The alarm clock didn't work so the Bumsteads household is behind schedule this morning. Mr. Dithers (Jonathan Hale) drops by to let Dagwood (Arthur Lake) take over as boss at the office for three weeks. Dagwood must do a favor for the Mayor (Charles Arnt) and hire SGT. McDermott for Mr. Dithers. The only problem is, McDermott is a woman, Betty Jane McDermott (Angelyn Orr). Dagwood out of courtesy must invite her to dinner. As Dagwood already knows, Blondie (Penny Singleton) would be jealous. Yet another new postman (Frank Jenks). This one just out of the Army. He feels he can dodge Dagwood too. Of course he can't. When Dithers comes back, Blondie gets an idea for Dagwood to be boss of his own construction company with Betty Jane's help. This was Jonathan Hale's last time playing Mr. Dithers. Danny Mummert was not in this one. Bob Haymes plays "Johnny Butler". For fun, can you spot the Wonder Bread? The next film in the series is BLONDIE KNOWS BEST.
Add a Review
-
james36200119 December 2003
-
lugonian17 April 2007BLONDIE'S LUCKY DAY (Columbia, 1946), directed by Abby Berlin, the 17th installment on the trials and tribulations of the Bumstead family, may have a "good luck" sounding title to it, however, this being another theatrical episode based on Chic Young's comic strip, is easily an agreeable and amusing chapter. No, the plot doesn't have Blondie reading her horoscope in the newspaper and finding out it's her lucky day, nor one where she has a winning streak at the gambling table. The screenplay centers upon the common trend of the post war era, something borrowed from the likes of Samuel Goldwyn's THE BEST YEARS OF OUR LIVES (1946), as to how the Bumsteads can do their part helping a returning veteran coping with civilian life and a new job to get started again. Unlike carbon copies, BLONDIE'S LUCKY DAY handles itself well in its straight comedy situations.
This time around, Mr. Dithers (Jonathan Hale) leaves his trusted employee, Dagwood Bumstead (Arthur Lake) in charge of the office during his three week absence, thus, finding certain fellow employees, namely Ollie Merlin (Jack Rice), Dagwood's office rival, to take advantage of the situation. As Mayor Richard Denby (Charles Arnt) invites all local businessmen to attend a special seminar, in conclusion asking them to assist returning war veterans by putting them on their payroll and an invitation to dinner. Dagwood, blending in nicely seated between executive-types while attempting to smoke a cigar, is the third in line to hire a vet. Unlike the previous two, Dagwood's soldier turns out to be Sergeant McDervitt, a WAC answering to the name of Betty Jane (Angelyn Orr). Hiring her to work at the Dithers Construction Company is one thing, but taking her home for dinner is another, considering his wife, Blondie's (Penny Singleton) jealous nature. Things work out rather differently as Blondie welcomes her, considering how easily Mary Jane bonds with her children, Alexander (Larry Simms) and Cookie (Marjorie Kent), but once Mr. Dithers returns prematurely from his business trip, and unable to have additional employees on the payroll after losing an account, stirs up an argument between him and Blondie, leading him to dismiss both Dagwood and Mary Jane from the firm. Out of work (again!), Blondie persuades Dagwood to go into business for himself, which he does. Hoping to acquire new clients, he finds one with Jonathan Butler (Robert Stanton), actually mistaking him with the man he should be seeing, his business-minded father, Jonathan Butler Sr. (Paul Harvey). Because Old Man Butler put a stop to his son's allowance due to his carefree extravagances, young Butler masquerades as his father, taking full advantage of Dagwood's hospitality by letting him pay for all the meals at expensive restaurants, and being in good company with the attractive Miss McDervitt. Now being worse off financially that before, especially after Dagwood learns that Butler, who finds his blueprint work to be excellent, is unable to offer him the contract and support needed to succeed. However, Butler advises Dagwood to show his work to his father, but finds he's got stiff competition, Mr. Dithers. "Bloooondie!!!" Aside from the usual antics, BLONDIE'S LUCKY DAY sees the absence of two series regulars: Alvin Fuddow (Danny Mummert), and Mr. Beasley, the postman (Eddie Acuff). Bobby Larson fills in for Alvin in the role of Tommy Cooper, Alexander's new friend on the block for the second time around, while Frank Jenks takes the route as the new postman. Others in the cast include Frank Orth (The Salesman); and John Hamilton (Mr. Emery). At least Daisy is around for moral support and the lifting of her ears as an element of surprise. Robert Stanton and newcomer Angelyn Orr (in her only screen role) make a nice secondary couple without getting in the way of things with the Bumsteads.
In spite of so much yelling this time around, especially between Dithers and Blondie, Dithers does reveal how much respect he has for Blondie (meaning that he's tolerated Dagwood all these years because of her), but due to her interfering, he finds he must stand his ground and do what he feels is right, even firing her husband. This episode does show, for once, Dagwood taking the stand by preventing his wife's interference as he places his hand over her mouth, thus stifling her, before things get any worse. (Hooray for Dagwood!).
