Trailer
Plot summary
Miranda Trewella, a mermaid, catches Dr. Paul Martin on his fishing holiday and keeps him in her underwater cavern for a week, releasing him only when he agrees to show her London. Back home, he presents her to his wife Clare as an invalid patient for a stay of three weeks, her tail hidden under extra-long dresses ordered from Clare's own couturier. Clare agrees on the condition that a nurse be hired, and Nurse Carey, who has always believed mermaids exist, takes the post and keeps the secret. Miranda's flirting wins the admiration of Paul, his chauffeur Charles and Nigel, who is engaged to Clare's neighbor Isobel, and the women around them grow jealous.
Cast
- Lyn Evansas Inn Landlord
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Did you know?!Facts and trivia about Miranda (1948)
Can contain spoilers, watch the movie first.
- Director Ken Annakin was not the original choice; less than two weeks into filming, studio boss Sydney Box fired original director Michael Chorlton over his heavy use of wide-angle, deep-focus camera work, and Annakin was given only three days to prepare before taking over.
- Miranda flopped in America because of competition from Mr. Peabody and the Mermaid, and director Ken Annakin claimed that film's makers even threatened to sue Gainsborough Pictures for copyright infringement, though Gainsborough was protected because Miranda was adapted from an earlier stage play.
- The opening credits carry the line "Tail by Dunlop"; all the underwater scenes were shot with a stunt double, Joan Hebden, wearing the tail, and Glynis Johns said in later interviews that the rubber tail was so buoyant that it tended to keep her head under the water.
- Gainsborough Pictures rushed Miranda into production specifically so it would reach screens before the rival mermaid comedy Mr. Peabody and the Mermaid.
- Ken Annakin said he developed a crush on star Glynis Johns during filming and that she tried to seduce him one night, but he refused because he did not want her to have power over him.
