A strained screwball comedy starring Eddie Bracken as a kleptomaniac who becomes involved with a gang of jewel thieves and falls for pretty Veronica Lake. It's a showcase for Bracken, who plays his nervous routine to the hilt. But the script is bland and none of the gags are particularly funny. The most memorable bit is one involving a flagpole and even that feels like something I've seen before. There's also very little chemistry between Bracken and Lake. The pair reportedly didn't get along off screen and it really shows. For her part, Lake gets little to no funny moments of her own. She mostly plays it straight, which is disappointing as she proved in films like Sullivan's Travels she could do comedy quite well. The supporting cast is the movie's saving grace, with Willie Best and Donald MacBride as two of the standouts. It's really not a great movie and certainly not a contender with the best screwball comedies from the period. It's watchable but a bit of a chore to sit through at times. If you're a big fan of Bracken, you'll probably like it more than I did.
6 Reviews
A klepto with a conscience!
planktonrules4 May 2021
Ogden (Eddie Bracken) is a most unusual man. He's a kleptomaniac. But the weirder part is that he's a klepto with a conscience. He always returns what he's taken...though this is a problem since he works in a bank! Tired of his antics with money and bonds deposited in the bank, the manager has no choice but to let him go...at least until he can be cured of this compulsion to steal.
Ogden goes to see a psychiatrist who must be a real quack! Dr. Storasky (George Zucco) suggests that if he finds a nice girl and gets married, his compulsion to steal with vanish. Yeah, I am sure that's the cure (NOT). Unfortunately, the girl he finds and wants to marry is Sally (Veronica Lake)...and Sally is a professional thief...though of course, Ogden doesn't know this. But you can't feel sorry for the dope...he asked her to marry him only moments after meeting her!
This movie is extremely silly...ridiculous silly. Now this is NOT a criticism...just an explanation as to what type of comedy it is. It's NOT sophisticated nor subtle! Occasionally I felt it was a bit too silly to be taken very seriously...sort of like an Abbott & Costello or even Three Stooges film. Again, not really a criticism but more about the style of the movie. I liked the film and thought it was cute and enjoyable...and quite slight. Worth seeing but don't expect brilliance...just fun.
Ogden goes to see a psychiatrist who must be a real quack! Dr. Storasky (George Zucco) suggests that if he finds a nice girl and gets married, his compulsion to steal with vanish. Yeah, I am sure that's the cure (NOT). Unfortunately, the girl he finds and wants to marry is Sally (Veronica Lake)...and Sally is a professional thief...though of course, Ogden doesn't know this. But you can't feel sorry for the dope...he asked her to marry him only moments after meeting her!
This movie is extremely silly...ridiculous silly. Now this is NOT a criticism...just an explanation as to what type of comedy it is. It's NOT sophisticated nor subtle! Occasionally I felt it was a bit too silly to be taken very seriously...sort of like an Abbott & Costello or even Three Stooges film. Again, not really a criticism but more about the style of the movie. I liked the film and thought it was cute and enjoyable...and quite slight. Worth seeing but don't expect brilliance...just fun.
Some women can't resist a schnook
bkoganbing13 March 2018
Hold That Blonde stars Eddie Bracken and Veronica Lake when both were at
Paramount and both had done work for Preston Sturges in the past. But
Sturges left Paramount the year this film was done. Sturges definitely would
have gotten a few more laughs from this. I think this also was a property Bob
Hope might have passed on.
Bracken plays one of his patented schnook roles only this schnook is both rich and a kleptomaniac. The family butler Willie Best returns the stuff as fast as he can, but sometimes the police just get involved, I don't know, I guess it's their job.
Anyway one chance encounter with Veronica Lake where he steals her compact which had a safe combination. Lake is part of a gang doing a most inside job. But this involves Bracken with all his issues and as we know in these films some women cannot resist a schnook.
In fact this involvement is healthy for Bracken's soul says psychiatrist George Zucco. If he had a rgular sex life he might not steal. I don't know is Sigmund Freud would approve, but it does work in Bracken's case.
A little Harold Lloyd like skyscraper work is in Hold That Blonde. Bracken is no Lloyd but he handles the physical comedy well.
Hold That Blonde isn't the greatest of screen comedies, but it serves both the stars well.
Bracken plays one of his patented schnook roles only this schnook is both rich and a kleptomaniac. The family butler Willie Best returns the stuff as fast as he can, but sometimes the police just get involved, I don't know, I guess it's their job.
Anyway one chance encounter with Veronica Lake where he steals her compact which had a safe combination. Lake is part of a gang doing a most inside job. But this involves Bracken with all his issues and as we know in these films some women cannot resist a schnook.
In fact this involvement is healthy for Bracken's soul says psychiatrist George Zucco. If he had a rgular sex life he might not steal. I don't know is Sigmund Freud would approve, but it does work in Bracken's case.
A little Harold Lloyd like skyscraper work is in Hold That Blonde. Bracken is no Lloyd but he handles the physical comedy well.
Hold That Blonde isn't the greatest of screen comedies, but it serves both the stars well.
