Not only do they steal every scene that they are in, but Daisy and little Larry Simms also come off as smarter than the adults in this opening to the long-running comedy series based upon the comic strip that is still run today. Certainly, Penny Singleton and Arthur Lake are perfectly cast as Blondie and Dagwood, but their brains together don't equal the obvious intelligence of the crafty "Baby Dumpling", not to mention their adorable dog, Daisy. The first entry of the series lacks much of the slapstick of the later films, but at just 72 minutes (including an opening preview of what's to follow), who can quibble? The prints available are based upon the T.V. packaging which made it appear more like lengthy sitcom episodes rather than old movies. Not to mention that horrible song seemingly written for these movies which apparently Singleton and Lake reunited for since the series had just ended after a 12 year run in 1950. Only "The Bowery Boys", in all their different variations, would outlast them, but by 1950, with T.V. coming in, most of the series films had run their course, although some of them would end up in T.V. in one form or another.
The first "Blondie" film has them about to celebrate their fifth wedding anniversary and the confusion which follows when Dagwood helps out an eccentric hotel guest (Gene Lockhart) try to fix a vacuum cleaner. Lockhart has a beautiful daughter (Ann Doran) who answers the phone when Singleton tries to get ahold of Lake in the hotel suite, making her jump to conclusions. Of course, this is a sitcom, and such situations, usually fixed within the commercial filled half hour, take over an hour in the movie, which does not include commercials.
The best moments feature the adorable Simms who is so practical a tot that he goes automatically to the chair in the corner to sit, knowing he's done something bad. The victim of Simms' pranks is usually Danny Mummert, the equally adorable tot next door who is just as prankish as Simms. Lake is pretty funny in the scene where he helps Lockhart "borrow" the vacuum cleaner from porter Willie Best, sneaking it up the stairs as if he was an astronaut out to put the American flag on the moon.
While Jonathan Hale is imperious as Dagwood's boss, you can tell he's going to lighten up as the series goes on, perhaps to the point of becoming a buffoon. Such familiar character players as Irving Bacon, Charles Lane, James Flavin and Ian Wolfe pop in and out for smaller roles. The film has a few amusing moments but not much more, and while 30's and 40's audiences may have loved Blondie, she wouldn't compare to that redhead taking over the airwaves as the series ended who showed audiences what wacky situation comedy was all about.
The first "Blondie" film has them about to celebrate their fifth wedding anniversary and the confusion which follows when Dagwood helps out an eccentric hotel guest (Gene Lockhart) try to fix a vacuum cleaner. Lockhart has a beautiful daughter (Ann Doran) who answers the phone when Singleton tries to get ahold of Lake in the hotel suite, making her jump to conclusions. Of course, this is a sitcom, and such situations, usually fixed within the commercial filled half hour, take over an hour in the movie, which does not include commercials.
The best moments feature the adorable Simms who is so practical a tot that he goes automatically to the chair in the corner to sit, knowing he's done something bad. The victim of Simms' pranks is usually Danny Mummert, the equally adorable tot next door who is just as prankish as Simms. Lake is pretty funny in the scene where he helps Lockhart "borrow" the vacuum cleaner from porter Willie Best, sneaking it up the stairs as if he was an astronaut out to put the American flag on the moon.
While Jonathan Hale is imperious as Dagwood's boss, you can tell he's going to lighten up as the series goes on, perhaps to the point of becoming a buffoon. Such familiar character players as Irving Bacon, Charles Lane, James Flavin and Ian Wolfe pop in and out for smaller roles. The film has a few amusing moments but not much more, and while 30's and 40's audiences may have loved Blondie, she wouldn't compare to that redhead taking over the airwaves as the series ended who showed audiences what wacky situation comedy was all about.