As you may know by now after seeing the first film of the series "Blondie", the films are wholesome and have a pure sense of humor. This second film "Blondie Meets The Boss" is just as funny as the first. If the Blondie films seem to be serious at times, please take it in light-hearted fun. Everything works out. Dagwood wears the apron this time. You might recognize the boy who plays "Alvin Fuddle". He is Danny Mummert. He played Baby Dumpling's pal beginning with the very first film, Blondie (1938), at the age of 4 until the last film, Beware of Blondie (1950), at the age of 16. Danny Mummert did 24 Blondie films in all. Mr. Mummert has not been in a film since 1956, but no doubt is enjoying his life in retirement. As always, the film ends with a happy ending and a smile on your face. Isn't Daisy a hoot? The next film in the series is BLONDIE TAKES A VACATION.
14 Reviews
Blondie Meets the Boss was a funny second outing in the Blondie series
tavm7 June 2015
This is the second Blondie movie in a series. Dagwood resigns from his job after Mr. Dithers tells him he can't take his vacation yet because of something he wants him to do. Blondie ends up taking her hubby's place while Dag does her household chores. But he then decides to go fishing with a neighbor friend who takes a couple of girls with him. Also, Blondie's sister Dot comes in with a boyfriend who she's trying to enter a jitterbug contest with. I'll stop there and just say most of what happens was quite funny if also a bit silly part of the time. Arthur Lake does some good physical stuff while Penny Singleton does a funny look when she gets jealous. Overall, Blondie Meets the Boss was a funny enough second entry. P.S. If you know the original Blondie comic strip's history, you may be confused by seeing her have a sibling since no such character existed in Chic Young's panels nor was Blondie's maiden surname Miller, it was Boopadoop. Incidentally, this was Dorothy Moore's second and last appearance as Dot. If you're fans of W.C. Fields, you may have been amused by the appearances of George Chandler-a laundryman here-best known as the son in Fatal Glass of Beer and of Grady Sutton-a camera clerk here-who appeared in quite a few of Fields' films, the last being The Bank Dick. Oh, and I'm familiar with bandleader Skinnay Ennis-who sings in the nightclub sequence-from his regular radio spots on Bob Hope's and Abbott & Costello's shows. And one of the story writers was Kay Van Ripper, who was also writing the early Judge Hardy's Family entries at M-G-M.
Psychotic Blondie?
riccibilotta-167-82984720 May 2018
Dagwood has a much needed vacation coming up, but Mr. Dithers has other plans for Dag. He has to leave town, and wants Dagwood to run the office for him. But Dagwood says he'll resign first. Dithers quickly accepts his resignation. Now Dags has to find a way to tell Blondie. He,does, so Blondie decides to talk to Dithers. Dagwood is very upset, and takes advice from his neighbor, and goes fishing with him. Turns out his neighbor "goes fishing" only to meet his girlfriend. And he has a girl for Dagwood. Eventually, Dagwood goes back home around 2am. Blondie found out about her neighbor's so called fishing trip, and tells Dagwood if she ever found out the he had another girl, she might feel compelled to kill. By drowning Baby Dumpling and offing her self. So Blondie had a very dark side to her that shocked me. This isn't a spoiler, I don't think. I just wanted to reveal Blondie psychotic side.
Absolutely hilarious, the second Blondie film
robert-temple-17 May 2010
This film is even funnier and more delightful than the first one. Daisy the Dog, Baby Dumpling, and his playmate from next door, Alvin Fuddle, get up to even better hijinks and say even cuter things, and the gags and sight-gags fly thick and fast. Jonathan Hale, who plays Dagwood's boss J. C. Dithers, the head of Dithers Construction Company, is here brought into the story as more of a character in this film, and he will remain that way for the rest of the long series. Dagwood and Blondie are all set to have their first holiday in two years, when the horrid Dithers orders Dagwood to cancel it and stay behind to help him land a contract. Dagwood resigns in protest. When he gets home, Blondie decides to take matters into her own hands, and goes to see Dithers. She ends up doing the job for Dagwood, though it all goes horribly wrong without her knowledge and the situation is only saved inadvertently by Dagwood's congenital idiocy. As usual, Penny Singleton and Arthur Lake are marvellous in their roles, and Larry Simms as Baby Dumpling and Danny Mummert as Alvin are just as astonishing as ever. While Blondie is taking his place in his office, Dagwood is left at home being a house husband and gets bored, so he is persuaded by Alvin's father to go on a fishing trip, where he meets a nightclub singer named Francine Rogers, which will lead to multiple complications and misunderstandings for the rest of the film, with Blondie getting jealous and threatening divorce. The plot is really too complicated to summarize, but each new twist is funnier than the last. Daisy has plenty of occasions to raise her ears in shock and dismay, Baby Dumpling gets lots of opportunities to show that he, aged five, is wiser than his parents, Blondie gets to prove she can do her husband's job better than he can, Dagwood wins a dance context by mistake, and countless mishaps, accidents, misunderstandings, and unfortunate coincidences get to mount up into a mountain a fun. This film is particularly notable for having several top jitterbug dancers of the period do some astonishing dance routines, which are classics of the genre and deserve to be seen by period dance afficionadoes.
