Blonde Inspiration

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.

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.

Fun little film mocks the writing profession. The film's title is a puzzle, because the nice-to-look-at Virginia Grey doesn't seem blonde (although she was in real life). Both Shelton and Grey are pretty cute as the leads, and Donald Meek plays a brash alcoholic pulp writer in an unusual role for him. Albert Dekker is good as the fast-talking boss. But don't look for any Berkely touches, this must have been during his sleep-directing period.

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".

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.