BLONDIE'S HOLIDAY (Columbia, 1947), directed by Abby Berlin, the 20th installment to the popular series based on Chic Young's comic strip, is another agreeable programmer revolving around the day and the life of the Bumstead family, particularly Blondie and Dagwood. While Dagwood situations involve him getting fired again (nothing new here), Blondie takes time making arrangements for her upcoming class reunion (a new premise this time) and a thrill of meeting with her former classmates again. With the Bumstead children, Alexander (Larry Simms) and Cookie (Marjorie Kent), still around for moral support, BLONDIE'S HOLIDAY sees the absence of two series regulars: Daisy, the Bumstead dog, replaced temporarily by Elmer and "her" other pups; and next door neighbor, Alvin Fuddow (Danny Mummert),substituted once more by Bobby Larson as Tommy Cooper for the third and final time. As with the Alvin character, Tommy, being Alexander's other close friend, is also an intellectual with bright ideas.
Speaking of bright ideas, the story opens with Mr. Beasley (Eddie Acuff), the neighborhood postman, coming up with a new scheme of avoiding getting run down by Dagwood (Arthur Lake) as he does nearly on a daily basis, by giving the letters to one of Daisy's off-springs, Elmer. The postman lucks out this time around, as Dagwood, late for work as usual, rushes out of the house and into Blondie's former suitor, Paul Madison (Jeff York) whose come over to discuss matters involving the upcoming class reunion, instead. During the meeting with other former classmates, Bea Mason (Anne Nagel) and Cynthia Thompson(Jody Gilbert), all wanting to make this Class of 1932 reunion a success, they appoint Dagwood to pay for dinner arrangements, especially after overhearing Blondie's telephone conversation with her spouse of obtaining a $250 raise (unaware that he meant $2.50). During his day at the office, Dagwood accompanies his boss,George M. Radcliffe (Jerome Cowan) for an interview with bank president, Samuel Breckenridge (Grant Mitchell), to get his account and hoping to convince him to demolish the existing bank building, erected 1887, for a more modern one. The bank is not only falling apart, but staffed by elderly employees. Although Breckenridge is satisfied in leaving things the way they are, it is Dagwood's insistence by pounding on his desk(causing the ceiling plaster to fall on his head) does Breckenridge readily agrees to come to terms. For a job well done, Radcliffe rewards Dagwood with the raise as previously mentioned. The raise doesn't cut it, since Dagwood is to pay for Blondie's class reunion dinner. To obtain some extra money for the event, Dagwood encounters Pete Brody (Sid Tomack),a bookie, who guides him to an off-track betting facility. Accidentally placing $200 on a horse that hasn't a chance to win, it comes in first place. The very moment Dagwood is to collect his winnings at the window, the police break down the door and raid the place. During the commotion while everyone makes a hasty departure, Dagwood risks getting captured in order to help a sweet little old lady (Mary Young), unable to climb over the counter, to make her escape. Learning of the incident and his arrest, Radcliffe fires Dagwood, leaving Blondie at the class reunion holding the check, waiting for Dagwood to show up with the cash or else face some embarrassment from her classmates.
Aside from being an amusing story, energetic acting by its leading players, along with some good site gags, BLONDIE'S HOLIDAY is also redeemed with the presence of fine character actors, namely Grant Mitchell, a former contract player from Warner Brothers of the 1930s, as the old-fashioned thinking bank president. Others featured in the cast are Alyn Lockwood as Mary, the operator; Jack Rice as Ollie Merlin, Radcliffe's "Yes" man put for Dagwood's job; Tim Ryan as Mike, the bookie, among others.
And what's become of Daisy? According to the scenario, the Bumstead pooch is spending a few days in the kennel for a medical checkup, while in reality, was appearing in a motion picture outside the series titled IT'S A JOKE, SON (Eagle-Lion, 1947) starring Kenny Delmar and Una Merkel. As for Danny Mummert, he was taking time from his Alvin Fuddow role playing a crippled teenager in MAGIC TOWN (RKO Radio, 1947) starring James Stewart and Jane Wyman.
BLONDIE'S HOLIDAY, along with 27 others in the series, formerly distributed on video cassette through King Features, had a successful run on American Movie Classics cable channel (1996-2000). Next installment: BLONDIE IN THE DOUGH (1947) featuring the return of Daisy. (**1/2)
