Footlight Glamour

FOOTLIGHT GLAMOUR (Columbia, 1943), featuring Blondie and the Bumsteads, directed by Frank R. Strayer, is the 14th chapter in the popular "Blondie" feature film series, the second and last without Blondie's name in the title. It was originally intended as the final installment, however, due to the popularity of the series, Columbia revived the series with 14 more installments to come starting in 1945.

In FOOTLIGHT GLAMOUR, Blondie (Penny Singleton) and her spouse, Dagwood (Arthur Lake) help out a client's daughter by taking part in a dramatic play titled "Mad Moonlight" written by show-biz hopeful Vicki Wheeler (Ann Savage), daughter of Randolph Wheeler (Thurston Hall), a show-business hating client of Dagwood's boss, Mr. Dithers (Jonathan Hale), who has Vicki stay at the Bumstead household in order to keep her away from her no-good boyfriend, Jerry Grant (Rafael Storm). Jerry, however, manages to find her and appear in her play anyway. Also appearing in Vicki's play are Cora Dithers (Grace Hayle) as the maid, and Mr. Crum, the neighborhood postman, (Irving Bacon) playing the English butler, etc., with boy "genius" Alvin Fuddow (Danny Mummert) helping out with the sound effects. But the dramatic play accidentally turns out to be a comedy hit with the audience, thanks to Dagwood's bumbling, which includes him walking on stage only to have a trap door open from under him, and in true silent comedian Harold Lloyd fashion, Dagwood later acquires a dinner jacket belonging to a magician and unwittingly does some magic tricks. The curtain also falls on top of Dagwood moments later to have only his head seen visible below as he calls out for "BLOONDIE!!!" During the course of all this, Dithers tries to prevent Mr. Wheeler from finding out about his daughter's play being in production, but in spite of everything going wrong, things become right again in typical Bumstead fashion.

In smaller roles, Larry Simms and Marjorie Ann Mutchie return as the Bumstead children, Alexander and Cookie, along with Daisy, the Bumstead pooch, up to "her" old tricks again to obtain laughs. Some good humor among the footlights can be had in this average comedy. Formerly shown on the American Movie Classics channel from 1996 to 2001, "Footlight Glamour" can be found on either video cassette or the DVD format.(**)

The titles to the Blondie & Dagwood movies usually had the word 'Blondie' in it...but not this one. So, it's easy to not know it's in the series if you casually see it in a programming guide. It's a shame, as it's a very good entry and shouldn't be missed by fans.

When the film begins, Blondie is talking about food shortages, rationing and points used to buy groceries. This is because the film was made during WWII and many foods and consumer items were doled out to the public in small amounts because so much was going to the war effort. This is why, late in the film, the cab drivers refuse to go faster than 35 mph...all to help conserve fuel for the war!

The plot involves Mr. Dithers being stuck with some houses he cannot easily sell. This is because he thought a munitions factory was going to be built nearby and the workers would need homes. But the government changed their mind and built elsewhere. The arrival of one of Dithers' old friends, Mr. Wheeler, looks promising, as Wheeler could build a plant in town for his tool company...so Dithers really is out to impress him. He then enlists the help of Dagwood to take care of Wheeler's daughter, Vicki. Dagwood assumes she's a little girl, but she's actually an attractive young woman who wants to be a movie star. She only agrees to live with the Bumsteads because she incorrectly assumes Dagwood is in the movie business.

Vicki isn't to be deterred once she realizes her mistake and soon enlists Blondie AND Dagwood to appear in the play she's written...and her father HATES that she wants to be an actress. So Dagwood is confused...he wants to make Mr. Wheeler happy AND Vicki. What is he to do? And, what will happen if her father learns that she's putting on a play with the Bumsteads AND Mrs. Dithers in it?!

This is a cute little film...a welcome addition to the series. While it's far from the best, it's still solidly entertaining and worth your time.

This is a pretty good Blondie in the series - it combines life in the Depression era, comedy, and a rare appearance of Mrs. Dithers.

Mr. Dithers has a friend whose daughter is "obsessed" with being in the theatre. Naturally, he volunteers Dagwood to take care of her while he and his friend conduct business. The Bumsteads get involved in her schemes to bring the theatre to their town. Among those involved in her production for the USO is Mr. Crum, and Mrs. Dithers. This is funny and gets you into the theatre production literally.

A little bit of Arthur Lake (as Dagwood or anybody else) is more than enough, and usually too much, but this entry, set in mid-WW II,ranks as one of the best in the series, especially in the segments involving the stage play, and more so when Jonathan Withers and Thurston Hall stroll across the stage totally unaware a live play is being presented.

Outrageous, again with Dagwood trying to impress a client -- this time the man's daughter, played by Ann Savage, shortly before her landmark role in DETOUR.

Exceptionally written by both Karen DeWolf and Connie Lee, who would continue writing for the series after DeWolf left to handle other film projects and tv.

Thurston Hall plays Mr. Wheeler, a wealthy client of Dithers who wants to get down to business, only to have his daughter, Vicky (Ann Savage), a stage actress, causing all sorts of trouble with a play. Naturally, to keep Vicky happy, Dagwood and Blondie get into the amateur production along with Mr. Dithers and his wife(?), also and Mr. Crumb, the mailman (Irving Bacon). This was Bacon's final appearance in the series, who went on to guest star in many classic films.

The goofy stage play is a gem; everything that could go wrong goes wrong, and Dagwood is bananas. Nobody could hold this together better than Arthur Lake, and Ann Savage is just as good playing the spoiled daughter.

Grace Hayle plays Mrs. Dithers. Known for THE GREAT DICTATOR playing Madame Napaloni. It's a shame she did not return to the series. Rafael Alcayde plays Jerry, Vicky's beau, and Elspeth Dudgeon plays Frances, a staple in many films, generally as kindly seniors and grandmothers.

Best line department; Vicky walks into the house, looking stunning. Alexander points to her and says... "Mommy. Its that Daddy's bonus?

10 Stars just for that line.

Note, Columbia Pictures was losing interest in the series (cutting down on releases) and cancelled it after this episode. However, due to the sucess of the radio show and many letters written in by fans, the series was renewed the following year with LEAVE IT TO BLONDIE.

Always on dvd in box sets, or you can buy each episode individually. Thanks always to MOVIES Net for running these oldies Saturday mornings.