Monkey Business

Dr. Barnaby Fulton, an absent-minded research chemist for the Oxly chemical company, is trying to develop an elixir of youth. Stumped, he is too distracted in thought to go out to a dinner his wife Edwina has much anticipated, the spark of their marriage having been dimmed by his obsession with his work. At his job, he is urged on vigorously by his commercially minded boss, Oliver Oxly. One of Barnaby's chimpanzees, Esther, breaks loose in the laboratory, mixes a beaker of chemicals, and pours the mix into the water cooler. The chemicals have the rejuvenating effect that Barnaby is seeking. Unaware of Esther's antics, Barnaby tests his latest experimental concoction on himself, followed by a drink of water from the cooler. He soon begins to act like a 20-year-old and spends the day out on the town with his boss's comely young secretary, Lois Laurel. When Edwina learns that the serum works, she drinks some, along with water from the cooler, and transforms into a prankish schoolgirl. Edwina places an impetuous phone call to her old flame and family lawyer, Hank Entwhistle. Her mother, who is unaware of the chemical influence that causes Edwina's actions, believes that Edwina is unhappy in her marriage and wants a divorce. Barnaby and Edwina go to the laboratory the next morning to destroy the formula. However, they unwittingly consume it by using the contaminated water cooler to make coffee. Oxly and the board try to buy the formula from Barnaby while he is under its influence. Barnaby plays with a group of children pretending to be Indians. Meanwhile, Edwina falls asleep and awakens to find a baby next to her. She mistakenly believes that the baby is Barnaby having overdosed on the formula, but the baby is actually under the care of the Fultons' housekeeper. Oxly and she attempt to find an antidote, and Edwina tries to coax the baby to sleep, hoping that it will reverse the formula's effects. Numerous scientists and Mr. Oxly drink the water at the laboratory and revert to a second childhood. Barnaby crawls into the laboratory through the window and lies down to sleep next to the baby. Edwina discovers him and realizes her mistake. Later at home, as Barnaby, who has been offered a new contract by Oxly, prepares for an evening with Edwina, their spirits and marriage renewed, Barnaby notes, "you're old only when you forget you're young."

Plot from Monkey Business (1952 film)CC BY-SA 4.0