What is Blondie's Lucky Day? Probably the day she married Dagwood or possibly the day she was contracted by Columbia to appear in her own film series. BLONDIE'S LUCKY DAY, formerly a Sunday highlight on American Movie Classics from 1996 to 2000, was formerly available on video cassette through King Feature. Next in the series: BLONDIE KNOWS BEST (1946) (***) -
planktonrules13 August 2017I have noticed that the last few Blondie & Dagwood film titles have had absolutely nothing to do with the plots of the movies...nothing. In this case, "Blondie's Lucky Day" is completely ill-named as there really isn't anything lucky going on in this one...and what luck there is turns out to be mostly bad!
When the film begins, Mr. Dithers tells Dagwood he's in charge of the office for the next three weeks, as he's going out of town. Soon after, the Mayor asks Dagwood to come to a meeting of the top businessmen in the city. There, a pitch is made to hire some recently returned vets. Dagwood apprehensively agrees...and ends up hiring a pretty ex-WAC, as she is also an architect. When Dithers returns early (since his business deal fell through) he doesn't listen to Dagwood about this new hire and is very angry. Blondie is there and instead of explaining why the lady was hired, she quits for Dagwood!! The rest of the film consists of Dagwood trying, mostly in vain, to make a go of it with his own company...with the WAC as his sole employee.
This is a very good episode, though you feel a bit sorry for Dagwood. Sure, he's a total idiot (as usual) but Blondie was awful making him quit his job with no real prospects. Still, like all there films things seem to work out and it is enjoyable...mostly because you like the characters. -
It's obvious that both Blondie and Dagwood aren't exactly valadectory material. Their sensibilities usually aide the other one from their lack of sensibilities, and here, Dagwood ends up in trouble for one of Blondie's real goofs. She's responsible for Dagwood being fired after an argument with Mr. Dithers and manipulates Dagwood into starting his own construction business which puts him at odds with Dithers over the desire to sign on businessman Paul Harvey for a construction job.
This occurs as a result of Harvey's playboy son Bob Haymes pretending to want to sign Dagwood to a contract just so Dagwood will pay for his nights out partying after his father disowns them. There's also the pretty Angelyn Orr as an army sergeant with expertise in the construction field whom Dagwood hires without Mr. Dithers' permission, at first making Blondie jealous. That dissipates when Blondie realizes what a nice lady Orr really is, leading to a funny and sweet scene when Orr's tears in thanking the Bumsteads for welcoming her into their home has the entire family sobbing over their soup.
Another very funny scene has Dagwood pretending to be a muscle man masseur who accidentally causes Harvey, Jonathan Hale and Haymes to pass out when he pinches a nerve on their neck. The police arrived at the secretary's request and think the Dagwood is a strangler! of course, everything works out for the best and Blondie proves herself to be a hysterically funny hypocrite when, after insinuating that she never interferes in her husband's career, makes all sorts of demands for Dagwood to be hired back. There's very little of the children and the delightful Daisy in this entry, but that's okay because the film is actually quite entertaining on its own. -
This is an excellent Blondie in the series! Everyone is involved for this very funny venture of Dagwood into his own private business.
The trouble starts when Mr. Dithers leaves Dagwodd in charge while he goes out of town on business. Dagwood hires a woman soldier, and Dithers returns early - of course Dag gets fired. Blondie, he and Sergeant McDermott start their own firm and the fun begins. They encounter Mr. Butler, not realising who he really is. More fun occurs when Dagwood poses as Dagger Mike to get the contract from the real Mr. Butler! -
bkoganbing10 January 2016Things got a bit too silly in Blondie's Lucky Day. Usually she's the sensible one. But in this case she's the one who gets Dagwood fired once again from the J.C. Dithers Construction Company. All in a good cause mind you, the cause of the advancement of women in the work place.
You'd think Jonathan Hale would learn not to leave Arthur Lake in charge. Lake feeling a little social pressure to hire returning veterans hires shapely and beautiful former WAC Angelyn Orr who has a degree in architecture.
Penny Singleton who is usually quite jealous about other females near her man welcomes Orr into the Bumstead home and takes up her cause. Because when Hale returns home and finds a woman doing 'man's work Blondie manages to get Dagwood fired as well as Orr. Usually Dagwood manages that on his own.
Dagwood also forms the Bumstead Construction company with Orr and looks to snare client Paul Harvey from the grasp of J.C. Dithers. How it all works out is for you to see the film for. But let's say Dagwood learns there's a lot more to business than just being good at your work.
Fans of the series should be pleased. -
This is the seventeenth in the Blondie movie series. In this one, Mr. Dithers is going to be gone for three weeks so Dagwood is to take his place in the interim. The town mayor arrives at the building and invites Dag to a meeting to help returning veterans get a job. The vet Dag ends up inviting to his house is a former WAC-yes, a woman. So yes, Blondie initially gets jealous but that ends quickly. What doesn't is Dag's firing due to Mr. Dithers returning so soon because a deal he was supposed to make fell through and he had to let some people go and also because of Dag's hiring of Betty Jane (Angelyn Orr) in his stead! There's a lot more than that but I'll just say this was another highly funny ep of the Blondie series as well as a pretty touching one dealing with the post-war situation. P.S. This was Bobby Larson's second stint in the series as Alexander's friend, Tommy Cooper. And Frank Jenks plays the bumped-into postman in this one.
