The Reformer and the Redhead (1950) User Reviews

Delightful addition to an afternoon

[racliff · 7/10 · 13 February 2016]

Anything with June Allyson draws my attention. A number of my favourite movies include her in the marquee, especially The Glenn Miller Story. While profitable for MGM, 'The Reformer and the Redhead' seems to have all but disappeared for today's viewers. With her husband Dick Powell, I found their interactions much more enjoyable than I expected.

Local political conflicts see Kathleen's (Allyson) father dismissed from his position of 20 years at the zoo. With a lifetime of unmanaged anger has her needing a lawyer after assaulting the trophy-hunting daughter of the town's leading citizen, Commodore Parker.

Of course the lawyer, Hale (Powell), is already being engaged with Commodore for the probable future as Mayor, and best choice for her defence is suggested to be lawyer Hale. Hale's distrust of the Commodore requires information to resolve, and so we find Kathleen's family to become a source of that info.

We are drawn into a somewhat predictable story with fun and clever shooting of cast and animals back at the ranch. For me, a lion peeking over a sofa made me laugh. In this case, a predictable story is part of what made it fun and enjoyable. Allyson and Powell are a great match, in what I believe is the only movie they did together while married (they were both in 'Meet the People (1944)' before their marriage).

Don't pass up the chance to enjoy this movie if you can find it.

Hand Me Down Capra

[bkoganbing · 5/10 · 22 April 2006]

The Reformer and the Redhead is a poor man's version of a combination of State of the Union and Mr. Smith Goes to Washington on a more local level. Dick Powell is an ambitious attorney who was raised in an orphanage and now aspires to be mayor of his small California town. On the campaign trail he meets June Allyson, redheaded daughter of Cecil Kellaway who was fired from his job as zookeeper.

Through them he learns some interesting facts about the creation of the zoo and after some research he uses his knowledge to blackjack the local boss, Ray Collins, to support his candidacy. Of course when that comes to the attention of June Allyson it throws a great big shadow on their relationship.

My guess is that Mr. and Mrs. Powell got this one because Tracy and Hepburn turned it down. As well they should have because I don't think that even their presence could have made it a classic. Politics has and always will be the art of compromise. Powell has certain goals in mind for his community and he can achieve them with Collins' support. In the real world, Powell's silence should have satisfied all concerned. It's like Mr. Smith Goes to Washington in that just why was it so important for James Stewart to have his national boys camp at that location where it was interfering with some pet graft scheme of Edward Arnold. It's the weakness of that film and it's an even more glaring weakness in this film.

In a way The Reformer and the Redhead is also a looking glass version of an aspect of All the King's Men. In that one an upright judge who is now the Attorney General of that state through some diligent research by John Ireland is blackmailed by Broderick Crawford and kills himself. Just what is the role of blackmail in our political system.

The more serious questions The Reformer and the Redhead raises are smothered over with some comedy concerning June and Cecil's bizarre collection of ailing zoo animals, including a lion named Herman they keep as a house cat. I can't really blame Powell for that, I have a neighbor who has kept an alligator for one for years. I've seen Albert the Alligator from a very discreet distance.

The Reformer and the Redhead is good, not great, but entertaining enough in the comedy department. But it leaves more questions unanswered when dealing with the more serious aspects of the film.

Very light but enjoyable.

[planktonrules · 7/10 · 11 November 2013]

"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.

Efficient Little Comedy

[dougdoepke · 20 January 2018]

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.

Allyson displays her many talents here

[vincentlynch-moonoi · 7/10 · 8 December 2016]

This is a rather pleasant, somewhat typical romantic comedy with some serious overtones. It's rather typical of such films of that period, albeit with the zoo angle a bit unusual.

But I'll tell you why it's worth watching: June Allyson. When it comes right down to it, Allyson was a versatile actress. More than once she proved her talents in both drama and comedy, and here she was able to shine with a little bit of both.

Dick Powell is the male lead here, and while he was not as accomplished as Allyson, he was pleasant on-screen, as well. I have to admit he seemed a bit tame here; I would have liked to have seen a little more spunk. The character certainly called for it.

David Wayne was the best friend here...wasn't he always? Well, almost always. I think Wayne unfortunately got typecast quite often; he was really quite a good actor. Cecil Kellaway plays the zoo keeper and Allyson's father here; he's quite an enjoyable chap to have in a film. One of my favorite character actors is here as a crooked political donor -- Ray Collins; this is not one of his better roles. Robert Keith is good as the friendly newspaper reporter. Marvin Kaplan has a funny turn as an assistant to Powell, although the role he played here was essentially the role he always played. Kathleen Freeman has some really funny scenes here, though only briefly early in the film.

