BLONDE CRAZY
US, 1931, 79 minutes, Black and white.
James Cagney, Joan Blondell, Louis Calhern, Noel Francis, Ray Milland, Guy Kibbee.
Directed by Roy Del Ruth.
Blonde Crazy was the fifth film made by James Cagney in 1931 (after The Public Enemy, one of his most celebrated performances). He began acting in 1930 and was to continue until 1960, making Ragtime in 1981 and Terrible Joe Moran in 1984. He won the Academy Award in 1942 for Yankee Doodle Dandy.
He is full of beans in this film as a bellhop who has an eye for money. He has several confidence schemes going on. He is attracted by Joan Blondell who is employed as the provider of linen in the hotel where he works. Reluctantly, she joins him in his enterprises. They encounter a far superior conman, Dapper Dan Barker, played by a young Louis Calhern, with Noel Francis as his accomplice.
One of the confidence tricks involves Guy Kibbee as a lascivious old man who is set up and blackmailed. There are various other schemes that are presented – but Calhern has the better of Cagney in swindling him of his money. However, Joan Blondell joins with him and several other associates in pulling a big scam on Louis Calhern.
It is said that this is the kind of film that the Hayes Code was trying to prevent – the types of characters, the scams and dishonesty, a touch of the risqué in the dialogue.
Ray Milland has an early role as the man who marries Joan Blondell but turns out to be a criminal himself. The director is Roy Del Ruth, who was to direct many films at Warner Bros over the coming decades.
A glimpse of entertainment 1931 style – still entertaining in its way.
1. The title? The tone? Joan Blondell and the other blondes? James Cagney and the men who were crazy?
2. Warner Bros production values, the early 1930s, the transition from silent to sound? The characters? The wisecracks? The scams?
3. The stars at the beginning of their careers? Indications of what was to come?
4. Bert, James Cagney as the bellhop, in the hotel, treatment of the guests, his eye for Anne, arranging the job for her, paying off the man whose fiancée was to get the job? His inviting her up to the room being furnished? Her slapping him? His decision to leave the hotel – and invite her in on the schemes? His scheme with Mr Johnson? The setup, the fake policeman, the money? Going on the road? To New York? Meeting Dan Barker, the attraction, Barker’s patronage? Bert believing him? The plan with the money, the fake notes, at the theatre, Barker’s suave manner? Bert getting the money from Anne? Giving it to Dan – and its being robbed? His attraction towards Helen – and her callous note? His humiliation, eventually confessing to Anne who knew what had happened?
5. Anne, a good girl, her glamour, her charm, wit? Her fending off Bert? With Mr Johnson? Her reluctant decision to go with Bert? The scam for Mr Johnson? In the train, her reluctance to take the money? The encounter with Dan Barker? Meeting him later, his boasting of what had happened? Her going back to Bert, the plan for the scam, going to the races, the signalling for the bets and the winners? Taking Dan Barker completely?
6. Dan Barker, suave and confident, Helen, his associates? The fake notes, the forger, getting the money out of Bert? In New York, attracted to Anne? Her plan, his falling for it, the fake horse-owner, the trick in getting the information about the winners? Fleecing Dan Barker?
7. The finale, the revelation that Bert had stolen the jewellery to repay Anne? The cleverness of the scam, sending it to the house for the heiress, ringing to say that it was a mistake, collecting it, fencing the jewellery? The prospect of jail?
8. The happy ending – with the moral/amoral touch?
