Blondie (1938 film)
Blondie is a 1938 comedy film directed by Frank Strayer, based on the comic strip of the same name, created by Chic Young. The screenplay was written by Richard Flournoy. The plot involves the Bumsteads' fifth anniversary, Dagwood trying to get a raise, and Blondie trying to buy new furniture.
| Blondie | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Directed by | Frank R. Strayer |
| Produced by | Robert Sparks |
| Written by | Richard Flournoy |
| Based on | Blondie by Chic Young |
| Starring | Penny Singleton Arthur Lake |
| Music by | Leigh Harline Ben Oakland |
| Cinematography | Henry Freulich |
| Edited by | Gene Havlick |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | Columbia Pictures |
Release date | November 30, 1938 |
Running time | 70 min. |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
This was the first of 28 films based on the comic strip; Columbia Pictures produced them from 1938 to 1943, and popular demand brought them back in 1945. When the Blondie film series came to an end with Beware of Blondie in 1950, it was announced as being replaced with a series of Gasoline Alley movies. However, only two such films were made, Gasoline Alley (1951) and Corky of Gasoline Alley (1951). Columbia then reissued the Blondie features, beginning with the first film in the series.
Columbia used the series to showcase many of its contract players. Rita Hayworth was featured in Blondie on a Budget; Glenn Ford in Blondie Plays Cupid, Larry Parks and Janet Blair in Blondie Goes to College, Shemp Howard in Blondie Knows Best, and Adele Jergens in Blondie's Anniversary. Other roles were taken by Columbia contractees Doris Houck, Bruce Bennett, Lloyd Bridges, Ann Doran, Stanley Brown, Richard Fiske, Bud Jamison, Eddie Laughton, John Tyrrell, Alyn Lockwood, Jimmy Lloyd, Gay Nelson, and Ross Ford.
Cast
- Penny Singleton as Blondie Bumstead
- Arthur Lake as Dagwood Bumstead
- Larry Simms as Alexander "Baby Dumpling" Bumstead
- Gene Lockhart as Clarence Percival "C.P." Hazlip
- Jonathan Hale as J.C. Dithers
- Jerome Cowan as Mr. Radcliffe
- Gordon Oliver as Chester Franey
- Danny Mummert as Alvin Fuddle
- Kathleen Lockhart as Mrs. Miller (Blondie's mother)
- Ann Doran as Elsie Hazlip
- Dorothy Moore as Dot Miller (Blondie's sister)
- Fay Helm as Mrs. Fuddle
- Emory Parnell as Police Desk Sergeant
- Willie Best as Hotel Porter (uncredited)
Films
Twenty-eight films were produced by Columbia Pictures between 1938 and 1950:
- Blondie (1938)
- Blondie Meets the Boss (1939)
- Blondie Takes a Vacation (1939)
- Blondie Brings Up Baby (1939)
- Blondie on a Budget (1940)
- Blondie Has Servant Trouble (1940)
- Blondie Plays Cupid (1940)
- Blondie Goes Latin (1941)
- Blondie in Society (1941)
- Blondie Goes to College (1942)
- Blondie's Blessed Event (1942)
- Blondie for Victory (1942)
- It's a Great Life (1943)
- Footlight Glamour (1943)
- Leave It to Blondie (1945)
- Life with Blondie (1945)
- Blondie's Lucky Day (1946)
- Blondie Knows Best (1946)
- Blondie's Big Moment (1947)
- Blondie's Holiday (1947)
- Blondie in the Dough (1947)
- Blondie's Anniversary (1947)
- Blondie's Reward (1948)
- Blondie's Secret (1948)
- Blondie's Big Deal (1949)
- Blondie Hits the Jackpot (1949)
- Blondie's Hero (1950)
- Beware of Blondie (1950)
References
Further reading
Blondie Goes to Hollywood, by Carol Lynn Scherling. Albany, 2010. BearManor Media. ISBN 978-1-59393-401-9.