Those Redheads from Seattle

"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.

With its catchy title, an exotic location, some peppy tunes, and a good cast, THOSE REDHEADS FROM SEATTLE could have been a passably good musical had screenwriters Lewis R. Foster (who also directed it) and Daniel Mainwaring paid more attention to the plot instead of letting the intended 3-D effects carry the burden. As it is, we have an uninspired programmer masquerading as a musical whose only real merit is the introduction of then-current radio chart-busters Teresa Brewer and Guy Mitchell to the movie going public.

All proceedings are undermined by a confused plot which takes place during the late 1800s in a Klondike where the journey from Skagway to Dawson is as easy as a Sunday afternoon constitutional with no White Horse Pass to pose any peril, where the weather is so balmy that the characters need not wear ear muffs or mitts for protection from frostbite or even see their own breath, and where snowstorms are non-existent. There is not even a hint of a single gold strike nor of fortunes won and lost overnight.

The movie just can't make up its mind whether its plot is one of revenge for the murder of the eponymous redheads' father or to showcase the young women's determination to adapt to the "harsh" life in the remote northern reaches of Canada on their own. The requisite villain, a one-dimensional cipher, appears only twice: the first time at the beginning to kill the father and the second time at the end to be dispatched by the hero (Gene Barry) so that the latter can win the admiration and eternal gratitude of the heroine, lovely Rhonda Fleming.

Still, the musical numbers, "Chick-A-Boom," "Baby, Baby, Baby," and the beautiful ballad "I Guess It was You all the Time," performed with verve and gusto by Mr. Mitchell and Miss Brewer, are entertaining in their own right, even if they don't fit the situations or advance the plot in any way.

But there is one good reason for watching this movie and that reason is Teresa Brewer. "Tessie," as she was known to her fellow musicians, simply illuminates the screen with her bubbly effervescence every time she enters a scene. She grabs your attention and holds it. This is no mean feat given that she often has to share the screen with gorgeous Rhonda Fleming but she does just that. Watch her face as she eagerly anticipates greetings from her estranged family as they approach her from church, only to be snubbed by them as a show of disapproval of her chosen vocation as a dance hall singer. Tessie was a natural on-screen performer and it's a shame she didn't pursue a career in movies. Paramount had apparently offered her a contract but she turned it down so that she could have time to raise a family. Had she not done so, she might have gone on to rival the popularity of Warner's Doris Day. She certainly had the personality and talent.

I started watching this movie with high hopes with it being the first 'Western' in 3D and a plot which sounded not half bad. Sadly I was a bit disappointed as the storyline never quite took off as I imagined and seemed to run out half way through the film. All in all, not much really happens in this film, or nothing memorable at least, and probably could have been condensed into an hour. In addition I wouldn't really call this a Western or a Musical, it is sort of a mix of both but at the same time it isn't, therefore it doesn't satisfy the musical lover or western lover. The few songs which are in the film aren't memorable either except for perhaps Guy Mitchell's "Chick-a-Boom". The positives of this film is the lovely Technicolor photography, even though the majority of the film is studio bound, the Technicolor is still lovely. Sadly more couldn't be done to feature the acting talents of Agnes Morehead or the songs of Guy Mitchell. I give it 5/10 for those reasons

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."

I really like this movie. It is a good story & has a great cast.

Theresa Brewer has a wonderful voice and I have always liked Agnes Moorehead. All the girls & the mother have red hair except the youngest & she is a blond. The husband/father was killed & they went to Alaska to settle his affairs. He ran the local newspaper & he wrote an item about the local saloon. One of his men killed the father. They find that there is no money. They are in Alaska, totally broke so they all find ways to earn money. Even the youngest sells kittens to help. It is a wonderful musical.

There's the bad guys & the good guys. And each of the girls end up with someone. But Gene Barry plays a bad/good guy.