Blondie and Dagwood getting a divorce?!
planktonrules19 June 2017
"Blondie Meets the Boss" is the second of two dozen Blondie and Dagwood films. It's pleasant enough viewing but the darker tone of the film makes it among my least favorite I've seen so far.
The story begins with the Bumstead family about to go on vacation. However, Mr. Dithers informs Dagwood he cannot go and he MUST complete some business deal. Well, not surprisingly, Dagwood is angry and he quits his job then and there. When he returns home, he tells the wife...and she goes to talk to Mr. Dithers. Surprisingly, he offers her Dagwood's job 'to teach him a lesson'.
At the same time, Dagwood listens to his idiotic neighbor and takes a fishing trip (leaving Baby Dumpling with his aunt). However, the neighbor is a real Cassanova and the trip includes women...and these are two married men. Dagwood soon leaves...he's just not the cheating kid of guy. But photos taken during this brief outing come back to haunt him when Blondie finds them and thinks the worst.
I didn't particularly like the idea of this sweet and loving couple planning on getting a divorce. It seemed untrue to the characters. Still, the film is entertaining and Baby Dumpling has a few good lines here and there. Pleasant but a tad disappointing.
The story begins with the Bumstead family about to go on vacation. However, Mr. Dithers informs Dagwood he cannot go and he MUST complete some business deal. Well, not surprisingly, Dagwood is angry and he quits his job then and there. When he returns home, he tells the wife...and she goes to talk to Mr. Dithers. Surprisingly, he offers her Dagwood's job 'to teach him a lesson'.
At the same time, Dagwood listens to his idiotic neighbor and takes a fishing trip (leaving Baby Dumpling with his aunt). However, the neighbor is a real Cassanova and the trip includes women...and these are two married men. Dagwood soon leaves...he's just not the cheating kid of guy. But photos taken during this brief outing come back to haunt him when Blondie finds them and thinks the worst.
I didn't particularly like the idea of this sweet and loving couple planning on getting a divorce. It seemed untrue to the characters. Still, the film is entertaining and Baby Dumpling has a few good lines here and there. Pleasant but a tad disappointing.
The Bumsteads: Domestic Swaples
lugonian27 September 2006
BLONDIE MEETS THE BOSS (Columbia, 1939), directed by Frank R. Strayer, the second installment to the long running domestic comedy series based on Chic Young's ever popular comic strip, is a misleading title, giving the indication that this is the first time the title character, Blondie, has never come across Dagwood's boss, Mr. Dithers, which in fact, they've already known each other as indicated in its debut film, BLONDIE (1938). Alternate titles such as "Blondie Meets With the Boss" or "Office Wife Blondie," might have served its purpose, however, it's not the title that matters really, but the comedic situations the Bumsteads get themselves into, in this case what happens when husband and wife switch jobs (Dagwood the house husband and Blondie the office wife) for a few days.
