Blondie in Society

While, being a fan of all the "Blondie" movies, this one is my all-time favorite. I have two reasons for picking this one above all the others. One, I am an animal lover. The whole story revolves around a lovable Great Dane. His expressions and antics, alone, are hilarious, but mixed in with the Bumsteads, and the laughs are constant. Two, the finale at the dog show is top rate. You have cute dogs, a beautiful song, and a hilarious melee. What more could you ask for??

BLONDIE IN SOCIETY (Columbia, 1941), directed by Frank R. Strayer, the ninth feature in the popular comedy series based on the Chic Young comic strip characters, ranks the very best of the entire 28 episodes. This series reached its peak here, and the leading players are at their funniest. At 78 minutes (the longest in the series), it plays fast and furious.

Dagwood Bumstead (Arthur Lake) gets himself a great dane named Chin-up to cover a $50 debt, and his wife, Blondie (Penny Singleton) helps out by entering Chin Up in a dog show. Everything goes wrong, of course. While the dog wins the contest, everyone who had disowned him, wants to reclaim him, a fight ensues, causing everyone, including the Bumstead child, Baby Dumpling (Larry Simms) and his neighbor friend, Alvin (Danny Mummert) to acquire black eyes.

Besides Dagwood running into the neighborhood postman (Irving Bacon) to catch his bus for work, other comedy highlights include Dagwood trying to take his Sunday bath, but never does due to constant interruptions, a gimmick used occasionally in the comic strips, but seen only once in this series. Penny Singleton shows off her singing ability by vocalizing "In the Shade of the Old Apple Tree" and "Trees." Veteran character actors Edgar Kennedy and William Frawley also add to the comic hi-jinx. For animal lovers, the Bumstead dog, Daisy, and Chin-up help provide some memorable highlights as well. And then there's Mr. Dithers (Jonathan Hale) as Dagwood's irritable boss, etc.

Available on video with the 1960s tag-on TV opening and closing credits with vocalists singing the "Blondie" theme song. Thankfully when it was shown on the American Movie Classics cable channel from 1996 to 2000, it was presented with its original opening and closing credits shown in theaters. Later shown on Turner Classic Movies (TCM premiere: November 6, 2021) with sing-along theme song opening. While much of the 28 "Blondie" comedies are quite enjoyable, this one is definitely a first prize winning entry. (***/2)

Dagwood (Arthur Lake) comes home to find the police waiting for him. Someone has forged Dagwood's signature on a check. But as it turns out, Dagwood wrote the check him to get paid back. Now you know why they call him Dagwood. Blondie (Penny Singleton) sure is upset. Alvin (Danny Mummert) drops by and lets Blondie know he heard the argument all the way in his house. Baby Dumpling (Larry Simms) and Alvin begin to use slang, much to the disapproval of Blondie. Dagwood buys a show dog that causes havoc in the Bumstead house. This film does not use the early previews, but the theme song is used this time. The mailman in the film hides up in the tree and we all know why. William Frawley plays a dog owner. This role was 10 years before the "I Love Lucy" tv series. This film is a bit unpleasant at times. Too much serious Bumstead arguing and yelling. Bad writing and directing. But you might like this one if you are a dog lover. The next film in the series is BLONDIE GOES TO COLLEGE.

The Bumsteads mix with the rich and famous in Blondie In Society courtesy of a large Great Dane that Dagwood that astute businessman takes in lieu of $50.00 from Chick Chandler. Surprisingly enough the Bumstead dog Daisy takes to the large newcomer, but Blondie sure doesn't and that is just one element in this rather crazy Bumstead adventure.

The Blondie series always had some great character players in it and in this one three are present and at their best. Edgar Kennedy does his patented slow burn as the veterinarian the dog is in hock to. William Frawley plays a potential J.C. Dithers client who is a fancier of show dogs and wants this one. And Charles Lane plays a most eager washing machine salesman who tries to sell Penny Singleton a new one when the Bumsteads think they are in the chips.

The problem is that this dog won't strut his stuff until it's discovered by Penny Singleton that music perks him up. Her own singing voice and those of the Mitchell Boys Choir makes the Great Dane start acting like a champion.

Blondie In Society is one of the funnier episodes I've seen in the Blondie series and it also exhibits Penny Singleton's singing quite nicely.

So what happened with the title. I must have missed the 'society' that Blondie is supposedly in. Instead the title should be something like Daisy Gets a Big Brother. But whatever the brand, it's still typical Bumstead fun. This time B&D get caught up in a fancy dog show where they all argue over who owns Chin-Up the Great Dane. Is the lucky one Mr. Dithers, Blondie, Dagwood, or about twenty other guys. Everyone's got his cash interest since the dog's a shoo-in for the big purse. Plus B has run-up big debts back when 50-bucks was real money. Nostalgia-wise, I love the 1941 bouncy washing machine that half drowns the Bumstead kitchen. Good thing my mom's worked better.

It's the usual great family antics, including Daisy and the boys. But I miss Dagwood in the latter part when the dog show takes over. His comic interactions with a stern Blondie are, I think, the heart of series success. Anyway, I expect that's Singleton doing her own singing since she started out as a singer. At the same time, I now know why I didn't become a mailman, especially when not even being a tree climber helps. And here's hoping Daisy got extra kibbles and Chin-Up got an extra cattle herd for their expert acting. So, all in all, don't let title expectations deter you. The entry may not be the best, but it's still a Blondie fun-fest.