The paintings of Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec always seem slightly sordid to me, what with his fondness for painting brothel scenes and prostitutes. He certainly had a unique style though ..and he painted a lot of redheads (or perhaps a lot of the prostitutes just happened to be redheads :p).
(Medical Inspection at the
Rue des Moulins Brothel, 1894)
(Au Salon de la rue des Moulins, 1894)
(Divan Japonais)
(Equestrienne (At the Circus Fernando), 1888)
(Reine de Joie, 1892)
(Marcelle Lender Dancing the Bolero
in "Chilpéric", 1895–96)
(The Box with the
Gilded Mask, 1894)
(The Sofa)
A few more Toulouse-Lautrec redheads can be found in this post from 2019;
The following page from a blog called dogkisses also contains some interesting information regarding Lautrec and red hair. Including the claim that he preferred redheads as he found their characteristic odour arousing (!);
Two Blondes and a Redhead is a 1947 American musical film directed by Arthur Dreifuss and starring Jean Porter, Jimmy Lloyd, June Preisser, Judy Clark and Rick Vallin.
Plot Socialite Cathy Abbott is working in the chorus of a Broadway show instead of being enrolled at an exclusive girl's school as her parents think. When the show closes, she brings two of her chorus friends, Patti Calhoun and Vicki Adams, home with her. In addition to trying to make her friends acceptable to the snooty society of which her family is part, she is also being blackmailed by a rival. She and her two friends win over the blue-bloods with a couple of chorus routines, and she discloses she will be marrying the butler, Tommy Randell, rather than the pompous Freddie Ainsley.
A scene from the film
Lady with Red Hair
Lady with Red Hair (1940) is an American historical drama film directed by Curtis Bernhardt and starring Miriam Hopkins, Claude Rains and Richard Ainley. Released by Warner Brothers it stars Hopkins as the nineteenth century actress Mrs. Leslie Carter.
Plot
A messy divorce leaves Mrs. Leslie Carter shunned by Chicago society for being an adulteress and forbidden from having custody of her son. She's determined to return to her hometown in a few years as a success and with enough money to fight to get her son back. In order to realize her plans, she heads to New York with ambitions of being a great actress. Despite having no stage training, producer David Belasco becomes attracted to her and becomes intent on making her a star, as well as winning her heart.
A scene from the film.
Julie the Redhead
Julie the Redhead is a 1958 French film directed by Claude Boissol and inspired by the song Julie la rousse by René-Louis Lafforgue.
Plot
An artist falls in love with a young woman, but is forced to leave her, because his parents take position againt the relationship. His son goes looking for the woman and meets her daughter...
Here's the song that inspired the film
Red Headed Stranger
Red Headed Stranger is a 1986 American Western drama film written and directed by William D. Wittliff. The film stars Willie Nelson and Morgan Fairchild. It is based on Nelson's album Red Headed Stranger (1975).
Plot
A preacher from the East arrives in Montana to spread the gospel. When his wife takes off with another man, he straps on his pistol and seeks vengeance. Then he must find a way to redeem himself.
The film trailer.
Die rote (Redhead)
Die rote is a 1962 West German-Italian drama film directed by Helmut Käutner and based on the novel by the same title by Alfred Andersch. It was entered into the 12th Berlin International Film Festival.
Plot
A redhead, approaching forty, is bored with her husband and with life in general. Having an affair with another man fails to produce the excitement she is craving. So she leaves Germany, seeking adventure and fulfillment in Venice, where she finds work in a hotel. Initially, life seems more interesting, and she has new romantic adventures. But when she realizes that her British lover is merely using her for a personal vendetta against a German Nazi, she finds herself running away once again.
A scene from the film.
And that's the end of it! I would only like to add one short film, shot in 1945, which is, in my opinion, very funny.
Beware of Redheads
A beautiful redhead (Myrna Dell) comes knocking on Leon's door demanding the return of a compact dropped accidently in his pocket while they were dancing. But his wife (Dorothy Granger) has already discovered the compact and thinks Leon bought it as a gift for her. And then, to no great surprise, the redhead's jealous husband makes an appearance. Leon, before he is cleared of any hanky-panky with the redhead, nets two black eyes.
Redheads Preferred is a 1926 American silent film, directed by Allen Dale and starring Raymond Hitchcock, Marjorie Daw, Theodore von Eltz and Cissy Fitzgerald.
Plot
No plot available. The film is probably lost.
The Fighting Redhead
The Fighting Redhead is a 1949 American Western film directed by Lewis D. Collins and starring Jim Bannon as Red Ryder in the final film of the series.
Plot
Red Ryder, Buckskin, the Duchess and Little Beaver go to the help of an old rancher who has been threatened by the gang of a crooked saloon keeper. They run into his revenge-seeking daughter who's quick on the draw.
Here's the whole film.