The story opens typically at the breakfast table as the Bumsteads, Dagwood (Arthur Lake), Blondie (Penny Singleton) and Baby Dumpling (Larry Simms) prepare themselves and looking forward to their upcoming vacation away from home, followed by Dagwood rushing out the front door to catch his bus to the office and bumping into the neighborhood postman (Irving Bacon). While at the office, everything seems to be going well on his last day before vacation time until Dagwood is told by Mr. Dithers (Jonathan Hale) that he is needed at the office and vacation plans are to be postponed until he settles an important construction deal while in Washington. Because he hasn't had a vacation in two years, Dagwood refuses and resigns. After returning home with the news, Blondie, the helpful wife as she is, leaves Dagwood in apron, broom and the household chores while she goes to the office to speak to Dithers. Dithers agrees to take Bumstead back under the condition that, wanting to teach Dagwood a lesson, has Blondie take her husband's place during his absence. After Dithers informs Dagwood of his plan, the humiliated Dagwood decides to teach Blondie a lesson by leaving the household chores and babysitting under the care of Blondie's visiting sister, "Dot" (Dorothy Moore) and her boyfriend Freddie (Joel Dean), who have arrived in town to stay at the house and practice for the upcoming jitterbug dance contest, and go fishing with his neighbor, Marvin Williams (Don Beddoe). Guilt sets in for Dagwood when Marvin invites Francine Rogers (Linda Winters) and Betty Lou Walters (Inez Courtney), singers of the Garden Club, to accompany them. More complications follow leading to Blondie's accusing Dagwood of infidelity after finding a photograph of him on a boat with Francine, while Dagwood, trying to retrieve Baby Dumpling at the Garden Club from Dot and Freddie, meets up with Francine and spotted there by Blondie, who happens to be there to settle a business deal for Dithers. The highlight of the evening occurs with Dagwood, in a confusing state of mind after getting hit on the head with a purse by Blondie, to accidentally step onto the dance floor of the jitterbug contest, filling in for Freddie, who walked out on Dot, whose unusual style of dancing makes it possible for Dot to win the dance contest. More fun and confusion continue before Mr. Dithers returns with surprising news.
Familiar faces appearing in smaller roles include Eddie Acuff as the peddler; William B. Davidson as the night club patron; Wallis Clark as Henry W. Philpont; George Chandler as the laundry man; Edward Gargan as the Night Club Bouncer; Grady Sutton as the film processor; and Stanley Brown as Dagwood's co-worker, Ollie Shaw, who takes an interest in Blondie more ways than one. "You Had It Coming to You" by Sam Lerner and Ben Oakland is introduced during the night club sequence by Skinney Ennis and his Band performing.
Slow going and predictable at times, mostly during its first half, BLONDIE MEETS THE BOSS is a satisfactory entry with several funny bits to go around, especially by Daisy, the Bumstead pooch, raising her ears at times of astonishment. Aside from the "running gag" involving the poor postman's attempt to deliver the morning mail only to meet up with Bumstead as he rushes out of the house, there's a neat twist of delight for him as Blondie does the exact same thing, only leaving lipstick print on his cheek. He says to Dagwood, "You know, Mr. Bumstead. I like it better this way." Then there's little Alvin Fuddle (Danny Mummert), Baby Dumpling's best friend who lives next door, showing off his intelligence by spelling Mississippi forwards and backwards. He's around during the early portion of the story and is not seen or heard from again, until the next installments, anyway.
Distributed on commercial television in the 1970s with new opening and closing credits from King Features, the original theatrical opening credits has been restored and presented that way when aired on American Movie Classics from 1996 to 2001. Its availability on video and DVD doesn't include the original opening, neither does Turner Classic Movies showing (TCM premiere: May 1, 2018). Next installment: "Blondie Takes a Vacation." Finally. (**1/2)
The story opens typically at the breakfast table as the Bumsteads, Dagwood (Arthur Lake), Blondie (Penny Singleton) and Baby Dumpling (Larry Simms) prepare themselves and looking forward to their upcoming vacation away from home, followed by Dagwood rushing out the front door to catch his bus to the office and bumping into the neighborhood postman (Irving Bacon). While at the office, everything seems to be going well on his last day before vacation time until Dagwood is told by Mr. Dithers (Jonathan Hale) that he is needed at the office and vacation plans are to be postponed until he settles an important construction deal while in Washington. Because he hasn't had a vacation in two years, Dagwood refuses and resigns. After returning home with the news, Blondie, the helpful wife as she is, leaves Dagwood in apron, broom and the household chores while she goes to the office to speak to Dithers. Dithers agrees to take Bumstead back under the condition that, wanting to teach Dagwood a lesson, has Blondie take her husband's place during his absence. After Dithers informs Dagwood of his plan, the humiliated Dagwood decides to teach Blondie a lesson by leaving the household chores and babysitting under the care of Blondie's visiting sister, "Dot" (Dorothy Moore) and her boyfriend Freddie (Joel Dean), who have arrived in town to stay at the house and practice for the upcoming jitterbug dance contest, and go fishing with his neighbor, Marvin Williams (Don Beddoe). Guilt sets in for Dagwood when Marvin invites Francine Rogers (Linda Winters) and Betty Lou Walters (Inez Courtney), singers of the Garden Club, to accompany them. More complications follow leading to Blondie's accusing Dagwood of infidelity after finding a photograph of him on a boat with Francine, while Dagwood, trying to retrieve Baby Dumpling at the Garden Club from Dot and Freddie, meets up with Francine and spotted there by Blondie, who happens to be there to settle a business deal for Dithers. The highlight of the evening occurs with Dagwood, in a confusing state of mind after getting hit on the head with a purse by Blondie, to accidentally step onto the dance floor of the jitterbug contest, filling in for Freddie, who walked out on Dot, whose unusual style of dancing makes it possible for Dot to win the dance contest. More fun and confusion continue before Mr. Dithers returns with surprising news.
