Blond Cheat (1938)

Socially prominent Michael Ashburn, is the chief assistant to Rufus Trent, wealthy London loan broker. He has allowed himself to become engaged to the Rufus' daughter, Roberta, the match ... See full summary »

Director:

Joseph Santley

Writers:

Aladar Laszlo (original story), Charles Kaufman (screenplay),

Stars:

Joan Fontaine, Derrick De Marney, Cecil Kellaway

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Joan Fontaine	...	Julie Evans
Derrick De Marney	...	Michael Ashburn (as Derrick deMarney)
Cecil Kellaway	...	Rufus Trent
Cecil Cunningham	...	Genevieve Trent
Lilian Bond	...	Roberta Trent
Robert Coote	...	Gilbert Potts
Olaf Hytten	...	Paul Douglas
John Sutton	...	Fred Percy
Gerald Hamer	...	Waiter

Storyline

Socially prominent Michael Ashburn, is the chief assistant to Rufus Trent, wealthy London loan broker. He has allowed himself to become engaged to the Rufus' daughter, Roberta, the match engineered primarily by socially-ambitious Mrs. Trent. As Michael is closing the shop in the late afternoon, a man named Douglas takes out a large loan, using his niece's (Julie Evans) earring as a deposit. He scurries right off with the money but, to his dismay, Michael finds that the earrings are fastened to Julie's ears and can not be removed. Much to his socially-prominent position he is very disgusted as he must now keep a guard of her. Soon, he finds himself in jail and Julie has his flat keys. Julie spends the night in his flat, and Michael gets out of jail in time to hurry home where Julie is just leaving. His fiancée Roberta shows up, and Roberta isn't thrilled to find another woman leaving Michael's apartment early in the morning, so the engagement is broken. This delights her father. ...

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Plot Keywords:

jail | earring | loan | scheme | apartment | 

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Taglines:

A HAPPY BLEND OF BLACKMAIL, ROBBERY, TEACHERY AND LOVE! (original poster-all caps)

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Genres:

Comedy | Music | Romance

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

17 June 1938 (USA)

Also Known As:

Penhor da Discórdia

Company Credits

Production Co:

RKO Radio Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

62 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Victor System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Quotes

Gilbert Potts: Oh, I'm sorry. You don't like being called Mike, do you? Mind if I call you Ashy?
Michael Reginald 'Mike' Ashburn: Not at all, Potty.

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Soundtracks

"The Little Brown Jug"
(1869) (uncredited)
Music and Lyrics by Joseph Winner
Sung a cappella by Cecil Kellaway

User Reviews

Fontaine of Love

London "Trafalgar Loan Co." worker Derrick DeMarney (as Michael "Mike" Ashburn) must hold pretty young Joan Fontaine (as Juliette "Julie" Evans) for collateral against her uncle's £400 loan, due to an expensive pair of diamond earrings she wears. Ms. Fontaine claims the earrings have grown into her lobes, through excessive wear. Mr. DeMarney is engaged to boss Cecil Kellaway (as Rufus Trent)'s beautiful daughter, Lilian Bond (as Roberta Trent). Naturally, Fontaine and DeMarney find themselves becoming more and more attracted to each other.

Fontaine looks very beautiful, as photographed by Roy Hunt; early on, she looks especially lovely in an "magnifying glass" shot. The film is a fairly routine "programmer". But, it features some cute scenes, and gets funnier in the second half; the London setting, and British cast, help. Fontaine gets to perform the musical number "It Must Be Love". No threat to Alice Faye or Ginger Rogers, Fontaine is better with the comedy; but, she would soon find her greatest success with drama. Everything ends up as you'd expect. A livelier ending might have helped it add up to something more.

**** Blond Cheat (1938) Joseph Santley ~ Joan Fontaine, Derrick De Marney, Cecil Kellaway