It's a Joke, Son!

"It's a Joke, Son" is the only movie that Kenny Delmar starred in, and one of only four films that he made in his career. The other three were bit parts. So, this film has a little historical value, at least in the annals of cinema and entertainment. It's the only good portrayal of Delmar as an actor. And, it shows that he indeed could act. Millions of radio listeners who heard the humorous character, Beauregard Claghorn on "The Fred Allen Show" in 1945-1949, had a chance to see him in this 1947 film. Besides continuing radio programs, Delmar appeared in various TV series in the 1950s and 1960s, and did voice-over work for cartoons.

While this was just a B film by Eagle-Lion, it showed that Delmar could act. And, he has a fine cast of supporting actors of the day in Una Merkel as Beauregard's wife, Magnolia; June Lockhart as his daughter, Mary Lou, and Douglas Dumbrille in a frequent bad guy role as Dan Healey. He is a corrupt Northern political boss who "owned" the local state Sen. Leeds, played by Jimmy Conlin.

While the film was clearly a vehicle built on the radio character that Delmar played, it's also a light satire. Delmar's Beauregard is a diehard Confederate in the mid-20th century. This is the basis of some very funny lines, delivered in his blustery persona. He was a parody of a type of bombastic politician of the time. And, it applied as much to Northerners as it did Southerners. But the Southern drawl of Delmar's Claghorn is what radio listeners had become familiar with. Some other slightly subtle satire has to do with a hen-pecked husband and a wife who wore the pants in the house.

The plot is quite good and the humor is such that it bridges the time gaps - from the Civil War to the late 1940s, and from then until the present day. Of course, by the late 20th century, the regional distinctions of accents and cultures had pretty much disappeared in the U. S. Those who are interested in history should especially enjoy this film and its "Dixie" humor of the period. According to some critics and sources, the producers carefully avoided the hot-button social and civil rights issues of the time. So, the issues of civil rights, and racial segregation and prejudice aren't found in this film. That probably accounts for the absence of any African-Americans in the film. And, it's obvious that the comedic portrayals and satire of certain types at that time would not have worked with a broader plot that included such serious issues of the day.

And, oh yes - the film title is a line that Beauregard Claghorn often used over the air in Fred Allen's radio show.

Here are some favorite lines from this film.

Magnolia Claghorn, "What're you so happy about?" Beauregard Claghorn, "Oh, I'm sorry my dear. I didn't mean to be happy."

Magnolia, "Beauregard, I've got somethin' to tell you. From now on, I'm gonna wear the pants in this family." Claghorn, "Well, naturally, dear. I thought you were gonna tell me something new."

Claghorn, speaking to his pet, "Daisy... you're lucky to be a dog. Your trouble's are canine; mine are asinine. If you weren't a dog, I'd get a laugh on that."

Groceryman, "What can we do, Mr. Claghorn?" Claghorn, "Eliminate the North -- make the whole country South."

Claghorn, "Now, son, in my plan you simply move the Mason-Dixon line up around the Great Lakes. Make Canada the North. That way, anyone who couldn't talk with a Southern drawl would have to get a passport."

Groceryman, "Well, what about our maps, Mr. Claghorn?" Claghorn, "Maps? Did you ever look at a map? You'll notice that all the rivers run South." Grocer, "Well, that's only because of the shape of the earth." Claghorn, "Nonsense! It's because they can't stand it up North."

Claghorn, "You know we've got two states down here - South Carolina and North Carolina. North Carolina? No such place. Why don't they call it Upper South Carolina? And, I can't for the life of me understand why we've got a South Dakota up North."

Claghorn, to his dog, "Daisy, don't you know that's a Northern apple. You wanna get distemper? Drop it!" And the dog does.

Magnolia, "If that Jeff Davis comes in this house once more, I'm gonna pop up and go home to mother." Claghorn, excitedly, "You will?" Magnolia, "Oh, so you wanna get rid of me?" Claghorn, "Oh, no, dear. I only said that, I said.... I must've said something."

Claghorn, "A girl named Lincoln has no right to be from Atlanta."

Mailman Peterson, "Anyhow, Mr. Claghorn, I want you to know that you get the most interesting mail on my whole route." Claghorn, "Well, that's mighty nice of you to say so, sir."

Magnolia, "Beauregard, I could almost kiss you for that." Claghorn, "Well, thank you, my dear. It's nice of you to almost wanna kiss me." Mary Lou, "Well, why don't you kiss him, momma?" Magnolia "Hmmm?" Claghorn, "Magnolia, my blossom, prepare to defend yourself." Magnolia, "Stop it, now. Stop it!"

Kenny Delmar who was both announcer on the Fred Allen Radio Show and a character on his Allen's Alley segment takes said character Senator Beauregard Claghorn and stars in this initial film for Eagle-Lion Pictures. The title It's A Joke Son came from the catchphrase that identified him with so many radio listeners.