Familiar faces appearing in smaller roles include Eddie Acuff as the peddler; William B. Davidson as the night club patron; Wallis Clark as Henry W. Philpont; George Chandler as the laundry man; Edward Gargan as the Night Club Bouncer; Grady Sutton as the film processor; and Stanley Brown as Dagwood's co-worker, Ollie Shaw, who takes an interest in Blondie more ways than one. "You Had It Coming to You" by Sam Lerner and Ben Oakland is introduced during the night club sequence by Skinney Ennis and his Band performing.
Slow going and predictable at times, mostly during its first half, BLONDIE MEETS THE BOSS is a satisfactory entry with several funny bits to go around, especially by Daisy, the Bumstead pooch, raising her ears at times of astonishment. Aside from the "running gag" involving the poor postman's attempt to deliver the morning mail only to meet up with Bumstead as he rushes out of the house, there's a neat twist of delight for him as Blondie does the exact same thing, only leaving lipstick print on his cheek. He says to Dagwood, "You know, Mr. Bumstead. I like it better this way." Then there's little Alvin Fuddle (Danny Mummert), Baby Dumpling's best friend who lives next door, showing off his intelligence by spelling Mississippi forwards and backwards. He's around during the early portion of the story and is not seen or heard from again, until the next installments, anyway.
Distributed on commercial television in the 1970s with new opening and closing credits from King Features, the original theatrical opening credits has been restored and presented that way when aired on American Movie Classics from 1996 to 2001. Its availability on video and DVD doesn't include the original opening, neither does Turner Classic Movies showing (TCM premiere: May 1, 2018). Next installment: "Blondie Takes a Vacation." Finally. (**1/2)
To Pack or Not to Pack
Mike-7643 January 2005
Dagwood resigns from the Dithers Construction company when Dithers wants him to postpone his long awaited vacation to close a business deal. Blondie goes to Mr. Dithers to get Dagwood his job back, but he gives her Dagwood's job thinking it would be a good joke to play on Dagwood, who is now taking Blondie's role of housekeeper. Fustrated, Dagwood goes fishing with his neighbor Marvin Williams, who really goes out to escape his nagging wife and meet girls. One of these girls, Francine Rogers, falls for Dagwood, but he darts back for home. The next day Blondie finds a camera belonging to Francine (which has an uncompromising, but innocent photo of Dagwood and Francine) and decides to have the pictures developed, but first has to close a deal with Philpot (a nightclub owner) where Blondie's sister Dot is in a jitterbug contest with Freddie Turner, and Francine works as a singer, who Dagwood has come to explain the loss of her camera. The fireworks fly (literaly). One of the best entries in the series with slapstick galore (Dagwood's jitterbugging, Daisy "dancing", etc.) and overall brilliance from every angle. The script is able to seamlessly combine all the different stories for the various characters and have them come together at the end. Simms has plenty of smart one liners which are said expertly by the four year old. Rating, 10.
Some hilarious slapstick makes this entry worthwhile.
Art-2211 December 1999
I have always been a fan of the Blondie comics, even to this day, but some of the movies have been duds. In this one, however, I found myself laughing uncontrollably at times, with the highlight being Dagwood's (Arthur Lake's) accidentally stumbling into a jitterbug dance contest with Dorothy Moore (playing Blondie's sister). His uncoordinated movements while slipping and trying to regain his balance was masterfully done and simply hilarious. It's easily worth the price of admission for this sequence alone.
