Commentary
The film “Bedtime for Bonzo” from 1951 became a joke after actor turned politician Ronald Reagan was elected President of the United States. After all, how many U.S. presidents can say that they starred in a movie opposite a chimpanzee? However, this comedy is a very entertaining picture with a valuable message.
I always enjoy seeing the future President Reagan in his Hollywood days, and “Bedtime for Bonzo” is one of his most delightful films. His leading lady is Diana Lynn, a pretty, girl-next-door type of actress perhaps best known as the sensible best friend in “My Friend Irma” (1949). However, the real star of the movie is Bonzo, played by a chimpanzee named Peggy who was known for playing Tamba in the “Jungle Jim” film series. This movie was directed by Fred de Cordova, who would later famously produce “The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson.” The movie’s IMDb trivia page conjectures that this coincidence could account for the frequent references to “Bedtime for Bonzo” on the show during Reagan’s presidency….