Bedtime for Bonzo is a smashing little comedy it certainly a product of its time. A time when the family life was a wholesome environment....even for a chimp.
Ronald Reagan plays a College Psychologist engaged to be married to his Dean's daughter, but after it is revealed that his father was a career criminal, the Dean has second thoughts regarding the marriage fearing that criminal tendencies may be hereditary. Reagan, however, in a bid to prove his prospective Father in Law wrong, is convinced that it is the wholesomeness of the environment one is brought up in that determines one's character.
To prove his point, he borrows's a lab chimpanzee called George Bush, takes him home and teaches him the finer points of Reaganomics and instils in him the ability to recognise the evils of communism and the need for lower taxes and smaller government.......
.....I jest of course. The chimp is called Bonzo and his plan is to raise him as if he were a child and teach him right from wrong and how to show the Dean that even a chimp can be taught moral values. But it's not the easy task he had hoped it would be.
He hires a nanny in the form of the delectable Diana Lynn and teaches Bonzo to recognise him as Papa and Lynn as Mama, but playing Happy Families is a lot different than being a happy family, especially when Lynn starts taking the role mama this erioisly and develops feelings. for Reagan. Throw in some grand larceny from the light fingered chimp and the fireworks ensue.
A great little family movie and one of my faves.
Sadly, 'Bonzo' was killed in a fire about two weeks after the movie was released. Reagan was reportedly extremely saddened when he heard about the news of the death of his magnificent co-star. However working with a chimp certainly put him excellent stead for dealing with Congress. He knew exactly how to handle them.
Ronald Reagan plays a College Psychologist engaged to be married to his Dean's daughter, but after it is revealed that his father was a career criminal, the Dean has second thoughts regarding the marriage fearing that criminal tendencies may be hereditary. Reagan, however, in a bid to prove his prospective Father in Law wrong, is convinced that it is the wholesomeness of the environment one is brought up in that determines one's character.
To prove his point, he borrows's a lab chimpanzee called George Bush, takes him home and teaches him the finer points of Reaganomics and instils in him the ability to recognise the evils of communism and the need for lower taxes and smaller government.......
.....I jest of course. The chimp is called Bonzo and his plan is to raise him as if he were a child and teach him right from wrong and how to show the Dean that even a chimp can be taught moral values. But it's not the easy task he had hoped it would be.
He hires a nanny in the form of the delectable Diana Lynn and teaches Bonzo to recognise him as Papa and Lynn as Mama, but playing Happy Families is a lot different than being a happy family, especially when Lynn starts taking the role mama this erioisly and develops feelings. for Reagan. Throw in some grand larceny from the light fingered chimp and the fireworks ensue.
A great little family movie and one of my faves.
Sadly, 'Bonzo' was killed in a fire about two weeks after the movie was released. Reagan was reportedly extremely saddened when he heard about the news of the death of his magnificent co-star. However working with a chimp certainly put him excellent stead for dealing with Congress. He knew exactly how to handle them.