Blondie Has Servant Trouble (1940)

Mr. Dithers has a house he can't unload because it is rumored to be haunted. When he lets the Bumsteads move into it, they discover sliding panels and secret passages. The haunting is the ... See full summary »

Director:

Frank R. Strayer

Writers:

Richard Flournoy (screenplay), Albert Duffy (story),

Stars:

Penny Singleton, Arthur Lake, Larry Simms

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Penny Singleton	...	Blondie
Arthur Lake	...	Dagwood
Larry Simms	...	Baby Dumpling
Daisy	...	Daisy
Danny Mummert	...	Alvin Fuddle
Jonathan Hale	...	J.C. Dithers
Arthur Hohl	...	Eric Vaughn
Esther Dale	...	Anna Vaughn
Irving Bacon	...	Mailman
Ray Turner	...	Horatio Jones
Walter Soderling	...	Morgan
Fay Helm	...	Mrs. Fuddle

Storyline

Mr. Dithers has a house he can't unload because it is rumored to be haunted. When he lets the Bumsteads move into it, they discover sliding panels and secret passages. The haunting is the work of the butler and his wife who figure the house rightfully belongs to them.

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Plot Keywords:

butler | secret door | based on comic | haunted house | attempted murder | 

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Taglines:

A HOT TIME AHEAD FOR THE BUMSTEADS...BUT A GRAND TIME AHEAD FOR YOU! (original poster - all caps)

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Genres:

Comedy

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

25 July 1940 (USA)

Also Known As:

Blondie Has Trouble

Company Credits

Production Co:

Columbia Pictures Corporation

Technical Specs

Runtime:

70 min 72 min (original US 16 mm television syndication prints)

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Mirrophonic Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The sixth of 28 Blondie movies starring Penny Singleton as Blondie Bumstead and Arthur Lake as Dagwood Bumstead.

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Connections

Follows Blondie (1938)

User Reviews

An Enjoyable Mix of Suspense and Comedy

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.