Blondie on a Budget (1940)

Dagwood wants to join the trout club and Blondie wants a fur coat. Jealousy reigns when Dag's old girlfriend Joan shows up, but nothing else matters when a drawing at the movie theatre provides money for the coat.

Director:

Frank R. Strayer

Writers:

Richard Flournoy (screenplay), Charles M. Brown (story) (as Charles Molyneux Brown)

Stars:

Penny Singleton, Arthur Lake, Larry Simms

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Penny Singleton	...	Blondie Bumstead
Arthur Lake	...	Dagwood Bumstead
Larry Simms	...	Baby Dumpling Bumstead
Daisy	...	Daisy
Rita Hayworth	...	Joan Forrester
Danny Mummert	...	Alvin Fuddle
Don Beddoe	...	Marvin Williams
John Qualen	...	Mr. Ed Fuddle
Fay Helm	...	Mrs. Fuddle
Irving Bacon	...	Mailman
Thurston Hall	...	Brice
William Brisbane	...	Theatre Manager

Storyline

Dagwood wants to join the trout club and Blondie wants a fur coat. Jealousy reigns when Dag's old girlfriend Joan shows up, but nothing else matters when a drawing at the movie theatre provides money for the coat.

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Plot Keywords:

jealousy | club | fur | fifth part | false accusation | 

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Taglines:

Balance your fun budget.

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Genres:

Comedy

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

29 February 1940 (USA)

Also Known As:

Blondie redder Pelsen

Filming Locations:

Columbia Pictures, Sunset Boulevard & Gower Street, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Columbia Pictures Corporation

Technical Specs

Runtime:

72 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Mirrophonic Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The fifth of twenty-eight Blondie movies, all starring Penny Singleton as Blondie Bumstead and Arthur Lake as Dagwood Bumstead released by Columbia Pictures from 1938 to 1950.

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Goofs

Dagwood berates Daisy for being a female, but when Daisy later jumps up on a chair, the dog is clearly shown to be a male.

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Connections

Follows Blondie Brings Up Baby (1939)

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Soundtracks

Tell Me
(Foxtrot) (uncredited)
Music by Paul Mertz

User Reviews

Plenty of Daffy Fun

Rita Hayworth and Dagwood-that's like pairing Miss America with Daffy Duck-- all for comedy fun of course. It's the usual delightful Bumstead hijinks. Seems Blondie thinks hubby is really attracted to the beauteous Joan (Hayworth) who appears to be hanging around him. Too bad everything poor Dagwood does just seems to get him in deeper with Blondie. But, really, he just wants to go fishing, if only he can get the $200 Trout Club fee. At the same time, Blondie's got her eye on a $200 fur coat. Trouble is where will either get the money since their budget is strapped. Looks like real problems for the lovable couple.

It's a comically addled Dagwood along with a sternly humorous Blondie. Together they deliver the goods fans expect from the long-running series. But mustn't forget four-footed Daisy who deserved extra kibbles for her great acting, which really is a wonder. Also, the toddlers, Dumpling and Alvin, add happily to the mix. But just as important are how these comedic elements are combined by the director, editor, and writers. Typically, Dagwood will do something silly, Blondie will cast a reproving eye, Daisy will flop over, while Dumpling will say something cute. Thus, Dagwood's funny antic is made more so, thanks to an unsung production crew.

Too bad a family series like this never got the industry recognition it richly deserved. Blondie On A Budget shows again that the Oscars needed a category for lightweight budget films. Anyway, here's my statuette for whatever its worth.