Bedtime for Bonzo (1951)

Director:

Frederick De Cordova

Writers:

Ted Berkman (story)
Raphael Blau (story)

Release Date:

28 September 1951 (Finland)

Genre:

Comedy | Family | Romance

Tagline:

The funniest new idea on film since "FRANCIS!"

Plot:

College prof Peter Boyd tries to salvage his professional and personal reputation by using a lab chimp to prove that environment trumps heredity in behavioral development.

Plot Keywords:

Dean | Environment | Engagement | Heredity | Genetics

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Ronald Reagan	...	Prof. Peter Boyd
Diana Lynn	...	Jane Linden
Walter Slezak	...	Prof. Hans Neumann
Lucille Barkley	...	Valerie Tillinghast
Jesse White	...	Babcock
Herbert Heyes	...	Dean Tillinghast
Herb Vigran	...	Lt. Daggett (as Herbert Vigran)
Harry Tyler	...	Knucksy Breckenridge
Edward Clark	...	Professor Fosdick (as Ed Clark)
Edward Gargan	...	Policeman Bill (as Ed Gargan)
Joel Friedkin	...	Mr. DeWitt
Brad Browne	...	Chief of Police
Elizabeth Flournoy	...	Miss Swithen
Howard Banks	...	Policeman
Perc Launders	...	Fireman

Runtime:

83 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Certification:

Finland:S | Sweden:Btl

Filming Locations:

Backlot, Universal Studios - 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, California, USA

Company:

Universal International Pictures (UI)

Trivia:

Often used by Johnny Carson on "The Tonight Show" (1962) when Ronald Reagan was president partly because the former president was directed by Frederick De Cordova who was also the director of The Tonight Show.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Bonzo is passed through the window, he has a skirt on that soon disappears.

Quotes:

Hans Neumann: Who expects a psychologist to think? Especially when you are so busy thinking what you think other people are thinking.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Reagan: Let's Finish the Job: (#1.4)" (1986)

Amusing monkey business is better than one might think...

RONALD REAGAN had his fair share of comedies during his stay at Warner Bros. as a contract player--but it wasn't until he went to Universal for BEDTIME FOR BONZO that he took so much kidding for appearing in what is actually an amusing comedy co-starring him with a chimp, especially after he became president. However, the film does have a good share of laughs and Reagan acquits himself in professional fashion.

What little plot there is hinges on Reagan's determination to raise Bonzo in a loving environment and prove that with nurturing and a sense of family, he can teach the chimp to respect rules and develop a moral sense of behavior. He and pretty Diana Lynn play the mama and papa roles with Diana gradually falling in love--and Reagan not realizing he's engaged to the wrong gal.

It's all very predictable but fun while it lasts, mainly because Bonzo gets to wreck havoc in a number of amusing scenes.

It's strictly for laughs and emerges as a harmless trifle in Reagan's career. Best segment is the last part of the film which has Bonzo robbing a jewelry store and then, because of his reformation by Reagan and Lynn, able to obey their command to return the necklace to the store which has everyone mystified as to how he accomplished it. It makes for a good finale--and so does the romantic happy ending.