" Veronica And Eddie Are Funny In Hold That Blonde "
PamelaShort26 August 2013
Warning: Spoilers
Out of the 3 movies Veronica Lake and Eddie Bracken were in together," Hold That Blonde " is definitely the best. Eddie is hilarious as the sweet-hearted kleptomaniac, who pick-pockets Veronica Lake. Trouble begins, as Eddie falls deeply in love with the beautiful Veronica , but she is mixed up with a gang of jewel thieves. The comical antics are endless, and the story moves at an enjoyable pace. Veronica Lake's role is a large part of this movie, and she has good timing, and gives an outstanding performance keeping up with comedian Bracken. It's a shame the studio couldn't have given the talented actress more roles like this, at least giving her a chance to prove that she had versatility, and was more than just a head of hair. I really appreciated watching this very entertaining comedy, that still holds up well and should be released on DVD for all to enjoy.
VERONICA LAKE IS A QUEEN OF THE HUMOR!!!!
a_pleno_sol16 April 2003
Wild and amused comedy very little well-known between the films of George Marshall, with surprising scenes that will make enjoy to all the lovers of the good humor.
Between the great actresses of the comedy it is necessary to add another name: Veronica Lake, a wonderful actress who demonstrated to have a fine talent for the high comedy and who locates it between the greatest of this genre like Katharine Hepburn, Marilyn Monroe, Grace Kelly, Carole Lombard, Judy Hollyday or Betty Grable. And one of the more beautiful...
Between the great actresses of the comedy it is necessary to add another name: Veronica Lake, a wonderful actress who demonstrated to have a fine talent for the high comedy and who locates it between the greatest of this genre like Katharine Hepburn, Marilyn Monroe, Grace Kelly, Carole Lombard, Judy Hollyday or Betty Grable. And one of the more beautiful...
I laughed. I cried. It was fabulous.
mark.waltz7 December 2019
Warning: Spoilers
This is a well directed, witty comedy from George Marshall, best known for a series of Bob Hope comedies. Fortunately, Hope was not cast in this one because Eddie Bracken is simply perfect as a befuddled kleptomaniac who steals without even realizing that he's stealing. This sets up several hysterically funny scenes, and the interaction between him and his valet, Willie Best, is outstanding. Best, a very talented black comic, was stuck with stereotypical servant roles, but his intelligence here as he keeps his boss from getting into trouble as much as he can is a step above those type of roles. Bracken's leading lady is Veronica Lake, not usually known for comic parts, but she utilizes her femme-fatale image in combination with the comic aspects of the script in creating a memorable character.
Bracken's kleptomania is ironically combined with Lake's role as a lady jewel thief. When he unknowingly steals her compact that contains a wall safe combination which holds a famous Russian necklace from the Romanov Dynasty, the stage is set for them to become involved, first as adversaries and later as a romantic team. It appears at first that Lake has no interest in Bracken other than getting her compact back, but she can't help but be amused by his innocent demeanor.
One of the funniest sequences has Bracken pulling a Harold Lloyd in an effort to hide from Lake's associates, ending up on the ledge of a high-rise building and eventually on the flagpole. A young lady sleeping in her bed is shocked to wake up to find Bracken (clad only in a sheet) begging to get in and starts plummeting him with everything she can get her hands on. Later, he ends up on the ledge with a drunk who has come to her defense leading to more delightful visual comedy. It's pretty racy considering that this was approved by the production code.
George Zucco has a funny scene as Bracken's therapist and Norma Vrden is very funny as a Billie Burke like society matron. In fact, her character has the same similar setup that she would later have in "Strangers on a Train". It is at this party where Lake and Bracken finally join forces and the chemistry seems to grow based on their shared flaws to where they can help each other recover. Albert Dekker and Donald McBride are also memorable in this comedy that starts off a little slow but ends up being very funny both verbally and visually, with the type of gags that you may not notice the first time but upon repeat viewings will pick up things that you missed before.
Bracken's kleptomania is ironically combined with Lake's role as a lady jewel thief. When he unknowingly steals her compact that contains a wall safe combination which holds a famous Russian necklace from the Romanov Dynasty, the stage is set for them to become involved, first as adversaries and later as a romantic team. It appears at first that Lake has no interest in Bracken other than getting her compact back, but she can't help but be amused by his innocent demeanor.
One of the funniest sequences has Bracken pulling a Harold Lloyd in an effort to hide from Lake's associates, ending up on the ledge of a high-rise building and eventually on the flagpole. A young lady sleeping in her bed is shocked to wake up to find Bracken (clad only in a sheet) begging to get in and starts plummeting him with everything she can get her hands on. Later, he ends up on the ledge with a drunk who has come to her defense leading to more delightful visual comedy. It's pretty racy considering that this was approved by the production code.
George Zucco has a funny scene as Bracken's therapist and Norma Vrden is very funny as a Billie Burke like society matron. In fact, her character has the same similar setup that she would later have in "Strangers on a Train". It is at this party where Lake and Bracken finally join forces and the chemistry seems to grow based on their shared flaws to where they can help each other recover. Albert Dekker and Donald McBride are also memorable in this comedy that starts off a little slow but ends up being very funny both verbally and visually, with the type of gags that you may not notice the first time but upon repeat viewings will pick up things that you missed before.
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