Blondie Knows Best (1946)
Directed by Abby Berlin
Genres - Comedy |
Sub-Genres - Screwball Comedy, Workplace Comedy, Domestic Comedy |
Release Date - Oct 17, 1946 (USA - Unknown) |
Run Time - 69 min. |
Countries - United States |
MPAA Rating - NR
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Synopsis by Hal Erickson
Blondie Knows Best was writer/director Edward Bernds' first entry in the long-running "Blondie" series, and arguably his funniest. The story contrives to have Dagwood Bumstead (Arthur Lake) pose as his boss Mr. Dithers (Jonathan Hale) so that a big business deal can be consummated while Dithers avoids nearsighted process server Jim Gray (Shemp Howard). The upshot of all this is that Dagwood ends up in a lunatic asylum, forcing Blondie (Penny Singleton) to come to the rescue. Ed Bernds was a big fan of comedian Shemp Howard (whom he'd directed in several Columbia 2-reelers) and accordingly he gives Shemp free reign in his scenes, resulting in some hystericially funny moments. Blondie Knows Best represented Jonathan Hale's farewell to the series; in the next entry, Blondie's Big Moment, he would be replaced by Jerome Cowan as Mr. Radcliffe.
Characteristics
Keywords
assumed-identity, asylum [mental hospital], boss [employer], deception, husband-and-wife, misunderstanding