doesn't want

to talk to anybody right now.

Goodbye.

- For heaven's sakes.

Who was that?

I didn't tell you to answer my phone, Dennis.

Now who was that?

- I didn't ask him.

- Oh, for the love of-- I was expecting a call

from my tax man.

All right, that does it. now, go on home, both of you.

Go on. - But Mr. Wilson--

- Home!

Huh.

Honestly, those kids.

Oh, good grief!

- Hi.

Did you get any more news out of him yet?

- No.

I went over and rang the doorbell

while you were home eating.

But Mrs. Wilson said he was resting.

- Gee, with what we got, we can't even make half a newspaper.

- No.

All we got so far is Mr. Wilson set out some flowers,

and Mr. Wilson spilled his water pitcher.

Can you think of anything else?

- Well, before he spilled the pitcher,

he took a drink of water.

- Yeah!

He's always thirsty when he's working.

We can put that in.

Mr. Wilson drinks a lot! - There!

That's good!

He's out in his patio now!

- Swell.

We can watch him and he won't even know we're getting news.

- George!

Wait till you see what I found in the attic!

- Oh, well I'll be darned.

Our old college annual.

Well, I haven't seen this in years.

Oh, my goodness.

There are people in here I haven't thought of in ages.

Look at that picture.

Remember him? Bill Hooper.

He and I used to room together.

- He came from up in New York somewhere, didn't he?

- Sure. Buffalo.

Buffalo Bill we all called him.

- Jeepers, I didn't know Mr. Wilson

went to school with Buffalo Bill!

- Me either.

That's news all right.

- Oh. Oh.

Now there's the picture I've been looking for.

Us, going to the big Thanksgiving Day game.

You remember?

- I'll never forget it.

I was so impressed when you showed up in that raccoon coat.

- I wonder what ever happened to that old coat of mine anyway.

- Well, if I remember, we gave it to the scrap drive

during the war.

- Well, that was rather a sad ending

for a coat that used to walk across the campus with its arm

around your shoulder.

It deserved a better fate.

- It represented romance to both of us, didn't it?

- You know, Martha, I'd give a lot

to have that old coat of mine back again.

- You would?

Just how much would you give?

- Oh, I'd give $20 anyway.

- Hey, that's news!

- It sure is, boy!

- $20 for coat.

- Would you really like to have that coat back?

- Why, certainly.

Why, every well-dressed man has to have

a raccoon coat in his wardrobe, or two or three.

Why, a fellow can't have too many raccoon coats,

you know that.

- You're right, dear.

He needs one for every day and one to wear on Sunday.

- One to garden in, and one to wear when I'm greasing the car.

- And one to wear when you drive me to the station

when I move out.

- It works, Tommy!

It works swell!

- Sure it works.

- The Mr. Wilson News.

He sure has got his name in the paper now, Tommy.

- He'll be famous I bet.

- He sure will.

We'll make about 20 or 40 copies,

and give everybody a copy on this whole block!

And after we leave this one as Mr. Krinkie's house,

we've only got one left, and that's for good ol' Mr. Wilson!

Oh, hello, Mr. Krinkie!

- Well, hello boys.

- Here's a copy of our newspaper for ya.

- Another newspaper!

Well, I don't know whether this town's

big enough for two papers.

You boys don't want to run me out of business, do ya?

- Oh no, sir.

We wouldn't do that!

This is just a special paper.

- Oh, The Mr. Wilson News.

Oh, that's an interesting name.

- It's all about Mr. Wilson.

- Yeah, I had a hunch it might be.

Mr. Wilson got up early today and he set out some flowers.

Oh, that's a scoop all right.

- We followed him around and asked

him questions and spied on him, just like reporters!

- Mr. Wilson will give $20 for a raccoon coat

like he had in college.

He will, huh?

Did he tell you boys that himself?

- No sir.

He told Mrs. Wilson, though.

That's how we found out!

- Well, I'm glad to see George Wilson still

has a touch of the college boy left in him.

Thanks, boys!

Hmm.

That's a nice human interest story.

This'll look good in my paper!

- Now we'll slip this one under good ol' Mr. Wilson's door

and we're all through.

- Dennis!

Time to wash up for dinner! - Jeepers!

I didn't know it was that late.

See ya tomorrow, Tommy.

We'll go over to the park and play Tarzan, huh?

- Not if it's like last time.

- OK.

This time I'll be Jane!

- OK, Dennis. Goodbye.

- Bye, Tommy.

- Oh no, not again. - What is it, dear?

- Oh, it's one of those confounded advertising folders.

I just wish they'd stop cluttering up

our house with them.

- Listen to this.

Mr. Wilson not only made Dennis's paper.

He made the front page of "The Chronicle."

- Really? What is it?

- It's the raccoon coat story.

Local resident yearns for raccoon coat.

The spirit of the roaring '20s still

lives in George Wilson of 625 Elm Street.

Mr. Wilson is looking for one of the raccoon coats which

were a symbol of flaming youth during his college days,

and is willing to pay $20 for a fine specimen.

- I'm amazed at him.

I never dreamed he was so sentimental.

- He must have meant it if he bothered

to give Krinkie the story too.

