Redhead

Johnny Downs is a wastrel. His father cuts him off and tells him to get out. When June Lang runs into him, he comes up with the idea of their getting married, and then bracing his father with an unsuitable daughter-in-law. He'll pay off, they'll split the money and go their ways. But daddy says that's Johnny's decision, and won't pay a cent. But he takes a shine to Miss Lang, and cuts a deal with her: if she can make a man of his son, he'll pay her.

It's a nice idea from a novel by Vera Brown, and a script co-written by Dorothy Davenport. There is some good if heavy-handed humor under the direction of Edward Cahn, and Downs' and Miss Lang's performances are a bit stagey. Furthermore, the ending is rushed; this is a Monogram movie, the last produced by I. E. Chadwick. However, for most of its 65 minutes, it's pleasant.

Ted is a horrible human being. His family has money and when his mother died, she left him a trust fund. But Ted behaves as if the money is now his AND it's unlimited! He also behaves horribly...getting himself on newspaper headlines because of his antics. Finally, his father has had enough and cuts off Ted....something that should have happened much sooner.

Ted comes up with an idea. No, it does NOT involve getting a job and staying away from booze. No, his 'solution' for being cut off is that try to make his dad even angrier. So, he marries Dale...a woman he just met...in the hope that Dad will pay her off to leave Ted..and then Ted will split this money with her. Instread, however, Dad wishes them well and privately makes an agreement with Dale...if she can reform him, he'll give her a nice payout.

While Dale tries hard to find them a place to live and work, Ted is just a man-child and quits his job after a few days. And, after going off on a bender, Dale has had enough and leaves him. Somehow, despite all this, there is a really fake happy ending...something that comes too fast and simply didn't make any sense.

The basic idea of this story is very good. But the acting is only fair and the writing even a bit worse. Very watchable but the magical happily ever after ending simply seems out of place.

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.

Playing the title role in Redhead is June Lang and she's got quite a mission. She met and fell for drunken, carousing playboy Johnny Downs. Downs is the despair of his father Frank Jaquet who after kicking downs out of his house still pulls a few strings to help him straighten out.

Lang is supposed to be a woman acquitted of murder. But we never hear anything about the circumstances. Big hole in he plot.

Best in he cast is Eric Blore playing another butler who goes with Downs. He proves to be quite a salvation.

Thoroughly Enjoyable Movie. Pre Code? Feminism exists in this delightful frolic of a movie. Having started the film in the background, having never heard of it, while I attended to paperwork. Jolly good-great performances by all. Truly great performances rather. This is a genuinely "solid piece of entertainment". Kick back, kick it, relax and enjoy...this is the "movies" at their best. Distraction, entertainment, and pleasure. any attempt to "review" is simply missing the pint. ENJOY!