Blondie (1938 film)

Blondie is a 1938 movie directed by Frank Strayer, based on the comic strip of the same name, created by Chic Young. The screenplay was written by Richard Flournoy.

This was the first of 28 films based on the comic strip; Columbia Pictures produced them from 1938 to 1943, and popular demand brought them back in 1945. When the Blondie film series came to an end with Beware of Blondie in 1950, it was announced that it would be replaced with a series of Gasoline Alley movies. However, only two such films were made, Gasoline Alley (1951) and Corky of Gasoline Alley (1951). Columbia then reissued the Blondie features, beginning with the very first film in the series.

Columbia used the series to showcase many of its talented contract players. Rita Hayworth was featured in Blondie on a Budget; Glenn Ford in Blondie Plays Cupid, Larry Parks and Janet Blair in Blondie Goes to College, Shemp Howard in Blondie Knows Best and Adele Jergens in Blondie's Anniversary. Other roles were taken by Columbia contractees Bruce Bennett, Lloyd Bridges, Ann Doran, Stanley Brown, Richard Fiske, Bud Jamison, Eddie Laughton, John Tyrrell, Alyn Lockwood, Jimmy Lloyd, Gay Nelson and Ross Ford.

Cast

Penny Singleton as Blondie Bumstead

Arthur Lake as Dagwood Bumstead

Larry Simms as Alexander "Baby Dumpling" Bumstead

Gene Lockhart as Clarence Percival "C.P." Hazlip

Jonathan Hale as J.C. Dithers

Jerome Cowan as Mr. Radcliffe

Gordon Oliver as Chester Franey

Danny Mummert as Alvin Fuddle

Kathleen Lockhart as Mrs. Miller (Blondie's mother)

Ann Doran as Elsie Hazlip

Dorothy Moore as Dorothy "Dot" Miller (Blondie's sister)

Fay Helm as Mrs. Fuddle