The sad thing today is that unless one is a student of our popular culture or in a generation before mine, the name of Senator Claghorn would not be recognized by too many contemporary viewers. Eagle-Lion in making this first admittedly B picture had a built in audience of Fred Allen's radio listeners. That is entirely lost on today's movie audience who watched this on YouTube as I did.

Senator Claghorn was a caricature of the flannel mouth politicians who got themselves elected to office in the former Confederate states by proudly proclaiming their Dixie heritage and little else. Done ever so gently for the radio listeners lest the ones in the south stop listening.

Those in the radio audiences still might have asked how did someone like Beauregard Claghorn ever get elected. The answer is provided by this film and it's that he beat a bigger boob. This boob is Jimmy Conlin and he's backed by some carpetbagging Yankee political boss in the person of Douglass Dumbrille.

When we meet Claghorn he's not a Senator yet, he's a rather henpecked husband of Una Merkel. When at a meeting of her Daughters Of Dixie club where the punch has been liberally spiked, Merkel is urged to run as a reform candidate.

For reasons I won't go into Delmar then throws his hat in the ring and the fun begins.

It's a B film with productions values of same so don't expect much. But also it's terribly dated with jokes that no audience of young people could possibly get. It's a film for folks like me.

Kenny Delmar brought his popular character Beauregard Claghorn and all his Southern bluster from the Fred Allen radio show to the big screen in IT'S A JOKE, SON!, released by Eagle-Lion in 1947.

Okay, listen carefully and follow the plot: an addle-brained Southern state senator running for re-election on the coattails of a carpetbagging political boss (Douglass Dumbrille) is being challenged by Magnolia Claghorn (Una Merkel), leader of a group called the Daughters of Dixie. Dumbrille forces Magnolia's husband Beauregard to run as a third party candidate so split the opposition, I say split the opposition, but soon Beauregard Claghorn's dander is up and he's running, I say he's running, like a Yankee at Bull Run. Meanwhile, just to keep things interesting because after all we DO have 63 minutes to kill, the Claghorns' lovely daughter (June Lockhart with an adorable Southern accent) is involved with some guy who runs an ice cream truck. Also worth mentioning is that Daisy, the second cutest dog in the movies after Laughing Gravy, is on loan from the Blondie pictures and proves why no actor wants to share the screen with a four-legged scene stealer.

The movie is generally pleasant, and occasionally funny when Claghorn starts boasting about the South (we're told that he still purchases Confederate Victory Bonds, and Claghorn is trying to convince North Carolina to change its name to Upper South Carolina). Unlike the Ma & Pa Kettle films of a few years later, though, Claghorn's film debut didn't catch on, and there were no sequels. On the other hand, I say on the other hand, a knock-off character was more successful over at Warner Bros: Foghorn Leghorn had already made his film debut, in 1946's WALKY TALKY HAWKY, when IT'S A JOKE, SON! was released, and the blustering rooster went on to a long and successful career.

Una Merkel was a fixture in early hollywood... here, she is Magnolia, wife of southern gentleman Beau Claghorn, the big, blustery windbag. Doug Dumbrille ALWAYS played the bad guy. June Lockhart is here as the daughter... she was best known as the mom in Lost in Space, and of course, the "Lassie" films and television series. Lots of "southerner" jokes... the south versus the durn yankees. and Ken Farrell is "Jeff Davis", for the obvious name reference. When Magnolia runs for senate, her husband Beauregard is also forced to run for senate, for reasons explained in the film. It's all good fun, with some serious ideas thrown in along the way. Then Claghorn disappears...will he return in time for the election ? Directed by Ben Stoloff, who was known for westerns and musicals. produced by Eagle Lion Films, owned by Arthur Rank. It's quite good! Showing on Moonlight Movie channel... i've never seen this one on Turner Classics. Catch it if you can!

This is the story of how popular "(Fred) Allen's Alley" radio-show regular Kenny Delmar (as Beauregard Claghorn) won his political title. He is describes as, "a large body of a man entirely surrounded by mint juleps, magnolia blossoms and Southern tradition. So strong is his faith in the old, old South that he is perhaps the only man in all the world who is still buying Confederate Army Victory Bonds. He knows the South did NOT lose the Civil War - it was called on account of darkness." In this film, the character is placed in a sit-com format, where he delivers blustery pro-Southern statements...

While Mr. Delmar regrets a grocer's selling of Northern apples (calling them "foreign"), his wife Una Merkel (as Magnolia) prepares for a meeting of her "Daughters of Dixie" women's group. Helping decorate their living room (with a sign) is pretty daughter June Lockhart (as Mary Lou), who dates frozen foods salesman Kenneth Farrell (well-named, as Jefferson "Jeff" Davis"). Ms. Merkel is nominated to run for state Senator. Her opponent maneuvers Delmar to enter the race as a third-party candidate, to split the opposition and win. Merkel must do the right thing, but there is another obstacle...

**** It's a Joke, Son! (1/15/47) Benjamin Stoloff ~ Kenny Delmar, Una Merkel, June Lockhart, Kenneth Farrell