The Reformer and the Redhead

Kathy (June Allyson) is an animal lover who decides to fight against her employers at the zoo due to mistreatment of animals. Dick Powell defends her as a lawyer, but uses her information to help further his campaign.

Possibly of June's most overlooked works, the film is enchanting with a unique blend of chemistry between Allyson and Powell. As Kathy, June is a straight forward young woman with a slight temper which Kathy says always skips a generation in her family. The animals have a way of dominating certain scenes of the film from a hunt for an escaped Lion at the zoo to a chimp who steals snacks.

Lines to remember

Kathy: I've been like this ever since I was a little girl. Rational, cool as a cucumber, until I found someone being cruel to animals.
Andrew: Your coffee's getting cold.
Kathy: When I was nine, I almost annihilated the girl next door for pulling the wings off a butterfly.
Andrew: Hmm...
Kathy: Then I guess I didn't hit anybody until I was oh, eleven.
Andrew: Coffee.
Kathy: When I went to sunday school, I was taught thou shall not kill. Well, as far as I'm concerned, that also applies to elephants.
Andrew: Elephants?
Kathy: That is just an example. Elephants and all other animals.
Andrew: What do you think you're eating?
Kathy: Hamburger.
Andrew: Formally a cow.
Kathy: Oh, come now. There's a great deal of difference between the scientific processing of cattle for the survival of the race, then the ruthless slughter of innocent elephants.
Andrew: That's only because elephants don't taste as good.