This 1941 supposed comedy romance film is the epitome of movies produced by the poverty row studios of Hollywood's early years. "Redhead" was produced by I. E. Chadwick Productions and distributed by Monogram films. Chadwick was even on a low rung of the poverty producers - sort of a B level of the C-level producers and studios. The studio made just 14 films from 1931 to 1938, not one of which would even likely be known by long-time movie buffs.
So, it's not a surprise that nary a cast member of this film would be known or recognized at all. And that would be true but for one actor - Eric Blore. Even though the rest of the principal actors had a substantial number of film credits, those were mostly bit parts, many even uncredited, and no more than a few minor roles with the major tier studios. Other than Blore, the rest of the males show little talent for acting. Johnny Downs in the male lead as Ted Brown looks more like a role in a high school play. June Lang showed a couple of sparks amidst her otherwise not very good performance.
It may not be completely fair to single out the actors for their performances in a poor picture. The idea for the plot was nothing new, but some films have made good stories out of such. Rather, the screenplay is very amateurish. The poverty row folks didn't seem to be able to find or keep good writers. And, the filming, direction and other production aspects are of the same low quality.
Indeed, this film is so poor in al aspects, that it would rate no better than two stars - again, but for Eric Blore. His role here is substantial and his great stage and film persona as a comedy player (who also could do drama quite well), earns this film two more stars from me. Still, I suspect most people would be turned off by halfway and not even want to sit through to the end of its 64-minute run. Indeed, the Downs character, Ted Brown, is very soon tiring and just comes across as a plain lush.
I wouldn't normally have watched this film, but was looking for Eric Blore pictures I hadn't seen when I found this one. Blore may have needed the money at the time, or he may have had some other reason for doing this picture. It's somewhat puzzling. But he would be in some very good films through the 1940s - including more of the Lone Wolf Series by Columbia that starred Warren Williams. His best film comedy roles were in the 1930s, but he would still make an occasional big hit comedy and musical with top stars at Paramount, Warner Brothers, and Universal. By the 1950s, this great English-born actor would return to the stage for his final years.
