Life with Blondie (1945) starring Penny Singleton, Arthur Lake
After Daisy chases a neighbor’s cat up a tree, a reporter finds out that Daisy has been voted the Navy’s pin-up dog …. And the article he writes leads to Daisy becoming a celebrity.
Comedy highlight
- Mr. Dithers, angry at Dagwood leaving important plans out home, says that he could shoot him. Outside construction noise makes Dagwood think he’s been shot! And he reacts appropriately.
Daisy the celebrity
- Alexander calls Dagwood at work to tell him that Daisy’s on the cover of “Hit” magazine, and she’s a hit all over. Due to the background noise, poor Dagwood thinks Daisy’s been killed by a car. So J. C. Dithers takes Dagwood home …. To find out that Daisy’s alive, well, and “autographing” magazines!
- Daisy starts being treated like the head of the family … Naturally enough, Dagwood’s offended.
- In a funny role reversal, Blondie dashes out of the house late (with Daisy in her arms) and knocks over the poor mailman!
- Gangsters threatening Dagwood to sell them Daisy …. Only for one of them to become parental, and reprove Dagwood for not putting Cookie’s coat on right!
- Having taken Cookie to the office, the office work comes to a halt as Ollie and the others entertain her with a game of blind man’s bluff.
- Cookie walking out onto the office building’s ledge! Then, knocking on the door of Mr. Dither’s office window! The comedy comes from Dithers’ and Dagwood’s reaction.
Modeling
- Dagwood overhears the photographer talking about “her” beautiful hair, and jealously thinks he’s hitting on Blondie! He barges in, and the man’s talking about Daisy!
- Dagwood, talked into modeling, posed with lovely models in swimsuits — afraid of Blondie walking in on him. Which is exactly what happens!
- Daisy, overhearing Dagwood, Alexander, and Cookie, runs away from home. The next day, everyone’s on the verge of tears — even the dog catcher!
Gangsters
- But, she’s been dog-napped! And the Navy comes to visit Daisy …
- At the office, Dagwood remembers the name of the club owned by the gangster. And he runs off, holding the briefcase of the man about to loan $100,000 to the Dithers Construction Company!
- Cookie also remembers, so Blondie, the kids, and the Navy all dash off as well!
- Dagwood is mistaken as a plastic surgeon at the club — to change poor Daisy’s appearance when they all go on the run!
- Then, the Navy arrives! And it’s a. very comedic brawl with the gangsters.
- After the fight, Hazel demands Daisy from Blondie. And off-screen, Blondie knocks her out cold!
- The gangster is holding Blondie at gunpoint trying to escape. But the semi-conscious Dagwood rescues her!
Funny movie quotes
Blondie: Daisy is not a mutt! She’s a thoroughbred mongrel.
Blondie: It’s not every dog that has a social security number and pays income tax.
Cookie: I may become a juvenile delinquent.
Blondie: You’re right, Dagwood. Nothing matters but the five of us. [The puppies run in] The ten of us!
Cast
- Penny Singleton (Blondie!) … Blondie Bumstead. The level-headed wife and mother. She becomes slightly less level-headed, as she’s in charge of the star … Daisy!
- Arthur Lake (Blondie’s Holiday) … Dagwood Bumstead. Head of the household, who finds himself becoming jealous of his beloved dog.
- Larry Simms (Blondie’s Secret) … Alexander Bumstead
- Marjorie Ann Mutchie (Blondie’s Reward) … Cookie Bumstead. Dagwood and Blondie’s little girl. She feels overlooked as Daisy’s fame grows.
- Daisy … Daisy. The cute mongrel, who becomes the center of attention. And kidnapped! Dognapped?
- Jonathan Hale (Blondie Knows Best) … J.C. Dithers. Dagwood’s boss, who oddly doesn’t fire Dagwood this time.
- Ernest Truex (His Girl Friday) … Theodore Glassby, Apex Advertising. The publicity man for Daisy Soap, who turns Daisy into their spokes dog. And it pays $100 for each photo shoot. Much more money than poor Dagwood earns weekly!
- Marc Lawrence (Diamonds are Forever) … Pete, Blackie’s Henchman
- Veda Ann Borg (Kid Galahad) … Hazel. Blackie’s girlfriend, who simply must have Daisy for her own.
Trivia
- The sixteenth of twenty-eight Blondie movies.
- The first Blondie movie without Alvin Fuddle. The actor, Danny Mummert, was appearing in It’s a Wonderful Life.
- Columbia Picture’s 1943 decision to cancel the Blondie series met with protest. Which resulted in Life with Blondie.
Editorial review of Life with Blondie courtesy of Amazon.com
Daisy, the Bumstead dog, is named “pin-up pooch of the year”. Dagwood, jealous of the dog’s life, gets himself into the doghouse with Blondie.