- We didn't tell Mr. Krinkie, dad.

Mr. Krinkie got the news from my newspaper.

- Oh?

- Sure.

He said it was real interesting.

He would put it in his newspaper too.

Isn't that swell?

- Well, I don't know.

I suppose.

- You're sure that's what Mr. Wilson said, are you son?

I-- I mean he did say-- - Sure.

Mom asked me that last night!

That's exactly what he said.

Me and Tommy both heard him!

- Imagine, Wilson trying to recapture his flaming youth!

Boy, if I had a raccoon coat, I'd certainly sell it to him.

- I'm going over to see good old Mr. Wilson now.

I want to ask him how he liked my newspaper.

- All right, dear.

But don't stay too long.

- OK.

- You wanna put the paper in the house, George?

- Oh, that thing.

After the way Krinkie neglected me yesterday,

I ought to throw this into the trash can.

- Hi Mrs. Wilson!

- Good morning, Dennis.

- You're all dressed up.

Are you going somewhere?

- Just a little trip to the city.

We'll be home around 4 o'clock if anyone asks for us.

- Dennis, we're in a hurry now.

So if you'll excuse us.

- I just wanted to ask you how you

liked The Mr. Wilson News, Mr. Wilson.

- The-- The what?

- The newspaper me and Tommy printed all about ya.

Didn't you get it?

I put it under your door yesterday just before dinner.

- Oh.

The newspaper.

Yes, it was fine, fine, Dennis.

I enjoyed it very much.

Come on, Martha.

- Mrs. Wilson said you liked to get your name in the paper,

so it was the only name we put in ours.

- That was very sweet of you, Dennis.

- Mr. Krinkie saw it and said--

- Oh, Dennis!

Don't even mention his name.

I'm sure you're twice the newspaperman that Krinkie is.

- Gee thanks!

See ya later! - Yeah.

Undoubtedly.

[knocking on door]

- There's nobody home, mister.

- You sure, Sonny?

The paper said the fellow that lived here

was in the market for a raccoon coat.

- Is that what that is?

- Yup.

When will somebody be home?

- They said 4 o'clock this afternoon.

- Well, $20 is $20.

But I sure hate to haul this thing back over here again.

It's kind of embarrassing the way people laugh at it.

- Why do they laugh?

I think it's a swell coat myself.

- Yeah.

I thought so, too, back in the old days.

Yes, sir.

Classiest job on the campus.

- I know Mr. Wilson would like it.

This could be the one he wears to church.

- Well.

- Say, they always leave the patio door open.

I'll run around and let you in and you can leave the coat

there, and he'll pay you for it later!

- Well, I guess that'll be all right.

- Oh sure.

He's real anxious to get one!

- Well, thank you, buddy.

- Just put it down anywhere, mister.

- OK.

Now, I better leave my name and phone number, so,

uh, have you got some paper around her someplace?

- There's a pad on the desk.

- Oh, fine.

[doorbell rings]

- Oh, boy!

Another one!

Come on in!

- Is your father the man that wants a raccoon coat?

- No sir.

But he's my best friend.

You can leave the coat with me.

He's not home now.

- Oh, it looks like he already bought one.

- That's OK, mister.

He wants all the raccoon coats he can get!

Mr. Wilson says a fella can't have too many raccoon coats.

- Hey, you think this is on the level?

- Well, sure.

He put the story in the paper, didn't he?

- He's got to be a character.

Oh, just stick your name and number

in the pocket of your coat.

- Now, you be sure and have him call us, won't you, sonny?

- I sure will!

- This where I can sell a raccoon coat?

- Oh boy!

Another one!

Jeepers, this is really Mr. Wilson's lucky day!

- Hi, Mr. Wilson!

Hi Mrs. Wilson!

Boy, wait 'til you see the big surprise I got for ya!

- You have a surprise for me?

- The best one you ever had!

It's in the house!

Go on!

Open the door!

- Yes, George.

Let's see what it is!

- Somehow I don't feel too eager.

- Isn't it great Mr. Wilson!

- Why, it's not real!

- Why they're raccoon coats!

Where in the world did these come from?

- From all over town.

Men kept bringing 'em and bringing 'em and bringing 'em!

- But why?

- Because you said a fella can't have too many raccoon coats.

But I bet this is almost too many.

- Now when did I say a thing like that, Dennis?

- Yesterday in your patio.

- I remember, George.

We were looking at the college annual.

- And me and Tommy heard you, and put it in our newspaper!

Then Mr. Krinkie put it in his newspaper too!

- But Dennis!

- They're all yours, Mr. Wilson, for only $20 a piece

like you said.

- $20!

- The men left their names and phone numbers.

You just call them and they'll come right over and collect.

- Great Scott!

- Which one will you wear to church, Mr. Wilson?

- Martha, quick!

My nerve medicine!

- It's the same thing over and over and over.

That's the fifteenth man who refuses

to come and pick up his mangy old fur.

What a mess!

- And I'm awfully sorry about this, Mr. Wilson.

So is Dennis.

- Well, he-- he should.

Turning my home into a raccoon's den.

[phone ringing]

- Oh.

