Henry Goes Arizona

Henry Conroy (Frank Morgan) is a New York performer who is afraid of everything especially guns. He inherits an Arizona ranch from his half-brother. Molly Cullison (Virginia Weidler) is his newly discovered 'niece'. It turns out that the brother was murdered for the ranch. Innocent Danny Regan is on trial for the murder and he is supported by Judge Van Treece (Guy Kibbee).

Frank Morgan is great. Weidler is adorably spunky. She does become more the star of this movie. She has a great turn. I'm less convinced with his moves. I really wish that she comes to his rescue for the climatic peak. This is a fun comedic western.

ANY opportunity to see Frank Morgan (The WIZARD !) is going to be an adventure. This came out the same year as Wizard of Oz, but which one do we remember ?? anyway... Henry inherits a property out west, and the local farm-hands are up to some no-good shenanigans. Character actor Guy Kibbee is the Judge, who helps figure out what's going on. At about 17:25 minutes, they dub out whatever Henry says after throwing the knife. The silence is deafening. Weird dubbing. Henry walks around trying to run the ranch while they are plotting around him. Virginia Weidler is in here as Molly. She was the extra precious little daughter in "The Women". She croaked quite young at 41... heart issues. The actor playing "Danny" (Owen Davis) also died age 41... drowning. Film has only 150 votes as of today.. Turner Classics must not show this one very often. Directed by Ed Marin..... who ALSO died young at 52. Marin had directed a bunch of the "Maisie" films, as well as a slew of westerns. It's pretty good. Plot is kind of jumpy, but any film with Morgan and Kibbee can't be all bad. Check it out if you can catch it!

When you have as leads scene stealers like Frank Morgan and Guy Kibbee in the leads of a film it makes viewing something like Henry Goes Arizona a must.

Frank Morgan is in the title role. Morgan is an unemployed old actor who gets word that his brother died and left him his Arizona ranch and a niece he never knew about, Virginia Weidler. But upon getting there the place is in hock with liens for back taxes and run by the crooked foreman Douglas Fowley for his own nefarious purposes and those of his real boss crooked lawyer Porter Hall.

Guy Kibbee is the avuncular town judge, sympathetic to Morgan and Weidler and helps when he can. Add to that Slim Summerville as the sheriff with some interesting ideas concerning penology and you have a dream film for character actors.

I always like it when occasionally the big studios like MGM do not cast their leads and allow their character players to strut their stuff in their own. Morgan, Kibbee, Summerville, and Porter Hall. That is one great quadrifecta.

Terrific B-western/comedy starring Frank Morgan (THE WIZARD OF OZ) as a cowardly vaudeville performer who inherits a ranch in Tonto City, Arizona. HENRY GOES ARIZONA offers up plenty of the old B-western formulas and clichés, but with a comedic twist. This, along with excellent performances by Morgan, Virginia Weidler (the kid from THE PHILADELPHIA STORY) and veteran character actor Guy Kibbee, raise this one far above the ordinary run of mediocre B-oaters.

8/10

(Addendum, 10/21/05: I'm glad to see that more people are seeing this great little movie. It deserves the exposure.)

Frank Morgan leads a likable cast in this pleasant comedy about a kindly but unsuccessful New York actor who inherits a ranch out west and needs help saving it from a gang of outlaws.

Virginia Weidler is tops as the 12-year-old niece who has high expectations for her Uncle Henry; she helps Morgan develop his better self and eventually finds in him a kind of father figure.

Among Morgan's other new western friends are Slim Summerville as the mild-mannered local sheriff; Guy Kibbee, a lawyer of dubious morals who turns out to be an ally as well; and Owen Davis, Jr., handsome young cowboy who is falsely jailed for murder but lends assistance to the cause when Weidler charms the sheriff into letting him "escape." Douglas Fowley plays the lead baddie—and very nasty and snippy he is when his wicked plans are thwarted! But even he looks like he knows it's all in fun.

Morgan is very good at the center of it all. Hesitant, nervous, indecisive, well-intentioned but occasionally blustery—he is easy to root for.

Very lightweight but lots of fun….Charming characters and a cute if simple story make this one enjoyable.