-
JohnHowardReid11 November 2017Penny Singleton (Blondie), Arthur Lake (Dagwood), Larry Simms (Alexander), Marjorie Kent (Cookie), Robert Stanton (Johnny), Angelyn Orr (Mary Jane), Jonathan Hale (J. C. Dithers), Paul Harvey (Mr Butler), Bobby Larson (Tommy), Jack Rice (Ollie), Charles Arnt (mayor), Margie Liszt (Mary), Frank Orth (salesman), Frank Jenks (postman), and "Daisy".
Director: ABBY BERLIN. Original screenplay: Connie Lee. Based on characters created by Chic Young. Photography: L.W. O'Connell. Film editor: Aaron Stell. Art director: Perry Smith. Set decorator: Herman Schoenbrun. Music director: Mischa Bakaleinikoff. Producer: Burt Kelly.
Copyright 4 April 1946 by Columbia Pictures Corp. No New York opening. U.S. release: 4 April 1946. U.K. release: 10 June 1946. Australian release: 15 August 1946. 7 reels. 6,215 feet. 69 minutes.
SYNOPSIS: Lake takes over the office in the boss' absence and hires a former WAC (Orr). Predictable complications ensue which leave Lake and the WAC unemployed. The Bumsteads start their own business and soon Lake is back at his old job.
NOTES: Number 17 of the 28-picture series.
COMMENT: I tuned in on this one 30 minutes in, and I was glad I did, even though I did miss Larry Simms, Marjorie Kent, Frank Jenks and Charles Arnt who don't appear in the last 45 minutes at all. I can't imagine what Jenks and Arnt played, but when I tuned in, the story as usual was just getting started. With lots of explanatory dialogue for the benefit of latecomers like myself, I had absolutely no difficulty in immediately picking up the threads of the story, such as it is. The plot seemed even slighter than usual — and considerably less believable. Also production values were extremely tight with each scene elongated far beyond its natural running time, exaggerated and held-too-long reaction shots, a montage routine of neon lights and stock footage revolving around an iris of the romantic couple dancing — making do for a round of nightclubs, and only 3 or 4 small sets used for the entire 45 minutes.
Miss Singleton was showing her age and the support cast was not particularly interesting; the sub-heroine was not bad looking but we saw very little of her; Mr. Lake seemed even more inept than usual due to the witlessness of his material; Paul Harvey is his usual shouting self as Butler Senior; and nice to see Ralph Dunn as the 1st Cop.
Butler Junior is not badly played — we like the way he is introduced lounging in a chair, his feet up on the desk, his hat pulled way over his face and puffing a cigarette. This was the one bright touch in Abby Berlin's direction which seemed even less interesting than it was in his previous film" Life With Blondie", making extensive use of superfluous reaction shots, dull medium close-ups and, like his predecessor Frank Strayer, eschewing reverse angles. Berlin's visual style is as dull, routine and unstylish as a series of amateur snapshots of mum and dad at home.
Jonathan Hale makes his 2nd last appearance as Mr. Dithers and though he tries hard to warm up to the role he is still so obviously and glaringly miscast, it seems incredible that this was the 17th film in the series.
So far as the last 45 minutes of the film are concerned, there is virtually no action — it is dialogue all the way and there is virtually no climax to speak of. Maybe they blew all the budget for this one on the first half-hour which I missed. The last 45 minutes must be one of the cheapest ever made for a series whose budgets, even by "B" standards, were never particularly high.
P.S. I have now seen the first 30 minutes of this film. Production values are as minimal, the "humor" as witless, the direction as inept and the acting as jejeune as in the last 45 minutes. -
dougdoepke25 April 2019So Dagwood can be a true executive if only he can remember to put his pants on. Then too don't let him pick up the check at a fancy restaurant unless you have ear-muffs on. For geezers like me, the series brings back long ago memories, like going through an operator to make a phone call, or welcoming home vets from the war. Speaking of vets, after seeing Sgt. McDermott I think I'll re-enlist, post-haste.
It's a typical B&D funfest though the material slows down a bit toward the end. Seems Dagwood starts up his own construction co. after Dithers fires him. Now if he can just get Butler Sr. to check out his theater plans, his budding enterprise will get a big boost. Good thing there's a Butler Jr. and the cute Sergeant to help rescue his bumbling ways. Of course Blondie's amusingly on hand to stiffen hubby's spine, while Daisy and puppy crew complement the hijinks. Looks like this is actress Orr's only performance (IMDB). Too bad, because she's perfect as the affable army girl, and wholesomely lovely, to boot.
Looks like this series installment was produced at WWII's end with its emphasis on jobs for returning vets. Note too how well the various antics are blended into the whole, none lasting too long or with too much talk. Thus things seldom drag, though the laughs may slow as the comedic material ebbs. The results may not be art, but they do reflect excellent craftsmanship.
Anyway, it's hard to go wrong with one of the best comedy series of that time or any time, as this installment shows.