BLONDIE IN THE OFFICE, DAGWOOD WASHING DISHES?
tcchelsey18 February 2024
This SHOULD have been the series premier episode; it has so much going for it. It's more of a domestic comedy as most of the confusion takes place inside the Bumstead's house, which was a cute little home to begin with.
Dagwood gets himself fired for standing up to Mr. Dithers, but the catch here is that Blondie has a little talk with the boss (which will be a frequent theme in episodes to come) and is offered his job! Remarkable, although Dagwood ain't too happy about the whole thing.
There is genuinely one classic scene after the other here, and a complete role reversal. Blondie now runs out the front door and knocks over the mailman to get to work... while Dagwood stays home with Baby Dumpling and Daisy, cleans house and mopes around a lot.
That is until.... neighbor Don Beddoe invites Dagwood on a little fishing trip --with some other ladies? A picture is snapped of Dagwood catching one of the girls from falling off a boat, it gets into Blondie's hands and its World War III!
There's a terrific dance sequence, Arthur Lake and Dorothy Moore (as Blondie's sister) dancing up a storm to the music of Skinnay Ennis and his big band. Shinnay (who was tall and skinny) was a popular band leader in the 30s and 40s, his hit song, GOT A DATE WITH AN ANGEL. This was a fun bit that enhanced the film.
Look for future movie star Dorothy Comingore as Francine, one of the girls on the boat. Legend has it she met Orson Welles at a party, who was scouting for talent. He was quite impressed by her and cast Dorothy as Susan Kane in CITIZEN KANE, one of the most important roles in the iconic movie.
10 Stars and especially to screen writer Richard Flournoy, who wrote most of the early classic episodes. Richard also did two screenplays for Laurel and Hardy.
On a super trivia note; we also get to see more of the Bumstead house on the outside, built on the Columbia lot in Burbank (off Hollywood Way), later purchased by Warner Brothers. If you look across the street from the Bumstead house, originally there were other houses. As the series progressed, the lot changed, the houses were torn down and there was a beautiful park built across the street, later with a swimming pool, which remained there until 2023!
The Bumstead house stood there for many years, later becoming the home for tv's FATHER KNOWS BEST. The street was called "Blondie Street."
It also neighbors the PARTRIDGE FAMILY house and down the street from the BEWITCHED house.
Unfortunately... in the summer of 2023 the Warner lot was torn down to make way for new sound stages. Fortunately, the filmed memories remain.
A Blondie gem. Recommended. Remastered episodes, usually about 10 per box set. A big thank you to MOVIES Net for rerunning the series on Saturday mornings, like the old days.
Dagwood gets himself fired for standing up to Mr. Dithers, but the catch here is that Blondie has a little talk with the boss (which will be a frequent theme in episodes to come) and is offered his job! Remarkable, although Dagwood ain't too happy about the whole thing.
There is genuinely one classic scene after the other here, and a complete role reversal. Blondie now runs out the front door and knocks over the mailman to get to work... while Dagwood stays home with Baby Dumpling and Daisy, cleans house and mopes around a lot.
That is until.... neighbor Don Beddoe invites Dagwood on a little fishing trip --with some other ladies? A picture is snapped of Dagwood catching one of the girls from falling off a boat, it gets into Blondie's hands and its World War III!
There's a terrific dance sequence, Arthur Lake and Dorothy Moore (as Blondie's sister) dancing up a storm to the music of Skinnay Ennis and his big band. Shinnay (who was tall and skinny) was a popular band leader in the 30s and 40s, his hit song, GOT A DATE WITH AN ANGEL. This was a fun bit that enhanced the film.
Look for future movie star Dorothy Comingore as Francine, one of the girls on the boat. Legend has it she met Orson Welles at a party, who was scouting for talent. He was quite impressed by her and cast Dorothy as Susan Kane in CITIZEN KANE, one of the most important roles in the iconic movie.
10 Stars and especially to screen writer Richard Flournoy, who wrote most of the early classic episodes. Richard also did two screenplays for Laurel and Hardy.
