Blondin i fara

Mark Miller is a New York reporter assigned to write a series of stories about Swedish night life and make out with as many blondes as possible. Among those he gets involved with is Anita Thallaug, who performs in a night club in a bustiere. She is also a dope addict. To follow up this story, Miller tracks down the head of the drug ring.

After a lifetime of distinguished Swedish film makers like Bergman, Lindhof, Sjöström, and Molander, it's a bit of a relief to find an ordinary B movie from a Swedish director, in this case, Robert Brandt . Brandt does not meditate on fate, a world without a G*d, or any of the deep-dish topics I have grown used to. No, he shows us the seamy side of life, with a shoot-out in an amusement park, with Miller wielding a gun so much better than the Swedish police, a couple of whom get shot by the bad guy. After all, he's an American, which is why all the Swedish women love him.

This doesn't make it a distinguished movie in the least. The best that I can say is that it's an ordinary movie that could be set any place. At least the dubbing into English for the American release was good.

"Blonde in Bondage" is a funny film to watch. Despite the title, the poster featured on IMDb and the little blurb on the package, this is NOT a skin flick or salacious film. Sure, its subject matter was a bit mature for 1957, it just isn't what you'd think!

A reporter is sent to Sweden. He notices that the women are extremely beautiful and extremely willing to please. But, no, it is not a sex film! A bit later, he's involved in a car accident. No one is hurt but through it he meets a strange man and his sexy lady friend. It seems she is a performer with a 'hot act' and the reporter goes to see her. She sings a sexy song and takes off some of her clothes--but not much. In fact, women on the beach wear far, far less. Again, it is NOT a sex film. So what about the 'bondage' that's in the title?! No, it's NOT a sex film! It turns out the sexy lady is hooked on drugs and her partner has deliberately gotten her hooked on morphine--seemingly in an attempt to control her! So, if you are looking for a 'dirty movie'--keep looking! Now I am NOT complaining about this misrepresentation. I don't want to see sleazy sex films but I do like an exploitation film--mostly because they are usually unintentionally funny because they are so bad. However, this really isn't even an exploitation film, as the movie is not poorly written, sensationalistic or meant to appeal to our baser interest. It's actually a decent crime drama that talks about a serious problem that few films at the time discussed. Now this is not to say it's a great film--the budget is relatively low and the acting, in a few cases, isn't terrific (a couple of the Swedish actors were very difficult to understand due to the heavy accents--fortunately they were all supporting actors with relatively small roles). But the film is entertaining and competent--and worth viewing. In many ways, it's almost like a Swedish film noir picture.

With beautiful Swedish actresses and occasionally risque (but only by '50s standards -otherwise quite tame) material, "Blonde in Bondage" is a curio that turns out to be more interesting than many mainstream movies of its period. It's sold as an exploitation movie and might have played in Art Houses in 1957, but now seems quaint.

Our hero Larry is assigned to write a magazine story on location in Sweden, and the film's first conceit is that not only does he constantly run into beautiful women but they all are uncannily attracted to him. He emerges as a wish-fulfillment hero for a lonely male target audience (presumably watching movies solo in some crummy movie theater), surrounded by beauties and going with the flow. Usually such a character is a slapstick comedian, but here he's an intrepid reporter rather than a figure of fun.

He soon is entangled in a crime story, trying to save lovely blonde stripper Mona Mace from her evil manager/captor, skilfully played by Lars Ekborg. The cast handles English language dialogue well, giving the movie a leg up on so many dubbed foreign imports of the era.

Oddest thing is not part of the film- itself, but that the director, whose career went nowhere, ended up marrying Hollywood superstar Janet Leigh after her divorce from Tony Curtis. How's that for wish fulfillment!

I was quite surprised by this flick as it is actually pretty decent. It's a good crime caper set in Sweden with an American reporter being the lead character role. There are a few humorous moments usually in scenes where he encounters the fairer sex. By the. the way, this is by no means a sleazy sex movie.

My only disappointment with the movie is that it could have been in the US or even the UK. I didn't get the feeling that it was in Sweden, although it was obviously filmed there. I would have preferred to hear the nightclub singers singing in Swedish and to hear some Swedish dialog from time to time. Also, the type casting of Swedish women could be regarded as somewhat disrespectful were it not done in a humorous way.

All in all.. It's a good movie. I particularly enjoyed the chase through the fun fair.