Penny Singleton (Blondie), Arthur Lake (Dagwood), Larry Simms (Alexander), Marjorie Kent (Cookie), Anita Louise (Miss Gray), Jerome Cowan (George M. Radcliffe), Danny Mummert (Alvin Fuddle), Jack Rice (Ollie), Jack Davis (Mr Greenleaf), Johnny Granath (Slugger), Hal K. Dawson (Mr Little), Eddie Acuff (mailman), Alyn Lockwood (Mary), Robert De Haven (Pete), Robert Stevens (Joe), Douglas Wood (Theodore Payson), Dick Wessel (bus driver), and "Daisy".
Director: ABBY BERLIN. Original screenplay: Connie Lee. Based on the comic strip "Blondie" by Chic Young. Photography: Allen Siegler. Film editor: Jerome Thoms. Art director: Ben Hayme. Set decorator: Louis Diage. Music director: Mischa Bakaleinikoff. Producer: Burt Kelly.
Copyright 9 January 1947 by Columbia Pictures Corp. No recorded New York opening. U.S. release: 9 January 1947. U.K. release: 3 March 1947. Australian release: 13 November 1947. 6,384 feet. 70 minutes.
SYNOPSIS: Dagwood returns from vacation to find he has a new boss.
NOTES: Number 19 of the 28-picture series.
COMMENT: As usual, the title means absolutely nothing and not only gives not the slightest clue to the film's story content but has nothing to do with the plot at all! But this is one of the key films of the series and if you're just watching the best of them, this one is a must, as it's the one wherein Dagwood returns from a vacation to find Dithers has sold out to Radcliffe, enthusiastically played by Jerome Cowan (never mind that he played Peabody, an obnoxious client in the last episode).
Aside from its importance in the continuing story of..., this film is an entertaining entry. Berlin's direction is mercilessly routine except for an overhead shot at the climax, but it has pace; and production values are not bad. And while the script isn't witty or particularly funny, it serves to introduce some amusing characterizations by such as Jack Rice — here given his head as the obsequious Ollie (Oliver Merton on his door), — Eddie Acuff and Hal K. Dawson. It's also nice to see Anita Louise — though she hasn't all that much to do, and is photographed in Miss Singleton's shade.
In order to hide Penny's years, which were becoming very apparent in her previous films, and make her over into the attractive wife demanded by the script, a different photographer has been used here — with somewhat qualified success. Siegler has lensed the film throughout in a soft-focus, muzzy style which gives it the look of a second rate dupe.
As previously noted, all present prints in the Blondie series now run exactly 78 minutes (which comes down to exactly 75 minutes on television because of TV's slightly increased projection speed). King Features are using out-takes to bring all the movies up to this standard length, sometimes with less than happy results. But on this occasion, there's absolutely no evidence of padding at all. Connie Lee's script is more substantial than her usual efforts.
Incidentally, it seems unlikely that Radcliffe would be traveling to work on a bus. And this movie bus disappointingly is a single- decker, not the open-air double-decker that figures so prominently in Chic Young's cartoon strip!
Director: ABBY BERLIN. Original screenplay: Connie Lee. Based on the comic strip "Blondie" by Chic Young. Photography: Allen Siegler. Film editor: Jerome Thoms. Art director: Ben Hayme. Set decorator: Louis Diage. Music director: Mischa Bakaleinikoff. Producer: Burt Kelly.
Copyright 9 January 1947 by Columbia Pictures Corp. No recorded New York opening. U.S. release: 9 January 1947. U.K. release: 3 March 1947. Australian release: 13 November 1947. 6,384 feet. 70 minutes.
SYNOPSIS: Dagwood returns from vacation to find he has a new boss.
NOTES: Number 19 of the 28-picture series.
COMMENT: As usual, the title means absolutely nothing and not only gives not the slightest clue to the film's story content but has nothing to do with the plot at all! But this is one of the key films of the series and if you're just watching the best of them, this one is a must, as it's the one wherein Dagwood returns from a vacation to find Dithers has sold out to Radcliffe, enthusiastically played by Jerome Cowan (never mind that he played Peabody, an obnoxious client in the last episode).
Aside from its importance in the continuing story of..., this film is an entertaining entry. Berlin's direction is mercilessly routine except for an overhead shot at the climax, but it has pace; and production values are not bad. And while the script isn't witty or particularly funny, it serves to introduce some amusing characterizations by such as Jack Rice — here given his head as the obsequious Ollie (Oliver Merton on his door), — Eddie Acuff and Hal K. Dawson. It's also nice to see Anita Louise — though she hasn't all that much to do, and is photographed in Miss Singleton's shade.
In order to hide Penny's years, which were becoming very apparent in her previous films, and make her over into the attractive wife demanded by the script, a different photographer has been used here — with somewhat qualified success. Siegler has lensed the film throughout in a soft-focus, muzzy style which gives it the look of a second rate dupe.
As previously noted, all present prints in the Blondie series now run exactly 78 minutes (which comes down to exactly 75 minutes on television because of TV's slightly increased projection speed). King Features are using out-takes to bring all the movies up to this standard length, sometimes with less than happy results. But on this occasion, there's absolutely no evidence of padding at all. Connie Lee's script is more substantial than her usual efforts.
Incidentally, it seems unlikely that Radcliffe would be traveling to work on a bus. And this movie bus disappointingly is a single- decker, not the open-air double-decker that figures so prominently in Chic Young's cartoon strip!