On a super trivia note; we also get to see more of the Bumstead house on the outside, built on the Columbia lot in Burbank (off Hollywood Way), later purchased by Warner Brothers. If you look across the street from the Bumstead house, originally there were other houses. As the series progressed, the lot changed, the houses were torn down and there was a beautiful park built across the street, later with a swimming pool, which remained there until 2023!
The Bumstead house stood there for many years, later becoming the home for tv's FATHER KNOWS BEST. The street was called "Blondie Street."
It also neighbors the PARTRIDGE FAMILY house and down the street from the BEWITCHED house.
Unfortunately... in the summer of 2023 the Warner lot was torn down to make way for new sound stages. Fortunately, the filmed memories remain.
A Blondie gem. Recommended. Remastered episodes, usually about 10 per box set. A big thank you to MOVIES Net for rerunning the series on Saturday mornings, like the old days.
When the table of marriage turns, the place setting changes!
mark.waltz17 October 2014
Warning: Spoilers
Actually, Blondie already knew the boss, and here, the boss uses her to teach her impulsive husband a lesson for quitting in haste after he informs him that he can't take his planned vacation at the present time. When she goes into plead for Dagwood to get his job back, Mr. Dithers hires her instead. This is a variation of the "Mr. Mom" theme where Dagwood gets tired of being at home, goes on a fishing trip, gets into some trouble thanks to an innocent picture with a nightclub singer, and almost causes the company to loose a big deal. Blondie gets ahold of the picture, jumps to conclusions, but as is always the case in these sitcom like films, a happy ending is inevitable. It's just the matter of 72 minutes, or in sitcom time, two episodes.
Once again, Baby Dumpling and Daisy end up being the scene-stealers here with Larry Simms showing the tot next door (the returning Danny Mummert) to watch his back and sharing a dance with Daisy while Blondie's sister and a dancing partner do a rumba. The slapstick quotient is up from the first film, continuing the trend of the wary postman creeping up to the Bumstead's door with caution, only to have all of his mail go flying when he finds that it isn't Dagwood banging into him, but the lovely missus. Blondie proves that she can be a serious businesswoman, even if her emotions get in the way concerning her jealousy while trying to finalize a deal for Mr. Dithers. After a weak start, the series starts to improve a bit, which explains why it would go on for more than another decade.
Once again, Baby Dumpling and Daisy end up being the scene-stealers here with Larry Simms showing the tot next door (the returning Danny Mummert) to watch his back and sharing a dance with Daisy while Blondie's sister and a dancing partner do a rumba. The slapstick quotient is up from the first film, continuing the trend of the wary postman creeping up to the Bumstead's door with caution, only to have all of his mail go flying when he finds that it isn't Dagwood banging into him, but the lovely missus. Blondie proves that she can be a serious businesswoman, even if her emotions get in the way concerning her jealousy while trying to finalize a deal for Mr. Dithers. After a weak start, the series starts to improve a bit, which explains why it would go on for more than another decade.
First-Rate Entry
dougdoepke26 May 2018
Dagwood! Dagwood! Watch out!! That feather in Blondie's 1930's hat is going to stab you!
Great entry in the popular series. The laughs seldom let up, nor does the action. Expert comedic timing from director Strayer along with versatile cast. Seems Dagwood 'quits'-- oops, I mean 'resigns'-- his job when he doesn't get his awaited vacation. So who does Dithers hire in his place. Why Blondie, of course, which angers breadwinner daddy. Now they're going separate ways, while things aren't helped by romantic mix-ups, especially when Dad goes fishing and Mom gets her own office. But, oh my gosh, will they ever get back together. And what will Baby Dumpling and Daisy do now. Stay tuned.
I wish I knew how off-camera coaches got dog Daisy and 4-year old Dumpling (Simms) to perform as well as they do. Check out how expertly each brings off their various tricks. I hope Daisy got extra kibbles. Then too, check out the nostalgic jitterbug contest defying gravity's laws. I hope the youngsters got extra bottles of Pepsi. Anyway, an addled Dagwood and a nonplussed Blondie keep the chuckles coming, showing why Lake and Singleton remain a truly inspired pairing. In my view, there's more comedy delight here than in most star-studded efforts of the 1950's, especially. Meanwhile, postmen, Look Out! The one man stampede is coming your way.
