Those Redheads from Seattle

I was so deceived by this Lewis Foster's film. This director was specialized in adventure and western movies, also war and crime, but just a bit. But this movie was definitely not for him. It would have been perfect for the likes of George Marshall, Mitchell Leisen, Preston Sturges. But that depends of what you wish. However, Lewis Foster's goers will be interested by this rare film. It is agreeable, light hearted, and we an consider it as a comedy. For the whole family. The best way to like this movie is to watch it with someone who may like watching it. I don't understand it was made in 3D. Very strange.

Paramount's Dollar Bills, William Pine and William Thomas continued putting out films in the Fifties as they did in the Forties for Paramount's B picture unit. Only they were given a bit more bucks to play with and some bigger stars in the Fifties. For Those Redheads From Seattle they got not only color, but also 3-D making it the first musical released in 3-D.

With some elements of The Harvey Girls as part of the story, Pine-Thomas could have used some better songs for the score. I noted that several different writers contributed to this one. Usually you have only one team, maybe an interpolation from another writer for the score. But in Those Redheads From Seattle it was all original material. It was like some various songwriting teams just opened the trunk for some unused material and sold it to Paramount.

As one of those redheads is Rhonda Fleming who is the oldest of Agnes Moorehead's four daughters who have come to the city of Dawson in the Klondike Gold Rush you certainly have the redhead covered. Agnes is a redhead her and so are Teresa Brewer and the Bell Sisters except one of them is a blond and wonders how she got in this family. No exceptions were allowed in the Day Family in Life With Father.

They got a last letter from their husband and father who ran the newspaper in Dawson and is leading a fight to clean up the bad elements in Dawson. Then one of those bad elements plugs Frank Wilcox, but not before his family has pulled up from Seattle to join him.

Another of those bad elements is the owner of the largest gambling palace in Dawson Gene Barry. He's thought of as the one responsible for Wilcox no longer being among the living. He has the whole film to prove himself innocent and gain one of the daughters as a bride.

Taking care of the musical chores are Guy Mitchell who sings in Barry's establishment and Teresa Brewer who would like to. Nothing here that stands out in the score.

3-D was also used by MGM for Kiss Me Kate. If you can see that in 3-D I'd recommend it before Those Redheads From Seattle.

When I saw this movie in first run, 1953, everyone in the theater laughed out loud. As the film progressed people started to make random comments aloud, increasing the laughter. In 1953 it was the worst movie I had ever seen and, even though a child, I had seen a lot of movies. It still is though The Sicilian ranks close. Rhonda Fleming was beyond awful. Teresa Brewer, a top of the charts pop singer of the day, not only couldn't act, she looked terrible. Many of the scenes were shot against backdrops to show the vast Artic region, and those shots were also terrible. Gene Barry was miscast. The plot was inane. The acting was painful to watch. The only reason I went to see this movie was because they were having a sneak preview that night and, WHAT LUCK!, the preview was "Singin' in the Rain."

The attractive thing about this movie is the presence of Teresa Brewer, in her only film. So if you're a fan this is a must see. Secondly, how often do you judge a musical as a great movie in itself? The plot is usually there to support the music and the stars. That's the way I look at it, so I'm not hard on it. I know there are fans of Rhonda Fleming too, and the other stars. They appear attractive in color and the music is fine, especially when Teresa is on stage as a showgirl singing Baby Baby Baby. That was a hit for her that year. The Bell Sisters sing one, and so does Guy Mitchell. Teresa also sings Mr Banjo Man and a duet with Guy of It Must Have Been You All The Time. This film has recently been prepared for a 3-D video release that has not occurred, and there have been a couple of limited theatrical preview showings recently. Never been on video. Can be seen online in some places or as a TV recording. As of 2017 there is a DVD and Bluray 3D release. Better get yours before they are out of stock.

"Those Redheads from Seattle" is a film from Pine-Thomas Productions and which was released by Paramount Pictures. I mention this because Pine-Thomas was a very successful B-movie unit and "Those Redheads" is a strange departure for them. It's not exactly a B-movie, as it's way too long for a B (which ran from 50 to 70 minutes) and was filmed in color AND 3-D! But apart from that, it seems like a Pine-Thomas B because the cast is made up mostly of second (Agnes Morehead, Rhonda Fleming and Gene Barry) and third-tier actors and so it's sort of a 'B+ Film'...if such a thing is possible.

The story is set during the gold rush in the Yukon at the very end of the 19th century. A man has gone to seek his fortune...only to be murdered. But a letter he wrote arrives with his wife and daughters (only three of which are redheads...the youngest is a blonde) in Seattle and the wife (Agnes Morehead) decides it's time to pack up her daughters and head to the Canadian wilderness to meet her husband...not knowing he's dead. Unfortunately, the guy who takes the women across the mountains to Dawson to see the husband is the man who indirectly was responsible for the man's death. But, he's not that bad a sort and he obviously did NOT want the man to be killed. Does he stand a prayer with any of the daughters? And, you wonder what will happen to the ladies...as Dawson is one of the most expensive places on Earth at the time due to the gold fever.

The film features some lovely outdoor shots, though the vast majority was obviously filmed in a sound stage. After all, it's supposed to be freezing but there's no evidence of this (such as freezing breath as they talked or breathed)...which is pretty typical for a film set in snowy parts. Also, the copy on YouTube is suprisingly bright and clean...and only a bit faded.

As for the plot, it's pretty thin and the story is a weird juxtaposition of sadness and unexpected singing and dancing! It's certainly odd. For example, at one point, one of the sad daughters is upset at the death of her father and learning that their 'friend' is connected to the murder. To cheer her up, a guy sings a zippy song to her! Yeah, that's good thinking....not.

Overall, a film that just seems rather pretty but trite...not one I'd rush to see but one that is okay viewing if you don't think too much about the plot...or the singing.