The Redhead and the Cowboy
The Redhead and the Cowboy is a 1951 western film directed by Leslie Fenton and starring Glenn Ford and Rhonda Fleming.
Plot
Late in the American Civil War, the New Mexico Territory is full of spies and guerrillas for both sides. Local cowboy Gil Kyle, realizing that many of these people are merely criminals out for themselves, tries to do his work and steer clear of the conflict. But he keeps running into violence and hostility. And after a brief encounter with a beautiful new saloon girl, he stumbles into a crime scene and becomes a fugitive wanted for murder.
His only alibi is the girl, Candace Bronson, who has disappeared. She turns out to be aiding the Confederate cause, and has fled to deliver a vital message about a Union gold shipment. Kyle sets off in pursuit of her. Along the way, he runs into desperadoes, government agents, guerrilla fighters and renegades -- some whose true loyalties are unclear.
Film trailer.
Slightly Scarlet
Slightly Scarlet is a 1956 American film noir crime film based on James M. Cain's novel Love's Lovely Counterfeit. It was directed by Allan Dwan, and star John Payne, Rhonda Fleming, Arlene Dahl and Kent Taylor.
Plot
The ruthless Solly Caspar is fighting to retain control of Bay City's criminal activities when Frank Jansen (Kent Taylor), an honest man and mayoral hopeful, begins a strong anti-crime campaign. Caspar tasks his right-hand man Ben Grace to dig up some dirt on the candidate and ruin his chances of election.
Ben follows the candidate's redheaded secretary, June Lyons (Rhonda Fleming), to a jail where she's picking up her equally scarlet-tressed and sexy kleptomaniac sister Dorothy (Arlene Dahl). June is Jansen's girlfriend as well, but their relationship is still only social, and there's nothing to work with—but in the process of following her, Ben has become attracted to June...
The whole film.
Poil de carotte
Poil de carotte is a 1925 French silent film, directed by Julien Duvivier and starring Henry Krauss, Charlotte Barbier-Krauss and André Heuzé. This is the first film based on the famous novel by Jules Renard. More films have been shot in 1932, 1952, 1973 and 2003.
Plot
François' mother, Mme Lepic, hates him and she nicknames him "Poil de Carotte" (Carrot hair). His father is more interested in politics and hunting that he is in him. In spite of the affection of his godfather and his friend Mathilde, whom he calls his "fiancée", young Poil de Carotte contemplates suicide. On a particularly difficult day, he attempts to hang himself. Mr. Lepic saves his life just in time and understands he is partly to blame for this. From this day on, they both unite against Mme Lepic's bad temper.
Redhead is a 1934 American drama film directed by Melville Brown and starring Bruce Cabot, Grace Bradley, and Regis Toomey.
Plot
A girl marries a playboy from a rich family, expecting a life of comfort and luxury. However, her new father-in-law turns his ne'er-do-well son out into the street with no money, and promises the girl that if she can make a man out of her new husband, the father will give her $10,000 and see that she gets a quick divorce.
Redhead from Manhattan
Redhead from Manhattan is a 1943 comedy film directed by Lew Landers and written by Joseph Hoffman. The film stars Lupe Vélez in one of her last screen appearances, Michael Duane, Tim Ryan, Gerald Mohr, Lillian Yarbo and Arthur Loft.
Plot
Lupe Vélez plays a dual role, twin sisters Rita and Elaine. After escaping a torpedoed ship, Rita shows up in Manhattan, where she takes the place of her Broadway-star twin sister Elaine, who's having problems with her marriage and needs to make a getaway. Neither Elaine's husband or Rita's saxophone-player boyfriend are aware of the switch.
A short scene from the film.
The Redhead from Wyoming
The Redhead from Wyoming is a 1953 American Western film produced by Leonard Goldstein and directed by Lee Sholem. It stars Maureen O'Hara, William Bishop and Alexander Scourby.
Plot
In Wyoming, Sweetwater town sheriff Stan Blaine finds himself in the middle of a range war between greedy cattle barons and newcomer settlers who compete for public lands and unbranded stray cattle.
Film trailer.
The Reformer and the Redhead
The Reformer and the Redhead is a 1950 American romantic comedy film written, produced and directed by Norman Panama and Melvin Frank, and starring June Allyson and Dick Powell.
Plot
Hot-tempered Kathleen Maguire enlists the services of a young attorney to help her zookeeper father get his job back after he is fired for political reasons. In the midst of uncovering local political corruption and dealing with a lion that's escaped from the zoo, the two manage to fall in love.
Film trailer
Polly Redhead
Polly Redhead is a 1917 American silent comedy film directed by Jack Conway and starring Ella Hall, Gertrude Astor and Charles Hill Mailes. One source claims this film is lost, while another claims it survives at the Museum Of Modern Art , New York.
