It's a Joke, Son!

"It's a Joke, Son" is the only movie that Kenny Delmar starred in, and one of only four films that he made in his career. The other three were bit parts. So, this film has a little historical value, at least in the annals of cinema and entertainment. It's the only good portrayal of Delmar as an actor. And, it shows that he indeed could act. Millions of radio listeners who heard the humorous character, Beauregard Claghorn on "The Fred Allen Show" in 1945-1949, had a chance to see him in this 1947 film. Besides continuing radio programs, Delmar appeared in various TV series in the 1950s and 1960s, and did voice-over work for cartoons.

While this was just a B film by Eagle-Lion, it showed that Delmar could act. And, he has a fine cast of supporting actors of the day in Una Merkel as Beauregard's wife, Magnolia; June Lockhart as his daughter, Mary Lou, and Douglas Dumbrille in a frequent bad guy role as Dan Healey. He is a corrupt Northern political boss who "owned" the local state Sen. Leeds, played by Jimmy Conlin.

While the film was clearly a vehicle built on the radio character that Delmar played, it's also a light satire. Delmar's Beauregard is a diehard Confederate in the mid-20th century. This is the basis of some very funny lines, delivered in his blustery persona. He was a parody of a type of bombastic politician of the time. And, it applied as much to Northerners as it did Southerners. But the Southern drawl of Delmar's Claghorn is what radio listeners had become familiar with. Some other slightly subtle satire has to do with a hen-pecked husband and a wife who wore the pants in the house.

The plot is quite good and the humor is such that it bridges the time gaps - from the Civil War to the late 1940s, and from then until the present day. Of course, by the late 20th century, the regional distinctions of accents and cultures had pretty much disappeared in the U. S. Those who are interested in history should especially enjoy this film and its "Dixie" humor of the period. According to some critics and sources, the producers carefully avoided the hot-button social and civil rights issues of the time. So, the issues of civil rights, and racial segregation and prejudice aren't found in this film. That probably accounts for the absence of any African-Americans in the film. And, it's obvious that the comedic portrayals and satire of certain types at that time would not have worked with a broader plot that included such serious issues of the day.

And, oh yes - the film title is a line that Beauregard Claghorn often used over the air in Fred Allen's radio show.

Here are some favorite lines from this film.

Magnolia Claghorn, "What're you so happy about?" Beauregard Claghorn, "Oh, I'm sorry my dear. I didn't mean to be happy."

Magnolia, "Beauregard, I've got somethin' to tell you. From now on, I'm gonna wear the pants in this family." Claghorn, "Well, naturally, dear. I thought you were gonna tell me something new."

Claghorn, speaking to his pet, "Daisy... you're lucky to be a dog. Your trouble's are canine; mine are asinine. If you weren't a dog, I'd get a laugh on that."

Groceryman, "What can we do, Mr. Claghorn?" Claghorn, "Eliminate the North -- make the whole country South."

Claghorn, "Now, son, in my plan you simply move the Mason-Dixon line up around the Great Lakes. Make Canada the North. That way, anyone who couldn't talk with a Southern drawl would have to get a passport."

Groceryman, "Well, what about our maps, Mr. Claghorn?" Claghorn, "Maps? Did you ever look at a map? You'll notice that all the rivers run South." Grocer, "Well, that's only because of the shape of the earth." Claghorn, "Nonsense! It's because they can't stand it up North."

Claghorn, "You know we've got two states down here - South Carolina and North Carolina. North Carolina? No such place. Why don't they call it Upper South Carolina? And, I can't for the life of me understand why we've got a South Dakota up North."

Claghorn, to his dog, "Daisy, don't you know that's a Northern apple. You wanna get distemper? Drop it!" And the dog does.

Magnolia, "If that Jeff Davis comes in this house once more, I'm gonna pop up and go home to mother." Claghorn, excitedly, "You will?" Magnolia, "Oh, so you wanna get rid of me?" Claghorn, "Oh, no, dear. I only said that, I said.... I must've said something."

Claghorn, "A girl named Lincoln has no right to be from Atlanta."

Mailman Peterson, "Anyhow, Mr. Claghorn, I want you to know that you get the most interesting mail on my whole route." Claghorn, "Well, that's mighty nice of you to say so, sir."

Magnolia, "Beauregard, I could almost kiss you for that." Claghorn, "Well, thank you, my dear. It's nice of you to almost wanna kiss me." Mary Lou, "Well, why don't you kiss him, momma?" Magnolia "Hmmm?" Claghorn, "Magnolia, my blossom, prepare to defend yourself." Magnolia, "Stop it, now. Stop it!"