If you like romantic comedies of this era, you'll like this film. Nothing special, but very enjoyable.

Kindhearted but dated

[maisannes · 3/10 · 4 May 2005]

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.

Real Life Romance

[Maleejandra · 8/10 · 21 July 2006]

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.

Love and lies in the humanimal kingdom

[DBlackthorne · 8/10 · 23 April 2006]

A small-town Politician falls for a tom-boyish redhead {sporting a very Rosemary's Baby hairdo}, who just so happens to help run a zoo out in the countryside. He meets "Herman", a lovably affable lion whom he is initially terrified of, which sends him literally up a wall, until he eventually gets used to the whole likable menagerie and falls in love. She whole-heartedly supports her man, gathering up all the local orphans to support the party's cause, which eventually takes him to international travels, at one point forgetting where he was at, which leads to an embarrassing yet most amusing scene, with relief in the end.

Unfortunately their love becomes tainted when a despicable plan is revealed by a drunken co-worker, and his public standing is threatened with ill-repute. She is obviously hurt by this betrayal, yet his honesty leads to reconciliation, while right around the same time, another lion escapes from the zoo - that 'ol man eater Caesar, who the poor man believes is actually mild-mannered Herman, which displays another one of the more entertaining scenes when he manages to get the lion into the car.

He gets his girl, she gets her man, and all is well in the humanimal kingdom.

Breezy June Allyson-Dick Powell Comedy

[drednm · 7 May 2016]

Pleasant little comedy about politics with Dick Powell the reformer and June Allyson the spunky redhead. He's running for mayor and ties in with the crooked Ray Collins until he uncovers some dirt about him and exposes him. She's the daughter of a zoo director (Cecil Kellaway) who gets fired for crossing Collins. Not quite a screwball comedy since the politics angle anchors this one in a sense of reality.

Allyson and Powell are terrific together, with an easy-going charm and banter that probably reflects their married life together. Also on the plus side are funny supporting turns by David Wayne and Marvin Kaplan (who's still with us) as Powell's office associates. Robert Keith plays a gruff reporter, and the always-watchable Kathleen Freeman has a cat fight scene with Allyson. In bits, Mae Clarke as a cashier and John Hamilton as the police captain.

Oh and the animals are good too.

Delivers first-rate comedy, both visual and aural.

[JohnHowardReid · 8/10 · 30 May 2018]

Producers: Norman Panama, Melvin Frank. Copyright 7 March 1950 (in notice: 1949) by Loew's Inc. A Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer picture. New York opening at the Capitol: 8 April 1950. U.S. release: 5 May 1950. U.K. release: 18 September 1950. Australian release: 1 September 1950. 8,086 feet. 90 minutes.

SYNOPSIS: When her father is fired as director of the local zoo, a fast-talking redhead seeks to engage an upcoming lawyer who is running as the reform candidate for mayor.

PRINCIPAL MIRACLE: Those lions come mighty close to Mr Powell. Are they extra tame or is he extra brave? Or maybe doubles were used? Or special effects?

COMMENT: Unlike some of Panama and Frank's other ventures, this one is consistently amusing as it manages to deftly intertwine three main plots (the zoo dismissal, the mayoral race, the hardcase boy meets oddball girl) plus a few subsidiaries (will poor, downtrodden Marvin get his $10 raise? will the hero's cynical partner see the light of reform? is the newspaperman friend or enemy? will the hero overcome his fear of Herman, the pussycat lion?) and yet also introduce a couple of nice running gags (that monkey is a wonder).

With a rich-in-incident script like this, it's hard to go wrong, except maybe in the choice of players. But here everyone is perfectly cast. Powell takes to the lawyer as to the orphan born, Miss Allyson seems a natural chatterbox, while Cecil Kellaway provides a steadying influence and Ray Collins the forked tongue.

Produced on a sumptuous budget with all the largesse at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's command, The Reformer and the Redhead, despite its unpromising title, delivers first-rate comedy, both visual and aural,

Fantastic comedy with wit, sarcasm, romance, politics and a zoo

[SimonJack · 9/10 · 28 February 2023]

June Allyson and real-life hubby, Dick Powell, provide a barrel of laughs in this wonderful comedy romance. They are aided and abetted in this sometimes farce, sometimes hoot, and sometimes satire, by David Wayne, Robert Keith and Marvin Kaplan. Wayne's Arthur "Arty" Maxwell spews the wry dialog he was known for in comedies. Kaplan's Leon gets in a verbal exchange with Maxwell that probably had people rolling in the theater aisles with laughter in 1950. Indeed, the screenplay for this film is superb, and the direction and all aspects are excellent. This is one of those gems reviewers talk about finding once in a while.