Plot
Aside from the fact that Polly had red hair in abundance, she was not otherwise an exceptional child, save for one thing. She was willing to work and slave, if need be, to keep her baby brother, affectionately termed "The Lump," from being sent to the poor house. So she did housework and prepared breakfasts for John Ruffin, an attorney, and Hon. Gedge-Tompkins. John Ruffin's sister, Lady Osterly, has separated from her husband, and he holds their child. When Lady Osterly calls on Ruffin she is struck with the remarkable resemblance Polly bears to her own child. Ruffin and Lady Osterly formulate a plan to come into possession of her daughter, by using Polly as a substitute. When they offer Polly twenty sovereigns to go to the Duke of Osterly's home and impersonate the other child, the amount of money fairly staggers Polly and she accepts. By changing the children when the child of the Osterly's is out riding with her nurse. Polly gains access to the Duke's home and the Osterly child ...
Red-Headed Woman is a 1932 American pre-Code romantic comedy film, produced by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, based on the 1931 novel of the same name by Katharine Brush, and a screenplay by Anita Loos. It was directed by Jack Conway and stars Jean Harlow as a woman who uses sex to advance her social position
Plot
Lillian "Lil" Andrews (Jean Harlow) is a young woman, living in Ohio, who will do anything to improve herself. She seduces her wealthy boss William "Bill" Legendre Jr. (Chester Morris) and cleverly breaks up his marriage with his loving wife Irene (Leila Hyams). Irene reconsiders and tries to reconcile with Bill, only to find he has married Lil the previous day.
However, Lil finds herself shunned by high society, including Bill's father, Will Legendre, Sr. (Lewis Stone), because of her lower-class origins and homewrecking. When Charles B. Gaerste (Henry Stephenson), a nationally known coal tycoon and the main customer of the Legendre's company, visits the city, Lil thinks she has found a way to force her way into the highest social circles. She seduces Charles, then blackmails him into throwing a party at her mansion, knowing that no one would dare offend him by not showing up. It seems like a social coup for Lil, until her hairdresser friend and confidante Sally (Una Merkel) points out that all the guests have left early to attend a surprise party for Irene (who lives across the street).
Humiliated, she decides to move to New York City, even if it means a temporary separation from her husband. Will Sr. finds Lil's handkerchief at Gaerste's place and correctly guesses what Lil has done. He shows his evidence to his son, who hires detectives to watch Lil. They find that she is conducting not one, but two affairs, with Charles and his handsome French chauffeur Albert (Charles Boyer). Bill shows Charles damning photographs.
When Lil learns that Charles has found out about her, she returns to Bill, only to find him with Irene. Furious, she shoots him, but he survives and refuses to have her charged with attempted murder. However, he does divorce her, and remarries Irene. Two years later, he sees her again, at a racetrack in Paris, in the company of an aged Frenchman. He discreetly hides Irene's binoculars. In the final scene, Lil and her elderly companion get into a limousine driven by Albert.
Here's a scene from the film.
Redheads on Parade
Redheads on Parade is a 1935 American musical film directed by Norman Z. McLeod and written by Don Hartman and Rian James. The film stars John Boles, Dixie Lee, Jack Haley, Raymond Walburn, Alan Dinehart and Patsy O'Connor.
Plot
A film star finds herself in trouble with her co-star when she has to flirt with the backer to prevent him withdrawing his support. But all ends well.
The Redhead
The Redhead is a lost 1919 American silent drama film directed by Charles Maigne and starring Alice Brady, Conrad Nagel and Robert Schable.
Plot
Rich Matthew Thurlow, spends nearly every night at cabarets, admires Dazie, a leading dancer whom he calls "Redhead." Dazie loves Matthew, but she is dismayed that he wastes his life in clubs. After Matthew, while intoxicated, marries Dazie to win a bet, Dazie insists that they remain married. When Matthew's uncle cuts off his allowance and ends his "soft" bank job, Dazie decides to make a man out of Matthew, but he scorns her. She rents a small apartment, while he gets work in an auto factory. Although Matthew is genial when Dazie's parents visit, he remains cold to her. When Matthew's uncle offers Dazie money for a divorce, she refuses, but says that she will agree to a divorce if Matthew really wants one. Matthew develops a new interest in life and realizes he loves Dazie when he becomes jealous through a misunderstanding. After his uncle, seeing Dazie's effect on Matthew, threatens to disinherit him for good if he does divorce her, Matthew confesses his love.
Redhead
Redhead is a 1941 American comedy film directed by Edward L. Cahn and starring Johnny Downs, June Lang, and Eric Blore.
Plot
A young playboy and a girl marry because they think the boy's rich father will pay the girl $20,000 to divorce his son, and they will then split the money. Instead, the father works out a deal with the girl in which she will not only stay married to him, but try to reform him.
