Blondie Has Servant Trouble

A good mixture of mirth and fright are the kind of scary movies I enjoyed as a kid, and this one--BLONDIE HAS SERVANT TROUBLE--was at the top of the list. Any film with a haunted house theme always got my attention--still does--and when my favorite comic book characters are included, it's a no brainer that I'd love it.

In this one, Dagwood asks for a raise when Blondie complains about their money situation preventing her from hiring a servant. Mr. Dithers agrees, but only on one condition. The Bumsteads must stay for a week in a house he has trouble renting because it's rumored to be haunted.

That's the set-up, and of course they do move in and undergo all sorts of strange goings on until the mystery behind all the mishaps is explained. Baby Dumpling proves brighter than his parents in guessing some of the clues and even the dog is smart enough to know there are spooks around.

DANNY MUMMERT is still the precocious Alvin Fuddle with the genius IQ, JONATHAN HALE is still Mr. Dithers and IRVING BACON plays the unlucky mailman who gets stomped on when the Bumsteads get spooked and leave the house like speeding bullets. Bacon had a remarkable career as the mailman, as well as some choice roles in a number of classic films like SPELLBOUND (the ticket man at the train terminal who has the film's final double take).

Still remains my favorite in the series on a nostalgic basis--although I'm sure a few of the others were a good deal funnier.

***SPOILERS*** ***SPOILERS*** BLONDIE HAS SERVANT TROUBLE (Columbia, 1940), directed by Frank R. Strayer, the sixth entry to the popular film series based on Chic Young's comic strip, features a typical setting of any film comedy series: a haunted house theme.

Blondie (Penny Singleton) is tired of doing all the household chores and wants husband Dagwood (Arthur Lake) to ask his boss Mr. Dithers (Jonathan Hale) for a $10 raise in order to hire one. But Dithers has other plans in order for Dagwood to earn that extra bonus. As a favor to him, Dithers has Dagwood and Blondie spend the weekend in a supposedly haunted house in order to prove to one of his client-buyers that the supposed haunting is just a false rumor. While at the home, which is miles away from the nearest town, the Bumsteads first encounter a Negro named Horatio (Ray Turner) who is staying at the house in order to get initiated into a club. During the gloomy rainy evening the doorbell rings. There stands are Eric and Hannah Vaughn (Arthur Hohl and Esther Dale), a middle-aged couple whom the Bumsteads believe to be the servants hired by Mr. Dithers, but while the Bumsteads don't notice anything strange about the couple, especially their would-be butler, their youngster, Baby Dumpling (Larry Simms) does, especially when the couple come into the house out of the rain with their clothing still dry. Aside from the creepy Vaughn's and added sound effects of rain and thunder, the Bumsteads encounter secret panels, strange noises and a shriek from Horatio who suddenly disappears without a trace. More mystery ensues after Dagwood finds a newspaper clipping regarding Eric Vaughan. Then when they decide to telephone for help, the lines are suddenly cut, which adds to the suspense in this comedy-thriller.

Adding mystery to comedy, the movie includes highlights such as clothing in the closet mysteriously disappearing and reappearing again; Dagwood constantly getting a flashlight stuck in his mouth and Blondie slapping him on his back to get it out, only to find Dagwood demonstrating how he got the flashlight stuck in his mouth in the first place and have it stuck there again; and the Bumstead dog, Daisy, adding shivers in a frightful performance from this little scene stealing pooch.

In the supporting cast in smaller roles are Danny Mummert as Alvin Fuddow, the Bumstead's boy genius next door neighbor; Fay Helm as Mrs. Fuddow; and Irving Bacon as the neighborhood postman who not only gets run over by Dagwood, as in the previous entries, but here by the entire family as they rush out of the house where they are staying.

BLONDIE HAS SERVANT TROUBLE has its share of chills and thrills, temporarily breaking away from its usual domestic problems at home and at the office. Arthur Hohl give a glassy-eyed and moody performance that would have made Bela Lugosi proud. This surely ranks one of the most watchable movies in the series, especially during Halloween. The movie was not only distributes on video cassette as part of the "Blondie" collection, but has been presented on American Movie Classics from 1996 to 2001. Have a howl of a good time with this one. (**1/2)

One of the best of Blondie series of films is this one that has the Bumsteads house sitting a haunted house. At least that's what the prevailing rumor is in the neighborhood.

The house is part of the estate that Jonathan Hale is the executor of. To quiet rumors he has Arthur Lake and Penny Singleton house sit the place. It's an old mansion complete with butler and maid Arthur Hohl and Esther Dale so at least for Singleton who's been complaining about the housewife work load she's eager for the job.

Every comedian eventually goes into a haunted house be it Bob Hope, Abbott&Costello and now the Bumsteads for one reason or another. They also get involved with some sinister help as Hohl and Dale are enough to creep anyone out.

A lot of strange things happen to the Bumsteads and at times only the fact that this is the Bumsteads and you know a funny gag or punchline is coming up are you not terrified. They also have an additional guest in Ray Turner who is there on a bet from his lodge, no doubt the Mystic Knights Of The Sea where Amos, Andy, and the Kingfish belong. And I'm sure for 1940 audiences that's just what the reference to a lodge for a black actor is supposed to mean.

In the end Mr. Dithers gives Dagwood a raise and that's always good for the Bumstead household.

This is the sixth in the Blondie movie series. In this one, Blondie wants a maid so Dagwood asks Mr. Dithers for a raise. He refuses but then tells him about a house he's trying to sell and wants them to stay there to test its livability. When they arrive, the find a black character in it. Turns out he's there for some kind of lodge initiation. Then arrive a couple of suspicious characters, a butler and a maid. I'll stop there and just say this was both funny and a little scary making this quite a fun ride for the series. Ray Turner as Horatio does the stereotypical antics involving his race though because Dagwood also gets scared, I managed to laugh my heart out most of the time. Arthur Hohl and Esther Dale provide the suitably atmospheric flavor especially concerning the former. In summary, Blondie Has Servant Trouble was another enjoyable entry in the series. P.S. This was Fay Helm's fourth-and last-appearance in the series as Alvin Fuddle's mother.

Eddie Murphy and the writers of the special effects laden (and leaden) "Haunted Mansion" could have learned a lesson or two by watching this workman-like picture, the sixth in the Blondie series. In this installment, Mr. Dithers asks the Bumsteads to move into a remote mansion until he can sell it. The house has a menacing butler, on-again, off-again utilities, and hidden passages and secret doors. "Blondie has Servant Trouble" provides an enjoyable mix of suspense and comedy. One sour note mars the movie: Ray Turner plays a chronically frightened African American – a standard stereotype of the period -- who faints at the slightest scare.