Bedtime for Bonzo
Encyclopedia
Bedtime for Bonzo is a 1951 comedy film directed by Fred de Cordova
, starring future U.S. President Ronald Reagan
. It revolves around the attempts of the central character, Professor Peter Boyd (Ronald Reagan
), to teach human morals to a chimpanzee
, hoping to solve the "nature versus nurture
" question. He hires a woman (Diana Lynn
) to pose as the chimp's mother while he plays father to it, and uses 1950s-era child rearing techniques.
This movie is one of the most remembered of Reagan's acting career, although it was Reagan's least favorite; he never even saw the film until 1984.
The film was later referenced in connection with Reagan in the 1986 Ramones
song "My Brain Is Hanging Upside Down (Bonzo Goes to Bitburg)
", and in a track on a 1984 Jerry Harrison
record, sampling Reagan and credited to "Bonzo goes to Washington
". An anti-Reagan song entitled "Bad Time for Bonzo" is featured on The Damned's fourth studio album, Strawberries
. It was also referenced in a Calvin and Hobbes
comic strip, and the 1966 Stan Freberg
comedy album Freberg Underground.
A sequel was released entitled Bonzo Goes to College
(1952), but featured neither lead performer from the original.
Frederick de Cordova
Frederick "Fred" Timmins de Cordova was an American stage, motion picture and television director and producer. He is best known for his work on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson.-Early life:...
, starring future U.S. President Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
. It revolves around the attempts of the central character, Professor Peter Boyd (Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
), to teach human morals to a chimpanzee
Chimpanzee
Chimpanzee, sometimes colloquially chimp, is the common name for the two extant species of ape in the genus Pan. The Congo River forms the boundary between the native habitat of the two species:...
, hoping to solve the "nature versus nurture
Nature versus nurture
The nature versus nurture debate concerns the relative importance of an individual's innate qualities versus personal experiences The nature versus nurture debate concerns the relative importance of an individual's innate qualities ("nature," i.e. nativism, or innatism) versus personal experiences...
" question. He hires a woman (Diana Lynn
Diana Lynn
Diana Lynn was an American actress.Born Dolores Marie Loehr in Los Angeles, California, Lynn was considered a child prodigy because of her exceptional abilities as a pianist at an early age, and by the age of 12 was playing with the Los Angeles Junior Symphony Orchestra.-Film career:Dolores Loehr...
) to pose as the chimp's mother while he plays father to it, and uses 1950s-era child rearing techniques.
This movie is one of the most remembered of Reagan's acting career, although it was Reagan's least favorite; he never even saw the film until 1984.
The film was later referenced in connection with Reagan in the 1986 Ramones
Ramones
The Ramones were an American rock band that formed in the New York City neighborhood of Forest Hills, Queens, in 1974. They are often cited as the first punk rock group...
song "My Brain Is Hanging Upside Down (Bonzo Goes to Bitburg)
My Brain is Hanging Upside Down (Bonzo Goes to Bitburg)
"Bonzo Goes to Bitburg" is a song by American punk rock band the Ramones. Initially issued as a single in Great Britain by Beggars Banquet Records in 1985, it did not receive an American single release. An emotionally charged protest of the visit by U.S. president Ronald Reagan to a German cemetery...
", and in a track on a 1984 Jerry Harrison
Jerry Harrison
Jerry Harrison is an American songwriter, musician and producer...
record, sampling Reagan and credited to "Bonzo goes to Washington
Five Minutes (Bonzo Goes to Washington song)
"Five Minutes" is a song by Jerry Harrison, Bootsy Collins and producer Daniel Lazerus, and credited to Bonzo Goes to Washington. It was released on the Sleeping Bag Records label in 1984....
". An anti-Reagan song entitled "Bad Time for Bonzo" is featured on The Damned's fourth studio album, Strawberries
Strawberries (album)
Strawberries is the fifth album by The Damned, released in October 1982 on Bronze Records.Limited editions included a strawberry scented lyric insert...
. It was also referenced in a Calvin and Hobbes
Calvin and Hobbes
Calvin and Hobbes is a syndicated daily comic strip that was written and illustrated by American cartoonist Bill Watterson, and syndicated from November 18, 1985, to December 31, 1995. It follows the humorous antics of Calvin, a precocious and adventurous six-year-old boy, and Hobbes, his...
comic strip, and the 1966 Stan Freberg
Stan Freberg
Stanley Victor "Stan" Freberg is an American author, recording artist, animation voice actor, comedian, radio personality, puppeteer, and advertising creative director whose career began in 1944...
comedy album Freberg Underground.
A sequel was released entitled Bonzo Goes to College
Bonzo Goes to College
Bonzo Goes to College is the sequel to Bedtime for Bonzo. Like that film, it was directed by Frederick De Cordova but has a different cast and writers....
(1952), but featured neither lead performer from the original.