Great entry in the popular series. The laughs seldom let up, nor does the action. Expert comedic timing from director Strayer along with versatile cast. Seems Dagwood 'quits'-- oops, I mean 'resigns'-- his job when he doesn't get his awaited vacation. So who does Dithers hire in his place. Why Blondie, of course, which angers breadwinner daddy. Now they're going separate ways, while things aren't helped by romantic mix-ups, especially when Dad goes fishing and Mom gets her own office. But, oh my gosh, will they ever get back together. And what will Baby Dumpling and Daisy do now. Stay tuned.
I wish I knew how off-camera coaches got dog Daisy and 4-year old Dumpling (Simms) to perform as well as they do. Check out how expertly each brings off their various tricks. I hope Daisy got extra kibbles. Then too, check out the nostalgic jitterbug contest defying gravity's laws. I hope the youngsters got extra bottles of Pepsi. Anyway, an addled Dagwood and a nonplussed Blondie keep the chuckles coming, showing why Lake and Singleton remain a truly inspired pairing. In my view, there's more comedy delight here than in most star-studded efforts of the 1950's, especially. Meanwhile, postmen, Look Out! The one man stampede is coming your way.
Good second part
ericstevenson28 November 2016
I know there was another Blondie movie called "Blondie Takes A Vacation". It was pretty weird watching them about to do just that, but then it turned into something completely different. This movie features Dagwood accidentally resigning so while trying to get his job back, Blondie ends up getting his job instead! There's actually a pretty big subplot about how Dagwood accidentally holds a woman in a boat. It turns out this is mostly pointless because he kisses her later anyway. It was interesting to be introduced to all of these movies through Leonard Maltin's movie guide.
Of course, now it's in a separate guide. They actually got a lot done on the first sequel. They even make jokes about Dagwood running over the mailman. That's just the second movie out of twenty-seven! The funniest part was easily when Blondie got mad and then it showed stock footage of random stuff blowing up! I thought their neighbor was named Herb, but here he's called Marvin. Well, they've probably changed a lot in the seventy years since this movie! ***
Of course, now it's in a separate guide. They actually got a lot done on the first sequel. They even make jokes about Dagwood running over the mailman. That's just the second movie out of twenty-seven! The funniest part was easily when Blondie got mad and then it showed stock footage of random stuff blowing up! I thought their neighbor was named Herb, but here he's called Marvin. Well, they've probably changed a lot in the seventy years since this movie! ***
Big cast, but no hail for Hale!
JohnHowardReid10 November 2017
Warning: Spoilers
Penny Singleton (Blondie Bumstead), Arthur Lake (Dagwood Bumstead), Larry Simms (Baby Dumpling Bumstead), Dorothy Moore (Dot Miller), Jonathan Hale (J.C. Dithers), Don Beddoe (Marvin Williams), Linda Winters (Dorothy Comingore) (Francine Rogers), Danny Mummert (Alvin Fuddle), Stanley Brown (Ollie Shaw), Joel Dean (Freddie Turner), Richard Fiske (Nelson), Inez Courtney (Betty Lou Wood, singer), Eddie Acuff (salesman), George Chandler (laundryman), Irving Bacon (Beasley), Grady Sutton (store clerk), William B. Davidson (diner), Walter Sande (mailman), Wallis Clark (Henry Philpot), James Craig, Robert Sterling (men), Sally Payne (Mrs Williams), Edward Gargan (bouncer), Walter Soderling (Morgan), Edgar Dearing (McGuire), Dick Durrell (Kirk), David Newell (Sanders), Footlight Parade John Garfield lookalike (telegram boy), Skinnay Ennis and His Band (themselves), and "Daisy".
Director: FRANK R. STRAYER. Screenplay: Kay Van Riper, Richard Flournoy. Based on characters created by Murat Bernard "Chic" Young. Photographed by Henry Freulich. Film editor: Gene Havlick. Art director: Lionel Banks. Gowns: Kalloch. Music director: Morris W. Stoloff. Dance director: Eddie Larkin. Song, "You Had It Coming To You" (Courtney). Associate producer: Robert Sparks.
Copyright 27 February 1939 by Columbia Pictures Corp. New York opening at Loew's Criterion: 26 April 1939. U.S. release: 8 March 1939. Australian release: 8 June 1939. This movie's original running time of 74 minutes was trimmed to 58 minutes when the movie went into general release as a second feature. All current television prints have been restored by King Features to the original length of 74 minutes.
