Henry Goes Arizona (1939) User Reviews

Morgan and unlikely heroes take on crooks to save ranch

[csteidler · 7/10 · 29 August 2012]

Frank Morgan leads a likable cast in this pleasant comedy about a kindly but unsuccessful New York actor who inherits a ranch out west and needs help saving it from a gang of outlaws.

Virginia Weidler is tops as the 12-year-old niece who has high expectations for her Uncle Henry; she helps Morgan develop his better self and eventually finds in him a kind of father figure.

Among Morgan's other new western friends are Slim Summerville as the mild-mannered local sheriff; Guy Kibbee, a lawyer of dubious morals who turns out to be an ally as well; and Owen Davis, Jr., handsome young cowboy who is falsely jailed for murder but lends assistance to the cause when Weidler charms the sheriff into letting him "escape." Douglas Fowley plays the lead baddie—and very nasty and snippy he is when his wicked plans are thwarted! But even he looks like he knows it's all in fun.

Morgan is very good at the center of it all. Hesitant, nervous, indecisive, well-intentioned but occasionally blustery—he is easy to root for.

Very lightweight but lots of fun….Charming characters and a cute if simple story make this one enjoyable.

lesser known Frank Morgan thang

[ksf-2 · 7/10 · 7 June 2017]

ANY opportunity to see Frank Morgan (The WIZARD !) is going to be an adventure. This came out the same year as Wizard of Oz, but which one do we remember ?? anyway... Henry inherits a property out west, and the local farm-hands are up to some no-good shenanigans. Character actor Guy Kibbee is the Judge, who helps figure out what's going on. At about 17:25 minutes, they dub out whatever Henry says after throwing the knife. The silence is deafening. Weird dubbing. Henry walks around trying to run the ranch while they are plotting around him. Virginia Weidler is in here as Molly. She was the extra precious little daughter in "The Women". She croaked quite young at 41... heart issues. The actor playing "Danny" (Owen Davis) also died age 41... drowning. Film has only 150 votes as of today.. Turner Classics must not show this one very often. Directed by Ed Marin..... who ALSO died young at 52. Marin had directed a bunch of the "Maisie" films, as well as a slew of westerns. It's pretty good. Plot is kind of jumpy, but any film with Morgan and Kibbee can't be all bad. Check it out if you can catch it!

Character actors dream

[bkoganbing · 6/10 · 24 October 2017]

When you have as leads scene stealers like Frank Morgan and Guy Kibbee in the leads of a film it makes viewing something like Henry Goes Arizona a must.

Frank Morgan is in the title role. Morgan is an unemployed old actor who gets word that his brother died and left him his Arizona ranch and a niece he never knew about, Virginia Weidler. But upon getting there the place is in hock with liens for back taxes and run by the crooked foreman Douglas Fowley for his own nefarious purposes and those of his real boss crooked lawyer Porter Hall.

Guy Kibbee is the avuncular town judge, sympathetic to Morgan and Weidler and helps when he can. Add to that Slim Summerville as the sheriff with some interesting ideas concerning penology and you have a dream film for character actors.

I always like it when occasionally the big studios like MGM do not cast their leads and allow their character players to strut their stuff in their own. Morgan, Kibbee, Summerville, and Porter Hall. That is one great quadrifecta.

Decent Frank Morgan B picture

[vincentlynch-moonoi · 6/10 · 2 June 2011]

If you enjoy the performances of character actor Frank Morgan (the wizard in "The Wizard Of Oz") you'll enjoy this short (a little over an hour) B film. Morgan plays an easterner who inherits a ranch in Arizona, where they plan to cheat him out of his property...by killing him if necessary (just as they did the previous owner...his half-brother). Sounds pretty serious, but it's done for laughs. Morgan is at his best playing the rather cowardly easterner.

You'll recognize a few cast members, though you may only be able to put a name to Guy Kibbee. Delightful, as always, is child actress Virginia Weidler.

The film is pleasantly funny, and worth a watch.

B Western comedy drama featuring Frank Morgan

[jacobs-greenwood · 6/10 · 20 December 2016]

Hank Conroy (Frank Morgan) is a vaudeville performer looking for work (from Theatrical Agent Cliff Clark, uncredited) when he receives notice from his landlady, to whom he owes back rent, that his half brother has died and left him a ranch in Arizona. So, Henry Goes to Arizona. On the bus ride to the desert community, he is frightened by stories that his brother was murdered, shot in the back. Jim Thorpe appears, uncredited, as one of its passengers. Hank then learns that his brother was a ruthless rancher and that the jury has just deadlocked in the trial of Danny Regan (Owen Davis Jr.), suspected by few of his brother's murder. Judge Van Treece (Guy Kibbee) had failed to earn an acquittal for his client, so Sheriff Parton (Slim Summerville), one of the ones who doesn't think he did it, must lock Danny up.

Crooked banker Ed Walsh (Porter Hall, uncredited) tries to get Hank to sign away the ranch before he's even seen it. His partner in crime, Ricky Dole (Douglas Fowley), was not only responsible for the murder of Hank's brother, but is also the foreman of the ranch. Walsh and Dole were conspiring to obtain the rights to the ranch and its riches before Hank showed up. The skittish Hank is not so sure he wants to stay, and would rather return to New York, before the Judge convinces him that it would be safer if he spent the night out at the ranch. Once he's there, he meets Molly Cullison (Virginia Weidler), who first claims she was Hank's brother's niece before she admits that she only wishes it were true. Molly charms Hank and seems to give him the courage he needs to stand up to those who would run him off. Emboldened by Molly, Hank fires Dole who, along with another conspirator, then spreads vicious rumors among the other ranchers saying that Hank plans changes that would be detrimental to their businesses.

