Those Redheads From Seattle (1953): 3/5

Those Redheads From Seattle follows a family of – you guessed it! – redheaded women (aside from the youngest, who is blond). The patriarch of the family has moved to Alaska and owns a newspaper, planning to send for them once he settles in and can afford it.

(via moviegoods.com)

After running into some trouble with the locals, he sends a letter which worries the matriarch (portrayed by Agnes Moorehead!), and she decides that the family must join him in Alaska immediately. The women encounter a less-than-happy surprise when they reach Alaska, and struggle ensues.

“Those redheads” are portrayed by a cast of pretty, likable women — Moorehead, Rhonda Fleming, Teresa Brewer. They make up a fun-loving cast of characters, which at times is very endearing.

Catchy, cute song-and-dance routines are also intertwined with the film’s drama. These songs are one of the most promising elements of the film, particularly those performed by Brewer. Brewer is absolutely lovely and steals nearly every scene that she appears in.

While Those Redheads From Seattle certainly pales in comparison to other musicals of the same general time period (or even the same year), it is entertaining nonetheless. I found it to be a bit reminiscent of The Harvey Girls, but less spectacular and with an entire family involved rather than only the wonderful Judy Garland.

It was apparently released in 3-D originally, which I can’t see benefiting the film at all — a possible contributor to why the film is virtually forgotten today.