Here we go again!

Hello.

Who?

You what?

You wouldn't dare!

- Another one?

- That was Krinkie.

He says the story has caused a lot of comment

and he wants to send a photographer over here and take

a picture of me in my raccoon coat

with my arm around your shoulder.

They're going to call it "Sheik Wilson and his Sheba."

Well, go ahead.

Snicker your heads off.

This is George Wilson's bitterest hour.

[doorbell rings] - Hello.

I'd like to talk to Mr. Wilson.

- Come in.

- Thank you.

Wow!

What a collection!

- Well, who are you?

And if you're from Krinkie's newspaper, you can just--

- Oh no, sir!

I just wanted to ask you about a raccoon coat.

See, my dad showed me his old one and I just--

- Why, now this is the limit.

Well, you can just march right back

and tell your dad that he'll never

sell his repulsive rug with sleeves to me!

- I don't want to sell dad's.

I want to buy one for myself.

- I tell you I'm sick and tired of being

made the butt-- I-- You-- You want to buy?

- Yes, and some of the fellas at school read about the coats,

and we thought they'd be real cool.

- Oh, I doubt that, son.

They're really quite heavy.

- Eh-- Eh, leave this to me, Martha.

Young man, if you want a coat so badly,

why don't you take your father's?

- Well, it's too small for me.

My kid brother's taking it.

- Oh, I see.

Well, I actually don't own these handsome coats.

- Oh, you don't?

- But I think a sale can be arranged, however.

[doorbell rings]

- Eh, now you see, each garment has

the owner's name in the pocket.

Now all you do is pick out a coat

and, uh, get in touch with the proper party.

- Oh, now we're getting somewhere!

Oh!

Yeah!

- George, this young man wants to buy a coat, too!

- Oh hello, Fred.

Oh, splendid!

Splendid!

- What do you think, Fred?

- Oh, hi Chuck.

You beat me to it, huh?

- Yeah, I already got the pick of the liter.

- Oh.

Well, there are plenty here left.

Just examine the merchandise, Fred.

Oh, try this one on.

- That's fine!

- Yes.

Oh! Beautiful!

Now be sure and get in touch with the rightful owners now,

won't you boys?

- Gee, thanks a lot, Mr. Wilson.

This is great!

- Fine.

- Bye, Miss Wilson! - Goodbye!

- I got me a good one here!

- Oh yes, that's a dandy.

- We'll see you later.

- Bye.

- Oh, isn't it wonderful, dear?

The owners can sell their coats, and you're out of trouble.

- Well, it's certainly a load off my shoulders, Martha.

- And the boys looked so cute in them!

- Yes, they did.

I wonder if-- Oh no, it'd be silly

if I'd have kept one for myself, wouldn't it?

- What's the big surprise you have for us, Mr. Wilson.

- You'll see!

Won't be long now!

- Well, whatever it is, you certainly look happy about it.

- The happiest he's been in years, bless him.

- Come over here and sit down.

- Then you're not mad at me anymore, Mr. Wilson?

- Oh, no, of course not, Dennis.

You and I are chums again. Mitchell, you right over there.

- Gee, I'm glad! - Martha.

Oh, Dennis, you can sit on the floor.

6 o'clock.

Zero hour!

- Good evening ladies

This is your hometown reporter, leading off this evening

with a story of a new fad that is now

the rage of the younger set.

Earlier this afternoon, we took our film cameras

to the high school campus.

- The raccoon coat has made a smashing comeback here

at City High.

And is being worn by many of the leading BMOCs-- Big Men

On Campus-- including Chuck Long, captain of the basketball

team, and Frosty Dennison, president of the senior class.

- Responsible for this revival of interest in raccoon coats

is a prominent local citizen who still has the heart of a boy.

Who knows?

These days may become known as the roaring '60s.

If so, the man we have to thank for it is Mr. George Wilson.

- Mr. Wilson, congratulations.

- Thank you, sir.

- The next story concerns a decision made today

by our Mayor, who says that he definitely

is going to run for a third term.

- Who cares about the Mayor anyway.

- Oh, boy!

You're famous, Mr. Wilson.

- Shouldn't you thank Dennis for making you famous?

- Oh, I intend to, Martha.

Dennis, as a result of your newspaper,

I have received all the public acclaim any man could hope for.

I thank you.

- You're welcome, Mr. Wilson!

I like to do things for you.

- The newscaster made one point that's certainly true,

Mr. Wilson.

You are a young man at heart.

- I do think some of the things we had when I was young

certainly don't deserve to be forgotten.

For instance, do you remember that fine old sports

car, the Stutz Bearcat?

- Sure.

- No, I'm afraid I don't.

- Um, what a car, eh Martha?

- You looked so dashing in yours.

- By golly, I'd give $100 to have another one just like it!

- I'll be home later, mom.

- Where are you going, dear?

- Down to see Mr. Krinkie.

You'll have all the Stutz Bearcats you want, Mr. Wilson!

- Dennis, get back here this minute!

- Oh!

[theme music]

NARRATOR (OFFSCREEN): This has been a Screen Gems film

production from the Hollywood Studios of Columbia pictures.