Loura Inspiração

Known for his amazing, giant, synchronized dance numbers, busby berkeley only directed 31 films. In this one, jonathan is a writer trying to sell his writing, but he's not getting any nibbles. At the same time, a local magazine publisher has neither money nor stories to put in his next issue. So they try to swindle jonathan by using his material, but giving the credit to the drunk who the readers have been reading all along. Kind of a silly plot, but we were way into the film code by this time, so silly became the norm. This has some really clever banter between the family members. And comedy greats charles butterworth, don meek, and reginald owen are in here to keep it lively and fun. It's good, as long as you go along with it all. Can jonathan dig himself out of this trap he has fallen into? This was released in february of 1941, while war was brewing in europe. Prior to us being yanked into world war two at pearl harbor. Stars john shelton virginia grey. Based on the play by john holm. Apparently, it's also known as "fools rush in" and "four cents a word".

Based on a play, "Blonde Inspiration" is about a young man, Jonathan (John Shelton), who has had no success being a writer. When he visits a publisher of a western magazine to promote his talents, he unwittingly becomes involved in their money-making scheme. And he meets office manager Margie (Virginia Grey) there.

The story is convoluted and unnecessarily meandering. The best part of the film is Virginia Grey, who---despite the story---feels grounded in the reality of her character.

This is an MGM B movie that has to rank near the bottom of Busby Berkeley's body of work. For starters, it's not a musical. There's no music in it at all. It's a strained comedy about an aspiring historical novelist turned pulp fiction writer who is taken advantage of by a couple of shady magazine publishers. It has a decent cast that tries hard. Very very hard. Oh boy do they try hard!

John Shelton is a weak leading man. Kind of a poor man's Dennis Morgan. Think about THAT for a second. Virginia Grey is beautiful but offers little else to the proceedings. Albert Dekker (forever Dr. Cyclops to me) does his best impersonation of a fast-talking character out of any number of WB films of the 1930's. Unfortunately, best or not, it's still an impersonation and doesn't feel like it fits Dekker at all. Charles Butterworth is his sidekick and he's equally ill-fitted for his part. Donald Meek has the best role in the film. Meek was always excellent so that should come as no surprise. Reginald Owen and Alma Kruger are good in thankless parts. This is a thoroughly forgettable comedy with a surprising ending. Too bad you have to sit through the rest of it to get there.

This little comedy reminded me a bit of 1975's "Hearts of the West." It's the story of an aspiring--but not very good--writer who finds his niche in the world of pre-war pulp magazines. This is a decidedly B movie. There are only a few sets and a few speaking parts. Albert Dekker and Charles Butterworth are suitably sleazy as the magazine publishers. In the background is Marion Martin as Butterworth's girlfriend "Baby." She sits in the background, dozes, and pops her eyes. You know that eventually she's going to speak, and finally she does. It's worth 72 minutes for anyone interested in old movies and the shoestring publishing businesses of the past.

Aspiring writer John Shelton is working on the Great American Novel...but since he's sick of living with his rich aunt, he decides to move out, figuring he will get by on selling some short stories to a cheap magazine.

Little does he know, when he arrives at Smoky Trails magazine with his stories in tow, that said magazine is so nearly broke that the owners are betting on horses to raise money to pay the printer for this month's issue. Also they can't locate the one writer who produces all of their stories because he is out on one of his periodic benders....

Albert Dekker and Charles Butterworth are the shady publishers who quickly notice that young Shelton has not only stories to sell but also a stack of cash that his uncle lent him to get started on. The pair are fast talkers with no scruples—and while they spout some funny lines ("If he insists on cash, we'll promise it to him!"), they soon grow rather annoying.

Donald Meek, on the other hand, is a riot—cast violently against type as drunk and obnoxious western author Dusty King.

Luckily for Shelton, cute Virginia Grey is also on the magazine staff—and her loyalties gradually shift as she watches her colleagues take advantage of the young newcomer. Yes, it's fairly easy to guess where the plot is heading...but the story does have a handful of offbeat touches and some funny dialog to keep it interesting.

My favorite bit is the sequence where Shelton, having been "allowed" to buy into the magazine, is assigned to write an entire issue in a night: "All right," he's instructed, "you get going on the novel and we'll pick it up first thing in the morning."

John Shelton is okay if nothing spectacular in the lead role. Virginia Grey, too, is fine, though I found myself wishing she had a little more to do. Overall, it's one of those pictures where plot is more important than characterization...and the plot is bizarre rather than brilliant.