The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (1947)

Background & Context

Based (very loosely) on the 1939 short story of the same name by James Thurber, The Secret Life of Walter Mitty was transformed for the screen into a vehicle tailored to the immense talents of comedian, singer, and impressionist Danny Kaye. While Thurber's original story is a brief and dryly ironic portrait of a henpecked man escaping reality through heroic daydreams, the film adaptation expands the narrative into a full-blown Technicolor adventure, romantic comedy, and musical comedy showcase.

Though the film diverged so dramatically from the source material that Thurber was reportedly unhappy with the liberties taken, the 1947 version remains beloved as a classic star vehicle and a Technicolor gem of mid-century Hollywood.

Plot Summary

Walter Mitty (Danny Kaye) is a shy, absent-minded proof-reader for a dry textbook publishing company run by his overbearing boss (Thurston Hall) and under the thumb of his domineering mother (Fay Bainter). To escape his mundane and controlled life, he frequently drifts into elaborate daydreams in which he imagines himself as a heroic fighter pilot, a sea captain, a surgeon, a gambler, and more—always the centre of attention and admiration.

His drab life takes a turn when he meets Rosalind van Hoorn (Virginia Mayo), a mysterious and alluring woman who appears to him first in a dream, then in real life. She involves him in a real-life intrigue involving her murdered cousin, a missing book, and an international conspiracy to steal valuable Dutch art treasures hidden during WWII.

Mitty, bumbling and hesitant in real life, must summon the courage to act like the heroes of his imagination—and in the process, actually become one.

Performances

Danny Kaye as Walter Mitty

Kaye is the film’s centrepiece and raison d'être. At the peak of his powers in 1947, Kaye showcases his incredible range: rapid-fire patter, physical comedy, sly impressions, tongue-twisting songs, and expressions of wide-eyed wonder. He deftly portrays the difference between the drab, real-world Mitty and his dashing dream alter egos.

His versatility is most evident in the fantasy sequences, where he shifts effortlessly between accents, personas, and comedic styles. Even when the plot sags or meanders, Kaye remains magnetic, infusing each scene with kinetic energy and warmth.

Virginia Mayo as Rosalind

Mayo plays the archetypal “mystery woman” with elegance and charm, providing a grounded contrast to Kaye’s hyperactive performance. Though the character is somewhat underwritten, she plays her part earnestly and with enough romantic chemistry to make the central relationship believable.

Boris Karloff as Dr. Hollingshead

In one of the film’s most memorable supporting turns, Karloff plays a sinister psychiatrist and villain in both real life and dream. Karloff, famous for his horror roles, leans into his menacing screen presence, adding dramatic tension and humour through contrast.

Fay Bainter and Ann Rutherford

Bainter is delightfully overbearing as Mitty’s bossy mother, embodying the post war trope of the smothering matriarch. Rutherford, as Mitty’s fiancée Gertrude, is gratingly shallow—by design—highlighting the stifling constraints Mitty faces in his daily life.

Themes

Though it plays largely as a broad comedy, The Secret Life of Walter Mitty touches on some thoughtful and poignant themes:

Escapism vs. Reality: Mitty’s daydreams reflect a universal desire to be more than what we are—to escape drudgery, fear, and conformity for adventure and meaning.

Masculine Insecurity in the Post war Era: In a time when the “man of action” was idealized, Mitty represents the meek, overlooked man longing for recognition and purpose.

Imagination as Survival: Rather than just foolish fantasy, Mitty’s imagination becomes a source of inspiration, allowing him to face real danger and assert himself.

Production Design & Fantasy Sequences

The film is shot in lush Technicolor, with vivid set pieces and costuming that pop, especially in the dream sequences. These segments are where the film shines most visually and conceptually. Each fantasy is a mini-movie parody: a British war film, a noir thriller, a jungle adventure, etc.

Each dream reflects Mitty’s repressed ambitions or frustrations and is executed with delightful inventiveness. From fog-drenched battlefields to gilded casinos and haunted psychiatric offices, the film uses these sequences to parody Hollywood genres while deepening its protagonist’s psychological portrait.

Music & Songs

The film features several songs written by Sylvia Fine (Kaye's wife and long time collaborator), including the famous tongue-twisting number "Symphony for Unstrung Tongue." These musical moments are showcases for Kaye’s legendary verbal dexterity and add to the film’s playful, vaudevillian energy.

Comedy Style

Kaye’s performance drives much of the humour, which ranges from slapstick to wordplay to absurdist satire. The supporting characters also provide ample comic material, with a parade of oddballs, villains, and clueless bureaucrats complicating Mitty’s real and imagined adventures.

However, the film also includes quieter comic moments, particularly in the way Mitty reacts to the absurdity of his own dreams versus the small indignities of his real life.

Criticism

While The Secret Life of Walter Mitty is beloved for Kaye’s performance and its inventive style, it is not without flaws:

Loose Plot Structure: The real-world mystery plot is thin and often overshadowed by the dream sequences, which can make the narrative feel disjointed.

Deviation from Thurber's Tone: Fans of the original short story may find the adaptation too far removed from its subtle, satirical source, with its biting critique of suburban masculinity replaced by broad comedy and adventure.

Underdeveloped Romance: The love story between Walter and Rosalind feels underbaked and conventional, more a structural necessity than a deeply felt emotional arc.

Legacy

Though overshadowed in some circles by the 2013 Ben Stiller remake (which reimagined the story with a more modern and introspective tone), the 1947 Walter Mitty remains a significant classic of mid-century Hollywood comedy.

For many, it is the quintessential Danny Kaye vehicle, encapsulating his talents in a film that allows for both spectacle and subtlety. Its blend of comedy, music, fantasy, and adventure makes it a unique and enduring entry in the canon of golden-age comedies.

Conclusion

The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (1947) is a vibrant, inventive, and often hilarious celebration of imagination, anchored by a powerhouse performance from Danny Kaye. Though it diverges sharply from James Thurber’s original tale, it carves out its own identity as a Technicolor dreamscape of 1940s escapism and entertainment.

Even with its narrative unevenness and tonal shifts, the film's charm lies in its creative whimsy and emotional earnestness, offering a delightful journey into the mind of a most unlikely hero.

A whimsical, imaginative gem that showcases Danny Kaye at his most charismatic—even if the plot sometimes takes a back seat to fantasy.