The Reformer and the Redhead (1950)

User Rating:

6.2/10   

Directors:

Melvin Frank
Norman Panama

Writers:

Robert Carson (story) and
Melvin Frank (writer)
(more)

Release Date:

5 May 1950 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Romance

Plot:

Hot-tempered Kathleen Maguire enlists the services of a young attorney to help her zookeeper father...

Plot Keywords:

Lion | Zookeeper | Zoo | Election | Tour Guide

Cast

June Allyson	...	Kathleen 'Kathy' Maguire
Dick Powell	...	Andrew 'Andy' Rockton Hale
David Wayne	...	Arthur 'Artie' Colner Maxwell
Cecil Kellaway	...	Dr. Kevin G. Maguire
Ray Collins	...	Commodore John Balwind Parker
Robert Keith	...	Tim Harveigh
Marvin Kaplan	...	Leon
Kathleen Freeman	...	Lily Rayton Parker
Wally Maher	...	Jerry Nolard Boyle
Alex Gerry	...	James'Jim' I. Michell
Charles S. Evens	...	Mr. Eberle (as Charles Evens)
Paul Maxey	...	Thompson
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Joel Allen	...	Cop (uncredited)
Margaret Bert	...	Woman (uncredited)
Sven Hugo Borg	...	Finnish-American Speaker (uncredited)
George Boyce	...	Zoo Attendant (uncredited)
Spring Byington	...	Kathy's Mother (voice) (uncredited)
Bridget Carr	...	Woman (uncredited)
Spencer Chan	...	The Maguire Cook (uncredited)
Michael Chapin	...	Orphan (uncredited)
Peter Chong	...	(uncredited)
Mae Clarke	...	Counter Lady with Change for a Quarter (uncredited)
Frances Dominguez	...	Guest at Mexican-American Rally (uncredited)
Helen Eby-Rock	...	Lady (uncredited)
Robert Espinoza	...	Orphan (uncredited)
Nacho Galindo	...	Mexican-American Speaker (uncredited)
Kenneth Garcia	...	Guest at Mexican-American Rally (uncredited)
A. Cameron Grant	...	(uncredited)
John Hamilton	...	Police Captain (uncredited)
Gil Herman	...	(uncredited)
Jane Howard	...	(uncredited)
Marjorie Jackson	...	(uncredited)
Tor Johnson	...	Guest at Finnish-American Rally (uncredited)
Marvin Jones	...	(uncredited)
Ralph Montgomery	...	(uncredited)
Matt Moore	...	Parkers' Butler (uncredited)
Jerry Paris	...	Radio Station Call Boy (uncredited)
Edward Peil Sr.	...	Parkers' Gateman (uncredited)
Paul Regas	...	(uncredited)
Danny Richards Jr.	...	Orphan (uncredited)
Mario Siletti	...	Guest at Italian-American Rally (uncredited)
Stuffy Singer	...	Orphan (uncredited)
Frank Sully	...	Joe, Cop with Blackeye (uncredited)
Henry Sylvester	...	(uncredited)
Theodore von Eltz	...	KWHE Radio Program Director (uncredited)
Charles Wagenheim	...	Zoo Attendant (uncredited)
Kenny Washington	...	The Commodore's Safari Guide (uncredited)
Gilbert Wilson	...	(uncredited)
Wilson Wood	...	Zoo Attendant on Bicycle (uncredited)

Directed by
Melvin Frank
Norman Panama

Writing credits
Robert Carson		(story)
Melvin Frank		writer
Norman Panama		writer

Produced by
Melvin Frank	....	producer
Norman Panama	....	producer

Original Music by
David Raksin

Cinematography by
Ray June

Film Editing by
George White

Art Direction by
William Ferrari
Cedric Gibbons

Set Decoration by
Edwin B. Willis

Costume Design by
Helen Rose

Makeup Department
Jack Dawn	....	makeup designer
Sydney Guilaroff	....	hair stylist

Production Management
Edward Woehler	....	production manager (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Joel Freeman	....	assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
Jack D. Moore	....	associate set decorator

Sound Department
Douglas Shearer	....	recording supervisor
Joe Edmondson	....	sound (uncredited)

Special Effects by
A. Arnold Gillespie	....	special effects
Warren Newcombe	....	special effects
Irving G. Ries	....	special effects (as Irving Ries)

Camera and Electrical Department
Robert J. Bronner	....	camera operator (uncredited)
Dale Deverman	....	camera operator (uncredited)
Otto Dyar	....	still photographer (uncredited)
Harry Parkins	....	first assistant camera (uncredited)
Mervin Price	....	grip (uncredited)

Other crew
Peter Ballbusch	....	montage sequence
Eylla Jacobs	....	script supervisor (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (controlled by Loew's Incorporated)

Distributors

• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1950) (USA) (theatrical)

Runtime:

90 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Certification:

USA:Approved (PCA #14286) | Australia:G

Filming Locations:

Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Quotes:

Kathleen 'Kathy' Maguire: Say, how come you've never been married?
Andrew 'Andy' Rockton Hale: Well... hnh?
Kathleen 'Kathy' Maguire: You know you're not the youngest thing in town.

Kindhearted but dated

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.