We're in the Money

Joan Blondell and Glenda Farrell made quite a few films together, and you could tell had fun. That is the secret to any good film, and Warner Brothers held the distinction of cranking out a ton of dramas and comedies that clicked. Warners also had a stable of some of the best actors, and always put them to good use. The word on the street was everybody had fun making these films.

The ladies, this time, are process servers(?) who go through some wacky situations to get the job done. But what happens when their next target is someone who catches their eye, at least one of them? Sparks fly and it gets even more complicated.

This is fun stuff, and with a dependable cast, foremost hilarious Hugh Herbert, who is perfect for this kind of material. Herbert's trademark was his "woo woo" laugh, which could either mean he's enjoying something or in big trouble. Humphrey Bogart's wife at the time, Mayo Methot, also has a small part in this one. Methot gained more fame being married to Bogey and always fighting with him, making lots of headlines at the time. One big happy family.

Its also neat to spot all the veteran actors here, and most were Warner Brothers alum. Many were in the GOLD DIGGERS musical comedy series. Both Farrell and Blondell appeared in GOLD DIGGERS OF 1937. A big thank you to TCM for rerunning this on a lazy summer afternoon with lots of memories attached.

Usually sold in WB box sets, this film is on dvd for collectors.

... and if they had it would have likely been much better.

Dixie Tilton (Glenda Farrell) and Ginger Stewart (Joan Blondell) are process servers employed by attorney Homer Bronson (Hugh Herbert). They want to quit, but Bronson has a troublesome client, Claire LeClaire who is suing a rich man for breach of promise. There are four subpoenas involved, and the male servers who have attempted to do the serving have been beaten up. Bronson promises the girls a thousand dollars if they can serve all four, the idea being that a female process server will not be suspected. Ginger is in love with a chauffeur she has been meeting in the park and she only knows his name is Carter. He is, in fact, the object of the breach of promise suit. C. RIchard Courtney. He wears the chauffeur's outfit to throw process servers off the trail. Neither Carter nor Ginger knows who the other is, but since Ginger is going to end up serving him, you just know complications will ensue when the truth comes out about both of them.

As it stands it would have made a good three reel (30 minutes long) short. Or the plot could have been beefed up considerably and it could have been worthy of its 64 minute runtime. Instead it is stuffed with a wrestling match, a nightclub number, and a bunch of badly done overlong chase scenes both in boats and cars with third rate back projection while the actual dialogue and cast interaction is somewhat anemic. I will say this about it - Joan Blondell and Glenda Farrell have great chemistry together and make a terrific comedic duo. It's no wonder they were teamed several times as they were a joy to watch.

EARLY Joan Blondell.. LOVE HER in Desk Set, but that was about twenty years after this. She and Glenda Farrell were silly working girls in all those black and whites in the 1930s and 1940s... Ginger and Dixie are process servers, and are trying to get out of such a dangerous business. Their boss has one last assignment for them, and after being offered a huge amount, this will be their last caper, serving the big mob boss who doesn't want to be served. Ginger has a beau Carter, played by Ross Alexander. Sadly, Alexander offed himself a couple years after this film was released. The Hays film code had just started being strictly enforced, and this clearly was not good news for Alexander, as his lifestyle could not be kept quiet, and this clashed with the studio big-shots. Silly, vaudeville man Hugh Herbert is the goofy attorney, and is clearly here for the laughs. Some fun cameos, or almost cameos... a young Lionel Stander (Max.. from Hart to Hart) has several spoken lines. Walter Brennan is a guest at the wedding, and according to IMDb, Mayo Methot's scene was deleted. Also several songs by actor/singer Phil Regan... he had quite the adventures after his acting days, if you look him up on wikipedia. This one is fun, and scurries right along. Story is pretty straight forward, and has some clever lines. I recommend this one. Pretty surprised at the low rating... only a 6.. but of course, only 140 votes so far. Hopefully TCM will show this one more often.

Joan Blondell and Glenda Farrell are process servers for nitwit lawyer Hugh Herbert. Their current and last assignment is to serve subpoenas on Ross Alexander and his associates in a breach-of-promise case brought by Anita Kerry, who's French when she isn't talking like someone from the Lower East Side of New York. What Miss Blondell doesn't know is that the chauffeur she's in love with is Alexander, made up in the disguise by his lawyer, Henry O'Neill, to avoid be subpoenaed.

The comedy is securely carried by Herbert and Miss Farrell, both operating at a great pace, with Miss Blondell playing the more serious of the two young ladies. There's a lovely sequence showing the ladies at work as they subpoena various people for the case, only to be blocked by the calm cynicism of Henry O'Neill as Alexander's lawyer. The happy ending is a bit rushed, and the process photography that makes Herbert such a terrifyingly funny driver is a bit obvious, but the easy camaraderie of Miss Blondell and Miss Farrell, who appeared in five films together, help to make this a superior comedy.

"We're in the Money" is a comedy romance that pairs Joan Blondell and Glenda Farrell in one of five films they made together. In this one, they are process servers hired by Hugh Herbert, a shady lawyer, Homer Bronson, who has had a hard time trying to serve warrants on various characters.

As two attractive bombshells, Joan's Ginger Stewart and Glenda's Dixie Tilton, are able to fenagle their way into the inner sanctums of men and catch their prey. But, for their last target, it becomes complicated when Ginger falls for Richard Courtney, played by Ross Alexander. He has been disguised as a chauffeur named Carter, just to avoid being served.

One might wonder how Herbert's Bronson ever got through any law school to become an attorney. But then, some of us have seen some real blockheads and daffy lawyers.

The film has some scenes with funny antics and situations. And, it has stretches of humorous dialog. If ever there were two subpoena servers like these, they would be the best in the business. This may be the best film of the two female leads. These aren't anywhere near the top comedies of Hollywood for the period, but they are okay for light entertainment.

Here are some favorite lines from this film. For more comedy dialog, see the Quotes section under this IMDb Web page of the movie.

Ginger Stewart, "But you told me that you won't be a chauffeur for long." Carter, "That's right. In a few days, and I'll be out of this uniform." Stewart, "Oh, I'm sorry. I like you in this uniform. But you won't tell me what you're gonna be?" Carter, "Well you won't even tell me what you are now." Stewart, "It doesn't matter. Cause what I am now I'm not gonna be for long, either."

Carter, "I wish whoever's honking that horn would stop. I had to combine business with pleasure."

Dixie Tilton, "In a town full of big cars, you have to fall for a chauffeur."

Ginger Stewart, "I'm going to be busy and won't be able to see you." Carter, "I was wondering how I was going to break the same sad news to you." Ginger, "You going on a trip?" Carter, "Just a short one. But it'll clear up a lot of things, for us."

Ginger Stewart, "I have to go." Carter, "It'll be a long wait. But I guess there's nothing either of us can do about it." Stewart, "Well, as long as it has to be, it's nice we both picked the same time. After that, things'll be different." Carter, "For both of us."

Carter, "Have you ever been in love?" Jevons, "Not in recent years, sir." Carter, "Marvelous feeling, wasn't it?" Jevons, "I've heard it spoken of very highly, sir."

Carter, "Jevons, have I ever told you about her eyes? They're like..." Jevons, "Two spoonfuls of the Mediterranean. Yes, sir."

Butch Gonzola, "C'mon, Clancy." Policeman Clancy O'Rourke, "Yeah, we need each other's protection."