Blondie's Holiday

While I love the Blondie and Dagwood films, after a while it was obvious that the titles were completely random. Think about it in this case, "Blondie's Holiday"....there is no holiday, no vacation at all in the film! A few episodes back, there was and this holiday installment inexplicably was called "Blondie's Big Moment"! What was this big moment? I have no idea as the film wasn't about this at all!!

The story finds Blondie putting Dagwood in a VERY awkward position. She and a couple old classmates are planning a reunion and when they think Dagwood made it big in business, Blondie agrees to pay for a reunion dinner that ended up costing about $500...a princely sum back in the day. In fact, Dagwood was earning $75 a week and there was no way that they could afford this. As for Dagwood, remember that he isn't too bright, so he decides to try investing his money on horse racing...and ends up being caught during a police raid!! So how do the Busteads end up extricating themselves from this? After all, Dagwood IS like Curious George...a guy who ends up doing all the wrong things but again and again it all seems to work out anyway!!

This is a modestly enjoyable outing despite Blondie. It has a few laughs and a story very much in line with the spirit of the films. Not great but good despite Blondie's inexplicably actions.

This is the twentieth in the Blondie movie series. In this one, Dagwood and his boss, Mr. Radcliffe, are to meet a bank president to get him to agree to approve a new building. He also has a 15-year high school reunion dinner to plan with Blondie. Oh, and there's also a subplot concerning gambling...This was another funny entry in the long-running Blondie series with quite a few colorful characters to, in Sheldon Leonard's words in my favorite movie-It's a Wonderful Life, "give the joint atmosphere", if you know what I mean. In this one, Bobby Larson appears one more time as Alexander's friend, Tommy Cooper, substituting for Danny Mummert's Alvin Fuddle. Also, Daisy's offspring Elmer is the scene-stealing pooch this time around. So on that note, Blondie's Holliday is well worth a look for the series' fans. P.S. This was Constance, or Connie, Lee's final script for the series having done writing on them since Blondie's Blessed Event.

Again a special providence watches out for people named Bumstead in Blondie's Holiday. This Blondie film concerns Arthur Lake and Penny Singleton's 15th high school reunion and we get a flashback to Blondie and Dagwood while in high school

Seeing them in high school makes you wonder why a homecoming queen like Blondie picked class klutz Dagwood to team up with. But as that scene ends Blondie predicts that Dagwood will be the biggest success story in the class of 1932 telling fellow classmates Jody Gilbert and Jeff York the same.

Her bragging gets Dagwood on the hook to pay for the class reunion dinner. And Dagwood once again gets fired for screwing up a deal with Grant Mitchell the town banker to build a new bank.

But the biggest bonehead move is Dagwood seeking quick money paying for an education in handicapping horses by racetrack tout Sid Tomack. When he gets picked up in a raid in a very funny sequence he's going to miss the reunion dinner because he's in the slam.

Still that Bumstead divine providence comes through. One of the better films of the Blondie series.

Catch Blondie's polka-dot dress, or more accurately, how can you avoid it. It's a real eye-grabber. Poor Dagwood, he's up to his neck in trouble yet again. He's got to pay for a class reunion dinner for 200 or is it 400 guests at a fancy eaterie. If he doesn't, Blondie's ex-high school admirer, handsome hunk Paul, will best him again, and what will Blondie say. If that's not bad enough, our hero has just been fired for being chummy with a bookie. So where will he get the money for the big bill. Good thing Daisy and her puppy herd are lending 4-footed support.

It's a typical knee-slapper from that classic movie series. Everyone's in fine form, along with good pacing that doesn't drag. And get a load of the legendary Dagwood sandwich that only an alligator and our hero can eat. Then there's Blondie's 1940's hat that has a garden growing out of it-- makes me think of my mom. Anyway, good to see reference to the GI Bill that helped so many vets recover financially after the war (here it's 1947). So mix in post-war suburbia with our favorite period couple and you've got a can't-miss hour's entertainment.

Very true, there is no holiday here, only more dumb luck for Dagwood, who is the whole show --or rather, Arthur Lake.

This was the final story written by Connie Lee, who had been with the series about five years. It has a very clever twist, which saves the day for Dagwood.

That said, Dagwood easily gets into trouble in just a few minutes. The story is all about a big high school reunion -- which Dagwood gets stuck to pay for. He gets a raise, gets fired by Mr. Radcliffe and caught up with some backroom horse racing gamblers. Arthur Lake's stunned expressions are priceless.

The racing angle is a funny change of pace. Dagwood reads some material on how to pick winners at the race track and he's hooked. He also has an angel on his shoulder, a little old lady better (played by veteran actress Mary Young), who just happens to be the wife of Mr. Radcliffe's new client, Mr. Breckenbridge, played by Grant Mitchell. In short, Mrs. Breckenbridge saves Dagwood BIG time.

Popular supporting cast; Anne Nagel plays Bea and Jody Gilbert as Cynthia, two of the high school renunion alum. Tim Ryan appears as Mike, best known for writing and appearing in many of the BOWERY BOYS films.

Yes, Daisy is not in this episode because she was appearing in another film at the time. Puppy Elmer takes her place, who is growing up fast. Daisy, better known as Spooks (because she was always scared as a puppy), was part cockerspaniel, poodle and terrier, raised by famous dog trainer Rennie Renfro. Renfro had a large kennel and ranch in Van Nuys, CA, where Daisy lived and worked in films into the early 1950s.

10 Stars for goofy Dagwood who crosses the finish line. Remastered episode on dvd, also in box sets which include the entire series. Thanks much to MOVIES Net for running these unforgettable episodes on Saturday mornings.