THE STRAWBERRY BLONDE
US, 1941, 97 minutes, Black and white.
James Cagney, Olivia de Havilland, Rita Hayworth, Alan Hale, George Tobias, Jack Carson, Una O'Connor, George Reeves.
Directed by Raoul Walsh.
Strawberry Blonde is a period romantic melodrama, a star vehicle for James Cagney. Olivia de Havilland is attractive as his wife - her usual sweetness but with a touch of irony. Rita Hayworth is featured as the femme fatale. The supporting cast includes Jack Carson as the villain, Alan Hale as Cagney's father, George Tobias as his best friend.
There are many songs of the period, an atmosphere of the turn of the century. The film was remade some years later as a musical, One Sunday Afternoon, with Dennis Morgan and Dorothy Malone. Direction is by Raoul Walsh, better known for his action films.
1. Appealing romantic melodrama? Turn of the century atmosphere? New York City?
2. Black and white production values, the cast - and with type and against type casting? The musical score and the songs of the period? The title and the strawberry blonde - and the band played on?
3. Structure of the film: Biff and Amy, his work as a dentist, his bitterness, place in the town, the university types next door and the clash? The call to Hugo - and the flashbacks?
4. Portrait of Biff, James Cagney's style, tough? Dentist, with Amy, the fights? His friendship with Nick? The drinking and bitterness? His flashbacks - his work, friendship with Hugo and growing up together? The dates, his attraction towards Virginia, going out in the park and finding Amy? The awkward time with Amy? His becoming part of the work? His being stood up, Amy trying to break the news, Nick and the borrowing of the money and the news about Virginia's wedding? His reaction, marrying Amy? The love between them? Hugo and Virginia and their success, Virginia getting him as part of the firm? His signing documents - with nothing to do? The police, the arrest, his being found guilty, Hugo escaping? In prison, studying dentistry? The relationship with the warden? His relationship with his father, his work as a bouncer, throwing his father out, his father's injury and death? The return from prison - and the confrontation with Hugo? His not taking revenge? Seeing how happy his life really was?
5. Hugo, his push, controlling Biff? His rise, the dates with Virginia, his shrewdness? Marrying Virginia? Travels to Europe, wealth - but unhappiness? Tensions in the household? Getting Biff into the firm, using him, escaping imprisonment, the confrontation in the dentist's chair?
6. Virginia, her glamour, Biff and his selling the ticket - Hugo and the oversold tickets? The date, her flirting, flirting with Biff, with Hugo? Standing Biff up, the marriage? Her strident manner and her bitterness? Trying to help Biff? Enjoying the dentist's chair revenge?
7. Amy, the nurse, her forward-thinking ideas, winking, smoking? The date with Biff and the tension? Going out with him again? The news of Virginia's wedding? Covering up for him? The revelation about her mother and father and her forward ideas? In love? Marriage, the visit to Hugo and Virginia, their wealth? The imprisonment, waiting, his coming out from prison? Her anxiety - and the happy ending?
8. Nick, the good friend, the barber, lending money? Biff's father, the man about town, proud of his son, getting thrown out of the tavern? His work, injury and death?
9. The popularity of this kind of story? The attraction of the turn of the century - and Americana at the beginning of the 20th century?