Kenny Delmar stars as Senator Beauregard Claghorn, a bombastic Southerner who sounds an awful lot like Foghorn Leghorn. As another reviewer pointed out, Claghorn had some funny lines in the film, such as his desire to rename North Carolina or change the United States to "The South" or complaining because he was served BOSTON baked beans!

As for the rest of the film, it's a likable little comedy with modest pretenses. The plot involves Claghorn initially announcing his retirement. As a result, Mrs. Claghorn decides to run as well as another candidate. Beauregard wants this other candidate to win, but eventually realizes the guy is a jerk. So, now Beauregard throws his hat into the ring as well. But, mobsters working for this other candidate decide to use a bit of chicanery themselves and kidnap Beauregard to prevent him from running! Will our hero escape? And who will win this now hotly contested election? Overall, it's a decent little time-passer. It has a few laughs here and there and is a pleasant little film. Nothing great, but certainly worth a look.

This is the story of how popular "(Fred) Allen's Alley" radio-show regular Kenny Delmar (as Beauregard Claghorn) won his political title. He is describes as, "a large body of a man entirely surrounded by mint juleps, magnolia blossoms and Southern tradition. So strong is his faith in the old, old South that he is perhaps the only man in all the world who is still buying Confederate Army Victory Bonds. He knows the South did NOT lose the Civil War - it was called on account of darkness." In this film, the character is placed in a sit-com format, where he delivers blustery pro-Southern statements...

While Mr. Delmar regrets a grocer's selling of Northern apples (calling them "foreign"), his wife Una Merkel (as Magnolia) prepares for a meeting of her "Daughters of Dixie" women's group. Helping decorate their living room (with a sign) is pretty daughter June Lockhart (as Mary Lou), who dates frozen foods salesman Kenneth Farrell (well-named, as Jefferson "Jeff" Davis"). Ms. Merkel is nominated to run for state Senator. Her opponent maneuvers Delmar to enter the race as a third-party candidate, to split the opposition and win. Merkel must do the right thing, but there is another obstacle...

**** It's a Joke, Son! (1/15/47) Benjamin Stoloff ~ Kenny Delmar, Una Merkel, June Lockhart, Kenneth Farrell

Senator Beauregard Clanghorn is the real-life fictional character from whom Mel Blanc created the barnyard politician Foghorn Leghorn.

If you don't laugh at this movie and the outrageous humor of Beauregard Clanghorn, then you're either dead and don't know it; or you're taking life way too seriously--and isn't that the point of the whole movie?

Someone said that the movie may not be "politically correct." Well, to heck with "political correctness"! That's just a bunch of plastic people imposing plastic rules for a plastic world.

There's nothing plastic about "It's a Joke, Son!" or Beauregard Clanghorn--and there's nothing plastic about uproariously funny comedy. Good comedy is neither politically correct nor incorrect. It is just something that makes you laugh when you need it.

Whoever said, "Laughter is the best medicine," certainly knew what he was talking about; and "It's a Joke, Son!" is GOOD medicine--even in the 21st Century! You ca--I say, you can bank on that!

Kenny Delmar brought his popular character Beauregard Claghorn and all his Southern bluster from the Fred Allen radio show to the big screen in IT'S A JOKE, SON!, released by Eagle-Lion in 1947.

Okay, listen carefully and follow the plot: an addle-brained Southern state senator running for re-election on the coattails of a carpetbagging political boss (Douglass Dumbrille) is being challenged by Magnolia Claghorn (Una Merkel), leader of a group called the Daughters of Dixie. Dumbrille forces Magnolia's husband Beauregard to run as a third party candidate so split the opposition, I say split the opposition, but soon Beauregard Claghorn's dander is up and he's running, I say he's running, like a Yankee at Bull Run. Meanwhile, just to keep things interesting because after all we DO have 63 minutes to kill, the Claghorns' lovely daughter (June Lockhart with an adorable Southern accent) is involved with some guy who runs an ice cream truck. Also worth mentioning is that Daisy, the second cutest dog in the movies after Laughing Gravy, is on loan from the Blondie pictures and proves why no actor wants to share the screen with a four-legged scene stealer.

The movie is generally pleasant, and occasionally funny when Claghorn starts boasting about the South (we're told that he still purchases Confederate Victory Bonds, and Claghorn is trying to convince North Carolina to change its name to Upper South Carolina). Unlike the Ma & Pa Kettle films of a few years later, though, Claghorn's film debut didn't catch on, and there were no sequels. On the other hand, I say on the other hand, a knock-off character was more successful over at Warner Bros: Foghorn Leghorn had already made his film debut, in 1946's WALKY TALKY HAWKY, when IT'S A JOKE, SON! was released, and the blustering rooster went on to a long and successful career.