WTF?! - It's A Small World (1950)

WTF?! - It’s A Small World - (1950)

“This is a story of a special group of people. It concerns the great difficulty they have in adjusting themselves to a normal world.”

This week in WTF Cinema I focus on a little lesser known film entitled “It’s A Small World.” The film tells the tale of midget Harry Musk (Paul Dale) and his plight to fit into his all adult-sized world. An early profiteering offering by shocker great William Castle, “It’s A Small World” features a strong supporting cast and a simple, progressive life storyline. In the opening of the film we see Musk as a boy on the playground being bullied by his classmates. He longs after the girls, battles at home with his sister, and raised by his father. As he gets older he doesn’t get bigger; the world around him does. After having his heart crushed by his high school sweetheart, who announces she’s leaving to be married to her new beau, Harry chooses to leave the nest and venture into the big city, hoping to find acceptance and a purpose. 

“Small World’s” writer and director William Castle was quoted in the Los Angeles Times; "I thought the time was ripe for an offbeat story, one that the majors would shy away from; so I wrote it myself. We chose midgets, a sociological rather than a racial minority, because we felt nobody ever has taken them quite seriously, although they are as much a part of the human race as the next guy. Our picture would not be on the freak side…”  

I quite enjoyed this little unchartered flick. Castle shares a sweeter side with his script, and the Lilliputian main character could be anyone who is ostracized today; because of race, sexual preference, physical or mental disability, et. al. It doesn’t matter. What does matter is that “It’s A Small World” shares the common denominator with the human side of growing older and asking to be accepted into humanity.  Although it first appears as exploitative, once you begin to follow the path of the main character’s life story, you feel empathy for him. It’s just a simple story about someone who’s different trying to fit into society; learning that it’s not always about fitting in, but forging your own path and standing out. The performances are all honest, and genuine.

The film, told almost as a three-act play, follows Harry on his life path.  Released on June 24th, 1950, by Eagle-Lion films, “Small World” came and went with not much hoopla, but its message is simple and effective. It's not a horror movie, but quite frequently compared to “Freaks”; it's really not the same type of movie. As in all of Castle’s films, emulating Hitchcock, he made cameo appearances - look for him as a cop in this one.

(Trying not to spoil it too much) At one point, we visit the factual and well-known Cole Brothers Circus homed in Miami, FL. Founded in 1884, as "W.W. Cole’s New Colossal Shows" the CBC was most noted as the home of Bobo the Clown; and noted animal trainer Clyde Beatty. Beatty rose to fame in Hollywood as an accomplished Lion Tamer.

Stand alone kudos goes out to little person actor Paul Dale.

It’s Hollywood “history” that Dale got his start in the 1939 classic “The Wizard of Oz” as one of the Lollipop Guild members. Dale was also one of the bell hops in the radio and TV ads for Philip Morris cigarettes. He was the one in the hotel lobby calling "CALL FOR PHILIP MORRIS!!!" He was also the voice of Lennie Lennox on a program on KFJB radio in Marshalltown, Iowa, which was sponsored by Lennox Industries (the makers of Lennox furnaces). 
Dale appeared in an all midget review

in the 40s but went back to Hollywood to appear in “Small World.” Surprisingly, he didn’t receive much. The little-person actor only received $700-$800 for his role in the film. 

Noted supporting performance accolades go out to; handsome “It’s a Wonderful Life” actor (brother Harry Bailey) Todd Karns - who in his charming performance befriends Musk, employing him as a shoeshine boy; and Actor Will Gear as William Musk, Harry’s father. Geer is probably best known for the Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum, an outdoor professional theatre, still producing plays here in the Topanga Canyon area of Los Angeles. Actress Lorraine Miller (White Gorilla) as “Buttons” the sharp talkin’- no nonsense crooked dame, whom Harry falls for in the big city turns in a memorable performance; and fellow little person actress Anne Sholter as Seasoned Circus Showgal “Dolly Burke.”

