Blondie on a Budget

Blondie On A Budget deals with the family finances that the Bumsteads are having and the choices that these young marrieds have to make. It almost breaks up the Bumsteads.

Arthur Lake wants $200.00 to join a club where the pastime is fishing. Blondie wants a new coat. Things are on a friendly level until an old girlfriend of Dagwood's enters the picture.

Rita Hayworth visits the Bumsteads, she's moved back to town and has a job that will put her in close proximity to Arthur Lake and that upsets Penny Singleton. A series of the usual mishaps and misdirections leave the Bumsteads apart with Singleton going to Reno.

If you can accept the premise that Rita Hayworth was ever interested in Dagwood Bumstead than you'll find this film a pleasant and enjoyable comedy.

One of the better Blondie movies, Blondie on a Budget gives one a feeling of nostalgia by being very indicative of its time. The relatively simple story keeps one interested by incorporating stupidly witty dialog with slap stick comedy, truly a great film.

Dagwood is trying to sweet talk Blondie, who is working seriously on the household budget, into giving him $200. After seeing his father put too much sugar into the coffee, Baby Dumpling spills the beans and tells his mother that Daddy wants the money for the Trout Club. Blondie wanted a new coat. Alvin walks in to offer social comfort, but when he offers to answer the front door, who should it be but Rita Hayworth. Here's where the fun begins. Isn't that taxi driver talented with impersonations? By the way, Baby Dumpling has his first wiggly tooth. The next film in the series is BLONDIE HAS SERVANT TROUBLE.

Blondie and Dagwood's life is thrown a curve when Rita Hayworth shows up. She used to be "someone he used to know," and came to the house on business with Dagwood, as she works in real estate. As part of the plot, and as the title suggests, they are currently talking about their budget and trying to keep expenses down, despite the fact there's a fur coat she'd like to have and the fact there's a fishing club/lodge he'd like to join. But he doesn't catch any, when he goes fishing anyway, Blondie says, when he goes with the neighbor, who tries to tell him how to deal with Blondie and put his foot down. Aside from the first film, this would be my next favorite. The films centering on their lives at home are better than those which put them in situations away from home. Their home life can get pretty crazy, with miscommunication and people jumping to conclusions. Yeah, Blondie! Rita around really pushes Blondie's buttons, which gives this entry some fire and gives us another fulfilling look into the Bumsteads' far-from-dull existence.

Bit by bit, I totally believe that the Blondie series is one of the most seriously neglected film series of all time, there were, I don't know, 20? films (actually, 28 now that I've looked it up) and I've seen 5 of them, and they've all be charming, with amazing chemistry with the leads, plenty of humor and smartness, without treating the audience like idiots. In this one, what could have been a one joke movie (Blondie is jealous of Dagwood's old flame popping by for a visit) turns out to be quite a clever and funny series of events. It just so happens the old flame is played by Rita Hayworth in one of those "Before They Were Famous" roles. She's quite magnetic, and actually adds, but surprisingly doesn't distract what is going on. One of the best in the series. Some great shots of an old time movie theatre too.