Blondie Johnson (1933)

Story of a Depression-downtrodden waif who uses her brains instead of her body to rise from tyro con artist to crime boss.

Directors:

Ray Enright, Lucien Hubbard (uncredited)

Writers:

Earl Baldwin (story), Earl Baldwin (screenplay)

Stars:

Joan Blondell, Chester Morris, Allen Jenkins

Cast

Cast overview:
Joan Blondell	...	Blondie Johnson
Chester Morris	...	Danny Jones
Allen Jenkins	...	Louie
Earle Foxe	...	Al Scannel
Claire Dodd	...	Gladys LaMann
Mae Busch	...	Mae
Joseph Cawthorn	...	Jewelry Store Manager (as Joe Cawthorn)
Olin Howland	...	Eddie
Sterling Holloway	...	Red Charley
Toshia Mori	...	Lulu
Arthur Vinton	...	Max Wagner
Donald Kirke	...	Joe

Storyline

Story of a Depression-downtrodden waif who uses her brains instead of her body to rise from tyro con artist to crime boss.

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Plot Keywords:

character name as title | two word title | female protagonist | gangster | 

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Taglines:

Here she is...Miss Public Enemy No. 1! (Newspaper ad cut).

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Genres:

Crime | Drama

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Certificate:

Passed

Did You Know?

Trivia

This film has been preserved by the Library of Congress.

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Goofs

When Blondie is talking to Danny at his apartment, she is reclining on the sofa with her legs stretched out straight. But on the next immediate cut when Danny confronts her; she is now sitting up with her legs in a folded position.

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Quotes

Danny Jones: I like you too much to let you fool yourself. Max is on to you. He don't like you at all. He told me to drop you.
Blondie Johnson: Drop me?
Danny Jones: Yeah. He thinks you're too smart. I ain't got any use for dames without ears.

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Connections

Featured in Public Enemies: The Golden Age of the Gangster Film (2008)

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Soundtracks

Don't You Remember Me
(uncredited)
Music by Sam H. Stept
Played during the opening photo credits
Also played when Danny and Blondie first meet and often in the score

User Reviews

Atypical Tough "Gal" Gangster Movie

Here is a Pre-Code Gangster Movie with, wait for it, a Female Mob Boss. There is an Interracial Couple (Japanese/White), a Low-Cut Peek at Joan Blondell, and some Bullet Blood. That's about it for the Pre-Code Highlights although there is some Bedroom Banter that would Later become Taboo. A Friend asks "Blondie, why don't you give him a tumble?" for Example.

It's got typical Warner Bros. Snappy Patter and Chester Morris' forever present Dangling Cigarette is Stereotypically "charming". The Script Employs a Clever Con on a Jewelry Store, some Hard-Boiled Inner-Gang Violence and Always has Blondie with the Upper Hand.

Another Highlight in this Atypical Depression Era Movie is when Blondie gets Frisked by a Cop "Woman", She finds a small caliber pistol Tucked Away very close to a Forbidden Location, that even in a Pre-Coder is Rarely Referenced or given any Attention, and the Scene does not Shy away from the Search as the Dyke like Cop has Her Hands right where they don't Belong.

Worth a Watch for its Decisively Differentness and the Always Pleasing to the Eye Joan Blondell, where She, not Only Her Character, more than Holds Her Own with Her Tough Guy Companions.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

25 February 1933 (USA)

Also Known As:

Blondie Johnson

Filming Locations:

Union Station - 50 Massachusetts Avenue NE, Washington, District of Columbia, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$151,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

First National Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

67 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1