The plot of "The Reformer and the Redhead" is a dandy with a couple of subplots. Allyson's Kathleen Maguire is a zoo bus guide in a large city zoo. Her dad, Dr. Kevin Maquire (played by Cecil Kellaway), is the long-time director of the zoo who just got fired. He wouldn't mount a collection of wild animal trophies in the zoo office building. They were the prizes of local bigwig, Commodore John Baldwin and his niece. The commodore was a long-time benefactor of the zoo, and he wanted to display the game trophies that he and his niece supposedly shot. But, see the film for the funny truth.

Ray Collins plays the Commodore, who also runs the local political machine. Their current mayor has become unpopular, and a young attorney is running as a reform candidate. Dick Powell plays Andrew Hale, and his law partner, Arthur Maxwell, is his campaign manager. Andy grew up in an orphanage and is a WW II vet who got his law degree on the G. I. Bill.

Kathy asks her local editor friend, Tim Harveigh, to help find some way to get her dad's job back, and he points to the reform candidate. The story takes off from there, as she talks her way into getting Andy to tackle the problem. Well, it takes some twists as the commodore's machine tries to get Andy for their new candidate, and he begins investigating the commodore. Arty and their paralegal, Leon, get in on the work. Arty wants Andy to play it safe, and Kathy wants him to buck the system.

Then there's Herman. And Caesar. And a chimpanzee. And a mountain goat or two. Well, it seems that Kathy and her dad have taken all sorts of orphaned animals under wing at their nearby ranch. When she drives Andy out to talk to her dad, he has his first encounter with Herman - the full grown male lion. Later, he will meet Caesar, another one that's not quite as house trained as Herman. The animals provide some great humor as well.

This film is loaded with zingers and funny scenes. Rather than the silliness fear of a wild animal (as in a certain 1937 screwball comedy that flopped), Andy here shows realistic angst about Herman, a lion. A long scene with Andy hiding behind the sofa and the lion looking down and watching his movements is hilarious.

Some nice political satire comes out toward the end, in the form of typical politicking as Andy goes to speak at various ethnic picnics and dinners. It's the Fourth of July campaign tour that Kathy had lined up. And, with his alma matter orphanage behind him, Orphan Andy was sure to win the hearts of voters. But, one can't count out the big political machine quite yet.

This is a great and timeless comedy that the whole family should enjoy. Here are some of the many funny lines from this film. The IMDb Web page has lots more under the Quotes section.

Kathy Maguire, "Say, haven't you got a nephew who's a lawyer?" Tim Harveigh, "Yeah, but we wanna get you out of it."

Maxwell, "Well, you'll be all right. Just be the sort of fellow my mother would like my sister to marry." Andy Hale, "That's any fellow."

Kathy, "If I ran him over with an automobile, would I stuff him and put him on the wall?" Maxwell, "Well, just the head and shoulders."

Kathy, asking Andy about the women he had dated, "What are they like?" Andy, "You know - standard equipment." Kathy, "Then why haven't you ever been married?" Andy, "They were either too standard or not enough equipment." Kathy, "Oh.... OH!"

Maxwell, "Now, if it's not too much trouble, what'd you find out?" Andy, "A baby mountain goat takes four ounces of milk every three hours." Maxwell, "Oh, a baby mountain goat, not a full grown one?" Andy, "Cutest thing you ever saw." Maxwell, "How would you know?" Andy, "I gave birth to one this afternoon." Maxwell, "Oh, really? I didn't know you were married."

Leon, "Mr. Maxwell, I, I should like to discuss a matter of economics." Maxwell, "Discuss." Leon, "For the past year, I've been operating on the basis of deficit financing. Which, while it may be a necessity to the federal government, still, to an individual like myself, it wreaks havoc in terms of the basic necessities of existence." Maxwell, "Meaning?" Leon, "I want a raise."

Maxwell, "Leon, the vicissitudes of our competitive economy based on an equilibrium of supply and demand make any realignment of fiduciary relationships highly untenable, if not reductio ad absurdum." Leon, "Meaning?" Maxwell, "No."

Andy, "I think I've got some wonderful news for your father." Kathy, "Wonderful!" Andy, "How've you been?" Kathy, "Wonderful." Andy, "Wonderful!" Kathy, "You?" Andy, "Wonderful." Kathy, "Wonderful!"

Kathy, "The broom! The broom!" Andy, "What does she want me to do with it?" Arty, "Wave it!"

Maxwell, "Now Leon, when are you going to realize that money isn't everything?" Leon, "With me, it isn't anything." Maxwell, "We'll discuss this after lunch." Leon, 'Who can afford to eat?"

Andy, trying to shoo Herman away, "He doesn't hear very well." Kathy, "Show your authority. Let him know who's master." Andy, "He seems to know."