SYNOPSIS: Blondie takes over Dagwood's job at the office while he goes fishing.
NOTES: Number two of the 28-picture series . COMMENT: The second of the series. It has no thematic relation to the first film but makes constant references to the third, "Blondie Takes a Vacation".
Kay Van Riper, fresh from writing Judge Hardy's little speeches in the MGM series, here takes a hand with some of Blondie's dialogue — with disastrous results. Despite the presence of a fine supporting cast, a great deal of the film is rather dreary, though there is one marvelous episode in which Dagwood goes jitterbugging.
Lake, as usual, is a bit strained, but even Penny Singleton appears baffled by the wordy script.
I find Johnathan Hale hard to accept as Julius Dithers. In the strip, he is short and fattish. Mr. Hale, however, is tall and slenderish.
Director: FRANK R. STRAYER. Screenplay: Kay Van Riper, Richard Flournoy. Based on characters created by Murat Bernard "Chic" Young. Photographed by Henry Freulich. Film editor: Gene Havlick. Art director: Lionel Banks. Gowns: Kalloch. Music director: Morris W. Stoloff. Dance director: Eddie Larkin. Song, "You Had It Coming To You" (Courtney). Associate producer: Robert Sparks.
Copyright 27 February 1939 by Columbia Pictures Corp. New York opening at Loew's Criterion: 26 April 1939. U.S. release: 8 March 1939. Australian release: 8 June 1939. This movie's original running time of 74 minutes was trimmed to 58 minutes when the movie went into general release as a second feature. All current television prints have been restored by King Features to the original length of 74 minutes.
SYNOPSIS: Blondie takes over Dagwood's job at the office while he goes fishing.
NOTES: Number two of the 28-picture series . COMMENT: The second of the series. It has no thematic relation to the first film but makes constant references to the third, "Blondie Takes a Vacation".
Kay Van Riper, fresh from writing Judge Hardy's little speeches in the MGM series, here takes a hand with some of Blondie's dialogue — with disastrous results. Despite the presence of a fine supporting cast, a great deal of the film is rather dreary, though there is one marvelous episode in which Dagwood goes jitterbugging.
Lake, as usual, is a bit strained, but even Penny Singleton appears baffled by the wordy script.
I find Johnathan Hale hard to accept as Julius Dithers. In the strip, he is short and fattish. Mr. Hale, however, is tall and slenderish.
Role reversals
bkoganbing19 October 2015
After poor Dagwood tries some assertiveness with Mr. Dithers offering to resign if Dithers doesn't rescind his rescinding of the Bumstead's vacation, Jonathan Hale let's Arthur Lake go. Things get further complicated when Penny Singleton goes to Hale to get her husband's job back and finds herself being hired. So for most of the film we find Dagwood tending to the domestic chores and Blondie dealing with the demands of the career and a wolf or two at the Dithers Construction Company.
It gets even worse philandering neighbor Don Beddoe tries to get Dagwood to join in a romantic romp. Dorothy Comingore is certainly a lovely distraction, but a compromising photograph of her and Arthur Lake just about ruins the Bumstead marriage.
I find the whole premise rather silly and I could hardly believe that the Dithers Construction Company couldn't function for a couple of weeks without a Bumstead on the payroll. Still there are some precious moments in Blondie Meets The Boss, my favorite being Blondie plowing into the mailman for a change.
The swing band of Skinnay Ennis is featured here with a vocal or two from Ennis who around this time was featured on Bob Hope's radio show. And there is a jitterbug contest that Lake and Comingore accidentally enter.
Fans of the series should like this.
It gets even worse philandering neighbor Don Beddoe tries to get Dagwood to join in a romantic romp. Dorothy Comingore is certainly a lovely distraction, but a compromising photograph of her and Arthur Lake just about ruins the Bumstead marriage.
I find the whole premise rather silly and I could hardly believe that the Dithers Construction Company couldn't function for a couple of weeks without a Bumstead on the payroll. Still there are some precious moments in Blondie Meets The Boss, my favorite being Blondie plowing into the mailman for a change.
The swing band of Skinnay Ennis is featured here with a vocal or two from Ennis who around this time was featured on Bob Hope's radio show. And there is a jitterbug contest that Lake and Comingore accidentally enter.
Fans of the series should like this.
See also
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