However, Hank comes up with a plan to feed the disgruntled posse (Hank Bell and Eddie Dunn are among those who appear uncredited in this group) as he charms them to the point that they ignore Dole's false claims about Hank's intentions. Convinced he's still in danger (having been shot at), Hank decides to return to New York over Molly's fervent protestations and tears. But the Judge pretends to kidnap Molly and interrupts Hank just before he's signed over his ranch to Walsh with the news. While Hank, with the Judge in tow, starts his search, Walsh and Dole discuss what they've done thus far and what they plan to do next to get Hank to give up the ranch to them. In the barn, Molly overhears this, so they catch and really kidnap her. Danny, who the Sheriff had allowed Molly to "spring" from his jail earlier, learns of Molly's kidnapping and the Sheriff allows him to escape again to try and help find her. The rest of the film is the search and rescue of Molly in which Hank shows newfound fortitude and his vaudeville ingenuity to save the day.

Little-known gem

[counterrevolutionary · 8/10 · 28 July 2003]

Terrific B-western/comedy starring Frank Morgan (THE WIZARD OF OZ) as a cowardly vaudeville performer who inherits a ranch in Tonto City, Arizona. HENRY GOES ARIZONA offers up plenty of the old B-western formulas and clichés, but with a comedic twist. This, along with excellent performances by Morgan, Virginia Weidler (the kid from THE PHILADELPHIA STORY) and veteran character actor Guy Kibbee, raise this one far above the ordinary run of mediocre B-oaters.

8/10

(Addendum, 10/21/05: I'm glad to see that more people are seeing this great little movie. It deserves the exposure.)

Frank Morgan at his best

[jotix100 · 8/10 · 12 October 2005]

This little known film was shown the other night thanks to TCM. It proved to be a delightful surprise. The film directed by Edwin Marin and based on a story by W.C. Tuttle, makes a well spent sixty-six minutes.

Best of all is Frank Morgan, who plays a man who suddenly learns about he has inherited his step-brother's ranch in Arizona after having failed in Manhattan. The film is fun because of the contrast the cattle farm presents for city slicker Henry Conroy.

The supporting cast is excellent. The charming Virginia Weidler plays Molly, who takes to Henry immediately, as she thinks she has found a father figure at last. Guy Kibee, Slim Summerville, Douglas Fowley and Owen Davis Jr., are seen in minor roles.

The film is a lot of fun thanks to Frank Morgan who is amazing in it.

What a charmer!!!

[lee8301 · 8/10 · 12 October 2005]

This film is just pure delight. If you want a serious flick on the world's problems, this isn't one of them. Half of it doesn't even make sense, which is a great part of its easy charm. Is this really Arizona in 1939, or did the director even bother checking out the place? It really doesn't matter. If Frank Morgan was half as nice a man in real life as he is in this picture, then I wish I had known him. Young Virginia Weidler is a delight. Morgan's comedic timing ought to be studied in film schools. He can move from yes to no and back to yes on a dime. The first scenes in the film when, as an out of work actor, he's offered a vaudeville job as the target of a drunken sharpshooter, is a masterpiece of fast dialog and twisting body language. Nobody ever dithered like Frank Morgan. Thanks to TCM for showing it and don't miss it the next time.

Tonto City?!

[planktonrules · 8/10 · 1 June 2017]

While Frank Morgan is most known for his appearance in "The Wizard of Oz", his forte was making nice B-movies for MGM. His affable personality shone through in these pictures and most are well worth seeing--and the quality of the films make them seem like A- pictures--short enough to be a B but higher quality.

Despite the weird title, "Henry Goes Arizona" is one of Morgan's better films. He is lovely in the lead and it helps that he had able support from Guy Kibbee, Slim Summerville and, especially, Virginia Weidler.

Then the story begins, Henry (Morgan) learns that his step-brother has died and left him his ranch out west. Considering Henry is broke, he eagerly jumps at the chance to take control of the place. However, when he arrives in Tonto City (tonto is the Spanish word for 'idiot'), he learns that his step-brother had been murdered and Henry is not about to stick around and be killed himself. But his sweet nice, Molly (Weidler) believes in him and so he belatedly decides to stay. But being a total wimp, you wonder just how long Henry will stick around Tonto City.

An enjoyable script and some enjoyable acting make this worth seeing. By the way, notice Morgan on a horse...he really did know what he was doing despite acting out of his element!

lots of fun

[asinyne · 8/10 · 16 October 2005]

I saw this movie recently on Turner and i enjoyed it very much. Frank Morgan was a talented actor and here he is at his best. The actress who played the little girl was truly great, a gifted talent.

There are some funny scenes like the one where Morgan tries to mount a horse by himself. After many tries he rides off barely hanging on. I think i smiled the most at this silly part. Still, the film is more of a character driven comedy that is mostly sweet and sentimental rather than hilarious. It reminded me somewhat of an episode of the Andy Griffith show. Another funny bit that has the sheriff and a prisoner sort of breaking out of jail together was very much like Barney and Otis doing their thing. This one is short and doesn't take time for adding a romantic interest for Morgan's character but that really wasn't necessary.

This film was pretty well written but the cast make the movie. Guy Kibbee also does a fine job as a drunken but good intentioned lawyer. Overall a delightful old movie and for me, an enjoyable time spent watching. 1939 was certainly a great year for Hollywood!!