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Cast Regulars in this Film
Blondie Bumstead (Penny Singleton)
Dagwood Bumstead (Arthur Lake)
Baby Dumpling Bumstead (Larry Simms)
J.C. Dithers (Jonathan Hale)
Alvin Fuddle (Danny Mummert)
Mailman Mr. Crumb (Irving Bacon)
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Plot: This is the first movie of the Blondie series, which is still the longest running of all film series (in terms of number of entries). The character of Blondie (as played by actress Penny Singleton), is much different than the character you've seen in the last many years of the comic strip. In the comic strip, Blondie is nice and fairly intelligent...a credit to women everywhere. In this and in many of the early Blondie films, she is flighty, short-fused, and seems to abuse her husband at the slightest whim. What is great about Penny Singleton's acting in all the films is that you get to see Blondie gradually change into a more sensible and nicer version of herself. People who have seen the early and later Blondie films will know what I'm talking about.
In this film, Dagwood loses his job (which will be a reoccurring plot device in almost all of the Blondie films) just when his family needs money the most. In order to get his job back he must close a deal with a client who is very difficult to come into contact with...all on his own!
Willie Best, a black actor famous for what would today be considered stereotypical roles, plays the dimwitted hotel porter. If you watch that part of the film with an open mind, you shouldn't be offended. Just take it as a black guy who happens to be slow, and not a representative of his entire race. There were plenty of actors and actresses of all colors in films before and after this one that have been played just as ignorant, if not worse. It really is a funny moment, and is also one of the funniest parts in the movie.
The above 11 x 14 lobby card is actually a reproduction of the classic 1938 film.
A publicity still with stars (left to right) Gene Lockhart, Penny Singleton, and Arthur Lake.
Dot Miller (Blondie's sister), Hotel Custodian
Photo stills I made of characters from "Blondie" (1938)
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This award for "Blondie's Page" received July 9, 2005. Brad Lang maintains Classic Movies and truly appreciates Hollywood's Golden Age. How thrilled I was to learn that he listed this site as one of the Best New Links to his very large website for that particular week. It's very nice to be noticed and I enjoy hearing from him and all of you! Visit his website by clicking the graphic above.
