Something for the Birds

In a rare comedic turn for both Victor Mature and Patricia Neal, they pair up in a cute political satire, Something for the Birds. Patricia is a liberal activist intent on saving a rare bird on the verge of extinction, and Victor is a slick lobbyist who thinks business and progress are more important than endangered species. Of course, it's hate at first sight, but since it's a comedy, you can bet things will change.

In her trip to Washington, Patricia meets Edmund Gwenn, an adorable and professional party crasher. He owns a company that engraves invitations, and whenever he's hired for a Washington hobnobbing gala, he engraves one extra invite for himself! He's jolly and fun, and he certainly lightens the environment of sleazy politicians and contradictory bills to pass. Once Victor relaxes and - no pun intended - joins the party, he's also quite a bit of fun. Patricia is very cute in this light role; she usually gets put in such heavy movies, so this is a nice change of pace for her. If you like cute romances with a political backdrop, definitely check it out!

In some ways, this is a rather odd early 1950's movie regarding environmental concerns and big business lobbying. It's nice to Patricia Neal in a real romantic comedy. I'm not a van of Victor Mature, but he does well here. One of the main reasons for this movie is wonderful Edmund Gwenn, who made such a splash for 20th Century-Fox in "Miracle on 34th Street" and "Mister 880". He's wonderful here. Very nicely done comedy and quite a surprising find.

Environmentalist Anne Richards traveled to Washington, DC, to pass legislation to save the last sanctuary of the almost extinct California condor. She sought help from Johnnie Adams, Washington's most successful party spoiler and opposition lobbyist Steve Bennett, who came to Annie's side.

In "Something for the Birds" you get a history lesson on how government works...and it's not always a happy and nice lesson! Like "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington", it talks about the nastier aspects at times, as it follows a lobbyist and shows how deals get made. But, unlike the Capra movie, this one is all about romance and comedy and takes a lighter look at Congressional 'gifts'.

The story begins with Anne (Patricia Neal) crashes a Washington party in order to try to influence people about the plight of the California Condor...a bird that is still on the brink of extinction today. Unfortunately, she meets two people who might not be the best to meet under the circumstances...the Admiral (Edmund Gwenn) and a professional lobbyist, Steve Bennett (Victor Mature). Why? Well, while the Admiral is sympathetic and even helps Anne in her campaign, he's NOT a real admiral and has been posing as one for years in order to attend all the best parties! And, with Steve, she has just started a friendship with a guy whose company is lobbying against saving the Condors! How does all this work out and will there be a happily ever after for everyone...including the Condors?

Despite being highly idealistic (especially in regard to the 'Admiral' when his ruse is discovered), the film also does give insights into the sleazy world of lobbying. It also makes for a dandy rom-com....one well worth seeing and quite enjoyable.

Edmund Gwenn is an engraver who works for the company that makes most of the party invitations in Washington DC. He has a habit of taking a sample invitation for himself and using it to go to parties around town. He's become well-known to all the society people who are convinced that he's a retired admiral.

At one of these parties he meets Patricia Neal, who has crashed the party trying to find the Secretary of the Interior. She's in Washington trying to defeat a bill that threatens the nesting grounds of the California condor. Gwenn introduces her to Victor Mature, a friend who works as a lobbyist. He agrees to help her largely for ulterior motives, but while digging discovers that his company represents the company backing the bill ... in fact, he personally represents them.

Mature continues to offer Neal non-help help as a means of staying close to her, but eventually she uncovers his ruse and decides to leave town. Gwenn convinces her to stay and starts using his personal connections to do some grass roots lobbying on her behalf. He's so successful that the company backing the bill investigates him and finds out that he's a fraud.

I never would have pegged Mature as a plausible lead for a romantic comedy, but he's quite good. As is Neal in a rare comic role, but this is really Gwenn's movie all the way. The final act has him testifying before a Senate committee and there is serious "Miracle on 34th Street" energy.

There's an absolutely magnificent "come up to my room" joke between Neal and Mature.