Much credit goes to director Frank Strayer for handling many of the early BLONDIE episodes so well. These films have become classic comedies in their own right, and featuring some terrific actors, both young and old at their best.
This is the very first episode, truly a labor love, released late in 1938 and what would successfully launch one of the longest running movie series. Penny Singleton, who was actually a brunette, and a popular singer and character actress at the time, won the role as Blondie Bumstead and so defined the comic strip character. In short, she was a natural, as you will see.
Arthur Lake, who was a juvenile star in silent films, known for the HAROLD TEEN comedies, grew up a bit and was, likewise, perfect for the role of well meaning, but not too bright Dagwood. If anybody was Dagwood Bumstead, it was Arthur Lake, who would later repeat the role in a short lived tv series in the 50s and, remarkably, never aged much!
Rounding out the original cast was bright as a button Larry Simms, playing Baby Dumbling, later known as Alexander, who was an extremely talented child actor in his own right, comparable to the likes of Shirley Temple. Jonathan Hale, popular in the CHARLIE CHAN films, an excellent dramatic actor in some classic movies, played JC Dithers, Dagwood's frustrated boss to the letter, and yes always in a "dither." By the way, JC stood for Julius Caesar. Great trivia question.
Last but not least, Daisy the mischievous puppy, who we all watched grow up in the series. The biggest gag of all was "at times" Daisy could talk! --albeit with a mutter or a mumble, defining the next dilemma Dagwood got the family into. Daisy was truly the prize cherry on the top.
And so the series began; Gene Lockhart guest starring as CP Hazlip, a wealthy client, who Mr. Dithers naturally wants Dagwood to sign to a construction contract. As dumb luck would have it, Dagwood actually bumps into CP at a hotel, both unknown to each other at the beginning --starting a beautiful friendship! Joining them is CP's spunky daughter, Elsie, well played by Ann Doran, who at the time was starring with comedian Charley Chase in a series of short film comedies.
Everything seems to be going along --until Elsie calls Dagwood at home and Blondie thinks he's cheating on her! Time for a divorce, which would be suggested in many later episodes, without too much surprise. Next, and right on time, frustrated Dithers fires Dagwood for not doing his job. But he has done his job in spades... Wait and see.
There are so many remarkable scenes in this first episode, let alone some priceless dialogue. The banter betwen angry Blondie and befuddled Dagwood, on the brink of a divorce, is so funny. Character actress Dorothy Moore, as Blondie's sister Dot, also livens the proceedings as does Gene Lockhart's real life wife, Kathleen, playing Blondie's mom --who gets her new car stolen by Dagwood who eventually saves the day and his marriage!
10 Stars. Simply Amazing.
Vintage comedy at its best, and perhaps the series that defined tv sitcoms in the 50s. A special thank you to the MOVIES Net for rerunning the series on Saturday mornings. Always on remastered dvd; either in single releases or dvd box sets of 10 episodes.
This is the very first episode, truly a labor love, released late in 1938 and what would successfully launch one of the longest running movie series. Penny Singleton, who was actually a brunette, and a popular singer and character actress at the time, won the role as Blondie Bumstead and so defined the comic strip character. In short, she was a natural, as you will see.
Arthur Lake, who was a juvenile star in silent films, known for the HAROLD TEEN comedies, grew up a bit and was, likewise, perfect for the role of well meaning, but not too bright Dagwood. If anybody was Dagwood Bumstead, it was Arthur Lake, who would later repeat the role in a short lived tv series in the 50s and, remarkably, never aged much!
Rounding out the original cast was bright as a button Larry Simms, playing Baby Dumbling, later known as Alexander, who was an extremely talented child actor in his own right, comparable to the likes of Shirley Temple. Jonathan Hale, popular in the CHARLIE CHAN films, an excellent dramatic actor in some classic movies, played JC Dithers, Dagwood's frustrated boss to the letter, and yes always in a "dither." By the way, JC stood for Julius Caesar. Great trivia question.
Last but not least, Daisy the mischievous puppy, who we all watched grow up in the series. The biggest gag of all was "at times" Daisy could talk! --albeit with a mutter or a mumble, defining the next dilemma Dagwood got the family into. Daisy was truly the prize cherry on the top.
And so the series began; Gene Lockhart guest starring as CP Hazlip, a wealthy client, who Mr. Dithers naturally wants Dagwood to sign to a construction contract. As dumb luck would have it, Dagwood actually bumps into CP at a hotel, both unknown to each other at the beginning --starting a beautiful friendship! Joining them is CP's spunky daughter, Elsie, well played by Ann Doran, who at the time was starring with comedian Charley Chase in a series of short film comedies.
Everything seems to be going along --until Elsie calls Dagwood at home and Blondie thinks he's cheating on her! Time for a divorce, which would be suggested in many later episodes, without too much surprise. Next, and right on time, frustrated Dithers fires Dagwood for not doing his job. But he has done his job in spades... Wait and see.
There are so many remarkable scenes in this first episode, let alone some priceless dialogue. The banter betwen angry Blondie and befuddled Dagwood, on the brink of a divorce, is so funny. Character actress Dorothy Moore, as Blondie's sister Dot, also livens the proceedings as does Gene Lockhart's real life wife, Kathleen, playing Blondie's mom --who gets her new car stolen by Dagwood who eventually saves the day and his marriage!
10 Stars. Simply Amazing.
Vintage comedy at its best, and perhaps the series that defined tv sitcoms in the 50s. A special thank you to the MOVIES Net for rerunning the series on Saturday mornings. Always on remastered dvd; either in single releases or dvd box sets of 10 episodes.