Blondie’s Big Moment

Blondie’s Big Moment (1947) starring Penny Singleton, Arthur Lake

In Blondie’s Big Moment, Dagwood’s demoted at the office — again. The new boss has a fussy client, is bothered by a friend of Dagwood’s son, and has a romantic conflict! Then …

In Blondie’s Big Moment, Dagwood’s demoted at the office — again. After unintentionally insulting the new boss — before discovering that Mr. Dithers sold the company! Then, Alexander’s teacher wants him to bring the students to visit their fathers’ workplaces. And, Dagwood’s embarrassed by the situation, so Blondie goes to the workplace, to meet Dagwood’s new boss. And everybody in the office is expecting him to tear her apart! But she comes in as sweet as sugar, and invites the bachelor boss to dinner. And he’s inclined to restore Dagwood’s position … eventually.

Then Radcliffe, Ollie, and Dagwood are taking a very finicky client to look at lots to build on. None of which are quite right. Until they see an empty lot, where some boys are playing baseball. And Radcliffe gets accidentally hit by a nearsighted kid — twice! But, if they can get the property, the deal’s on!

At the dinner that evening, Blondie’s invited the children’s lovely teacher as a dinner companion for Mr. Radcliffe. And all seems well, until it turns out that she’s protective of Slugger — the young boy who hit Radcliffe earlier! And to add insult to injury, the young boy drips jam on Radcliffe from the stairway — accidentally.

The children’s visit to the office

So, Dagwood’s demoted further, and can’t bring himself to disappoint Alexander. The lawyer in charge of the land that Radcliffe needs won’t sell, and there’s a 5:00 deadline, or the deal’s off! So, Dagwood does a telephone impersonation to lure Radcliffe out of the office when the kids will be there! But Radcliffe returns early, and Dagwood’s fired!

Happy ending

Then, Radcliffe gets a call — the lot is for sale! But only to Dagwood! And at Dagwood’s house, he meets the mysterious owner of the property! And all’s happily, and comically, resolved.

Cast of characters

• Penny Singleton (Blondie in Society) … Blondie Bumstead. Loving wife and mother, who tries to get Dagwood out of trouble.
• Arthur Lake (Blondie’s Hero) … Dagwood Bumstead. The head of the family, who keeps getting into trouble at work with the new boss.
• Larry Simms (Blondie in Society) … Alexander Bumstead. Dagwood & Blondie’s son, who’s proud of his father and looking forward to taking his class to the office.
• Marjorie Ann Mutchie (Blondie’s Secret) … Cookie Bumstead. The Bumstead’s young daughter.
• Jerome Cowan (Blondie’s Holiday) … George M. Radcliffe. The new owner of the company. Dagwood accidentally drips jam on him on the bus! Then at work, he demotes Dagwood. Later he takes a baseball to the head, meets a pretty school teacher, struggles to buy the land critical to a new client.
• Daisy (Blondie: It’s a Great Life) … Daisy.
• Anita Louise (The Gorilla) … Miss Harriet Gary. The lovely young schoolteacher, whom Blondie invites to dinner with Mr. Radcliffe. But she’s bored to tears by his talking business throughout, and then his attitude to Slugger. But they eventually reconcile …
• Danny Mummert (Blondie Knows Best) … Alvin Fuddle. Alexander’s wisecracking friend.
• Jack Rice (Blondie’s Reward) … Ollie Merton. The office kiss-up, who tries to ingratiate himself to the new boss.
• Alyn Lockwood (Blondie’s Hero) … Mary. The secretary at the Dithers Construction Company. Like the other workers, she’s intimidated by the new boss.
• Jack Davis (Talk About a Lady) … Mr. Greenleaf. The important, finicky client.
• Johnny Granath … Clarence Oliver ‘Slugger’ Mayberry. The young boy, Alexander’s friend. Who keeps unintentionally hurting Mr. Radcliffe!

Additional cast

• Eddie Acuff (The Petrified Forest) … Mailman
• Kernan Cripps (The Seventh Victim) … Lettering Painter
• Hal K. Dawson … Mr. Little
• Robert De Haven … Pete
• Sam Finn … Office Worker
• Myron Healey (The Shakiest Gun in the West) … Pipe-Smoking Office Worker
• Jerry Jarrette … Secretary
• Robert Kellard … Joe
• Garry Owen (Arsenic and Old Lace) … Cab Driver
• Wanda Perry … Secretary (uncredited)
• Rose Plumer … Hatchet-Faced Woman
• Bill Wallace … Office Worker
• Dick Wessel (Fright Night) … Charlie – the Bus Driver
• Douglas Wood … Theodore Payson

Editorial Review courtesy of Amazon.com

The first day from vacation, Dagwood doesn’t have time for breakfast, grabs a jelly doughnut and tries to eat it on a crowded bus. He manages to smear jelly on a n irate rider. At the office he finds that the jelly-smeared gentleman is none other than his new boss, Mr. Radcliffe. Dithers sold the firm while Dagwood was away. Radcliffe immediately demotes Dagwood. Meanwhile, Alexander’s teacher is planning to take their class to visit Dagwood’s office. By a ruse, Dagwood manages to get Radcliffe out of the office so that he can give himself a big buildup to the kids. When Radcliffe returns he fires Dagwood.