The Reformer and the Redhead

Mild comedy played in straight fashion by fine cast. The plot's rather contemporary in its concern for wild animals and exposing political skullduggery. And, by golly, Allyson's headstrong zoo keeper is going to take down crooked politician (Collins) before he does more to glorify trophy hunting. Trouble is her potential ally, the politically ambitious Powell, can't seem to decide which side he's on. Maybe Herman the lion can help him decide. He certainly has Powell clambering over the furniture in acrobatic fashion. Then too, Allyson's winning ways are hard for any guy to ignore, even if the actress allowed herself to be deglamorized.

Real life husband and wife, P&A, get center stage, while Wayne gets the many snappy throwaway lines, along with an amusingly bookish Marvin Kaplan. Also look for cult figure Tor Johnson as the mountainous Finnlander next to Powell in that well-crafted scene. Expert writers Panama and Frank come up with a witty script that's mostly amusing, but it's clear they have the two serious targets in mind, even if the animal scenes are likely the movie highlights. Though there's the physical comedy, neither direction nor editing goes for bouncy type humor, relying instead on script and situation for the chuckles. Nonetheless, I love it when Wayne wonders what Powell sees in the shapely Allyson, and Powell archly replies there's "a couple of reasons". Of course, this was back in the day when such innuendo was cutting edge.

Anyway, it's a consistently amusing 90-minutes thanks to shrewd MGM craftsmanship. Then too, a special award should go to the kings of the jungle who perform brilliantly. I just wonder what the sets were like during filming. Also, a special nod to P&A who don't mind getting upstaged or sharing the spotlight. True professionals.

Just another TCM time-passer. June Allyson brings her usual earnest charm to a movie that just didn't have much to it. The essential weakness is that the screenplay cannot make up its mind whether it wants to be a "look at all those crazy animals" comedy or a political "the honest man will win" film. When the movie finally makes its decision at the end, it just made me wonder why it spent all that time on the other thread. I've also been fairly suspicious of movies that have more than one credited director. Maybe that played a role here too.

The high point for me was the performance of Cecil Kellaway as the father. TCM and IMDb make a great combination for learning about the wonderful character actors of Hollywood history.

Kathleen Maguire (June Allyson) is the redheaded tour guide at the zoo and her father Dr. Kevin G. Maguire is the zookeeper. Her father gets fired for a flimsy excuse. There is a nefarious political reason. Reformer lawyer Andrew Rockton Hale (Dick Powell) is running for mayor and sees an opportunity in Dr. Maguire's case.

There is a giant domesticated lion in this. It's kind of funny if it isn't kind of scary. There is some trick photography in this although there is also real handling of the lion by June Allyson. Powell probably insisted that he's never in the same room as the lion. There are lots of other animals, but the lion is the big boy. The romantic chemistry between the real-life husband and wife is fine although the comedic chemistry with the lion is more funnier. I miss the lion when he's not there for most of the movie.

"The Reformer and the Redhead" is a rare opportunity to see Dick Powell co-starring with his wife, June Allyson. And, while it's not a great film, it is breezy and enjoyable.

The film begins with Andrew Hale deciding to run for mayor of his town on the Reform ticket. After all, he sees the existing power structure as wicked and in need of change. At about the same time, a kooky woman who helps her father run the local zoo comes to him for help--they have been victims of the town's crooked politics. He agrees to help them and makes their case one of his rallying points for the election. In exchange, the kooky woman (Allyson) works hard at getting him elected. Imagine her shock, then, when her new hero agrees to work with the local political machine! What's next? See the film.

The repartee between Allyson and Powell is very nice and the film never takes itself very seriously---which makes it easy viewing. No serious problems with the film but it's not exactly deep or life-changing--though sometimes this is all you really want from a film.

By the way, if you do see the film, look for Tor Johnson at the Finnish Society meeting. He's a familiar Ed Wood Jr. actor and was a professional wrestler before entering such notable films as "The Beast of Yucca Flats" and "Plan 9 From Outer Space". He was, by the way, Swedish, not Finnish.

The Reformer and the Redhead is a fun film to watch because it stars a real life Hollywood couple: Dick Powell and June Allyson. The two are wonderful together, sweet and funny.

The film is about a zoo-keeper's daughter and a man running for mayor. When the girl's father is at risk of losing his job for a phony reason supplied by a corrupt power over the city, she enlists the help of the man, hoping for him to stay true to his pledge of being a reformer and to help her. The two become involved in a relationship along with many funny events, several including a sweet lion a la Bringing up Baby.

The movie is very enjoyable, but nothing special. It is a breezy film with a good cast, a great choice for a bad day.