BLONDIE'S HERO (Columbia, 1950), directed by Edward Bernds, is the next to last chapter in the long running domestic comedy series featuring those comic strip characters, the Bumstead family, as created by Chic Young.
In this 27th installment, BLONDIE'S HERO takes a different turn from the previous entries. This time Dagwood (Arthur Lake) is not at the office nor is he getting fired from his job only to make amends for his blundering with an important client. The office is presently closed and Dagwood is at home trying the patience of ever-patient spouse, Blondie (Penny Singleton). During his time off, Dagwood starts off his day by taking Daisy and the pups out for a walk about the neighborhood. As Daisy starts sniffing some fruit stacked on a stand on the street corner, the angry vendor (Ted Mapes) kicks the pooch and socks Dagwood down as he tries to defend his dog. With the incident witnessed by Sergeant Gateson (Joseph Sawyer), he tells him that an incident like that could have been handled differently had he not been so weak with his fists. The tough sergeant then convinces the out-of-shape Dagwood to enlist in the reserves for the weekend, where he can strengthen himself both physically and mentally. Before taking that advise, Dagwood comes to the bank where he makes his final payment on the house. He is then overheard and approached by Marty Greer (William Frawley), a con man posing as a real estate agent who interests him into selling his home at a profit to him. The ever trusting Dagwood is talked into the idea, and since the home will be empty one day during the weekend, he entrusts him with his house key. After Dagwood goes into the Army reserves, he is guided by Sergeant Gateson's all-knowing pre-teen son, Danny (Teddy Infuhr) who trains him in the correct manner. During the weekend, Blondie (Penny Singleton), along with the children, Alexander (Larry Simms) and Cookie (Marjorie Kent) pay Dagwood a visit at the training camp, with Mary (Alyn Lockwood) of Dagwood's office, as their driver. After they return home, the Bumsteads not only find that their home has been sold while they were away, now with new owners already taking residence, but that Dagwood has been swindled(!).
The supporting players in this production include: Danny Mummert as Alvin Fuddow; Iris Adrian as Mae; Frank Jenks as Tim; Edward Earle and Mary Newton as Richard and Mrs. Rogers; Robert Emmett Keane as Mr. Collins; Jimmy Lloyd as Biff; and Dick Wessel as the Mailman. William Frawley makes his third and final screen appearance in the series. He was previously as Walso Pincus in BLONDIE IN SOCIETY (1941) and as Sharky in BLONDIE'S ANNIVERSARY (1948).
In spite of one realistic unpleasant scene involving the fruit vendor kicking Daisy, who would get what he deserves later on in the story, BLONDIE'S HERO is 68 minutes of standard comedy, funny at times, mediocre in others, which, as always, centers more on Dagwood than on the titled character. And as for the comedy bits, many of it is quite familiar, having been done before, ranging from the military comedies dating back to the silent era, right to the present day. But this time, the comedy is brought up to date and performed Arthur Lake-Dagwood style. One scene finds Dagwood going through basic training and fouling up everything, but makes up for it later, thanks to his young trainer (Infuhr), as well as Dagwood, during chow time, exhausted from all that training, falling asleep with his face landing right on his plate of mashed potatoes. During the visitation scene in which Blondie comes on up with the kids to see how Dagwood is doing, Blondie and Dagwood unwittingly find themselves inside a runaway army tank that goes amok all over the field and heading to a warehouse that supplies dynamite.
BLONDIE'S HERO, along with the other 27 "Blondie" comedies, are not only available on video cassette, but has had a successful four year (1996-2001) run on cable television's American Movie Classics. Next and final chapter: BEWARE OF BLONDIE (1950).(*1/2)