Notable technical contributor to the film (outside of the mind of William Castle) is Cinematographer Karl Struss (Sunrise, The Fly, and The Great Dictator). That being said, the film has a beautifully shot and has a pretty look to it. 

“It’s a Small World” represents a progressionary period for William Castle. He was slowly drifting from his noir films like “Johnny Stool Pigeon” to more iconic horror films like “The Tingler” and “House On Haunted Hill.” In 1949 Castle moved over to Universal-International under a three-year contract that he claimed was double what he had received from his former employer, Columbia Pictures. Castle referred to the struggling studio as a a “country club with flowers and manicured lawns, that gave the feeling of peace and tranquility.” After “It’s  Small World,” UI forced Castle out of contract and back into the arms of Columbia. 

Wonderful WTF moments in “It’s A Small World” include; his bratty sister leading the torment of nonacceptance; Harry’s Pick Pocket crew in the city, led by “Buttons” and the over-sized strangling Godmother (Nina Koshetz);

some wonderfully kooky time progression montages which include some floating faces in flashback of torment and the rough big city; and an oddly placed musical number called “It’s A Small World” sung by our hero near the end of the picture. 

The biggest WTF fact? Now here’s the kicker; “Paul Dale” is actually performer Dale E. Paullin, and as of the writing of this article, still lives today in a Rest Home in Iowa. At age 90 he still seems cognizant of his days as a performer. Paullin had an extensive show business career billed as Paul Dale. Other than appearing in “It’s a Small World,” he was a tap dancer and sang as a tenor and a soprano. During his career, Paullin periodically returned to Marshalltown to visit family and to appear as a guest star with the County Marshalls band as part of KFJB’s “Barn Dance,” program performed live at the Coliseum. Paullin left school early to pursue that career. Paullin has a memoir “Amazing! Daring!” subtitled; “A Man Forced to Live in a Child’s World” which is the subtitle on the poster of “It’s A Small World.”

This now-senior has found himself in a “hot bed” of controversy over the years, solely because he is attributed with an “uncredited” credit on IMDB as one of the Lollipop Guild members in the 1939 classic “The Wizard of Oz.” He speaks fondly of his days on the set with Judy Garland, however he is never seen in the film. Years later he affirms that a former coworker informed him that his scenes were “cut” from the film. Who Knows? No one but Paullin really knows the truth because he has no photos of him on the set of the film. 

Did Paullin appear in the Wizard of Oz or not? Not in the final cut he doesn’t. He claims he was in the film, told people he’s in the film, but was later informed that he was cut from the film. The man is 90 and is a good example of how he could rewrite history. Ruth Smith was also from Marshalltown, IA and is confirmed as being in it. Smith passed away in the mid 80s. Paullin’s love for Iowa seemed dutiful. His parents are buried there, and he’s been embraced by the Marshalltown community as a hometown hero. Just this year Aiddy Phomvisay, Marshalltown High School principal presented Dale Paullin of Marshalltown with an honorary MHS diploma at a special ceremony at the Villa del Sol complex, where he lives. Phomvisay said Paullin earned the degree because he had moved from Marshalltown at a young age, but had remained “a life long learner” and thereby exemplified other MHS graduates. Paullin, 90, said he was thrilled with the honor. “I’m proud to be a Marshalltonian today,” he said. Witnessing the ceremony were Paullin’s friends and fellow Villa del Sol residents. A display of memorabilia from Paullin’s life and show business career is on display at the Historical Society of Marshall County museum, 202 E. Church St., in Marshalltown, IA.

“It’s A Small World” faded into oblivion until the “Something Weird” video line released the film on VHS in 1995, and most recently, the brains over at Warner Archives now offer it on DVD for purchase. 

"It's A Small World" 
1950 - 74 minutes DVD
$14.99
Click HERE to buy

Below are a couple of wonderful interviews with Paullin as well as the "It's A Small World" musical number!




Desmoine Register Interview

WHO-TV Interview