Blonde Crazy (1931)

Great Film overall

Amateur movie with Big budget

It's one of the most original films you'll likely see all year, which, depending on your threshold for certifiably crazy storylines, could be a rewarding experience or one that frustrates you.

By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.

What's not to like about this movie? You have James Cagney as a smooth hotel bellhop, chasing women and intent on making it big. You have beautiful Joan Blondell standing up for herself, refusing to give in to his advances or to a hotel patron's, and not afraid to dish out a good slap across the face. You also have her taking a bath, for crying out loud! As well wear a very pretty wedding gown, although her marriage may not be to who you think.The film has the two of them improbably teaming up to dupe people out of their money, and the ways in which do this are sometimes quite clever. The little fish get swallowed up by bigger fish at one turn, and there are feints and double crosses along the way, prompting Cagney to famously say 'that dirty double-crossin' rat!' I'm not sure why there is criticism about the ending, but won't spoil it except to say it's perfectly balanced.Despite all the larceny, the movie is playful and it's a joy to watch the banter and chemistry between Cagney and Blondell. He playfully struts across the floor, calls her 'honn-ee', and is gentle with her after he's grabbed her and she tells him he's hurting her (which is nice particularly given the time!). I have no idea why the movie was called 'Blonde Crazy', except to say it may make you Blondell Crazy. :) And what a fantastic year 1931 was for James Cagney! 'The Public Enemy' appeared in the same year. This one would be a great introduction to films of this period – it's entertaining, and had all of the right touches.

This is one of those very early talkie/precodes that I wish would come out on DVD. At this point in its history - 1931 - Warner Bros. was the mass producer of urban dramas and films that realistically portrayed the depression. Some of the films Warner made during this time were quite forgettable, and others had something special. This film is one of those special efforts, largely due to the acting skills of Joan Blondell and the great James Cagney and the on-screen chemistry they had. Cagney's character (Bert Harris) starts out as a bellboy in a midwestern hotel who is instantly attracted to Joan Blondell's character (Anne Roberts) when she applies for a job as a hotel maid. Bert wants a career as a confidence man and talks Anne into going into business with him as a partner. They work their way up from that small midwestern town into larger stakes in New York. Along the way Cagney runs into someone who ends up taking him instead of vice versa, Dan Barker, played by Louis Calhern. Calhern always excelled at playing the part of a slippery type, and his performance here is no exception. After settling the score with Dan, Anne wants out of the racket so she can marry a nice young man she has met along the way, and this seems like the end of the film. However, there is one final twist at the end that reunites Anne and Bert in a way that is totally unexpected.Even though this film was made after Cagney's star-making role in "Public Enemy", he still doesn't have his gangster/wise guy personna down yet. That makes one of the unexpected pleasures of the film seeing how he is still finding his way as far as his trademark gestures go in his later roles. Highly recommended.

Bellhop James Cagney and hotel maid Joan Blondell have a lot of ambitions during Depression Era America. They've seen the American dream go belly up on Wall Street, seen lots of people lose everything they have to crooks and chiselers and have decided if you can't beat 'em, join 'em. And Cagney has entitled what he considers the Depression to be, the age of chiselry.These two are obviously so suited for each other. But for what each considers practical reasons they hook up with other people. Cagney hero worships noted confidence man Louis Calhern and Blondell takes a shine to polished and dapper Ray Milland, a wall street broker. Each becomes quite disillusioned.This is a good piece of historic Americana, depression era. People like Cagney and Blondell lost a lot of ideals in that period and it rings true even today. Later on Preston Sturges would take some of the same themes in Blonde Crazy and use them in a more comedic way. But this film is still pretty good on its own merits.

This film is great - very under-rated. Cagney really fires - and he hasn't yet developed all his famous mannerisms so he is very different to what you may expect. Blondell is certainly his match - and this movie is very very naughty! Don't miss it!