''Blondie of the Follies'' is a 1932 American

pre-Code Pre-Code Hollywood was the brief era in the American film industry between the widespread adoption of sound in film in 1929LaSalle (2002), p. 1. and the enforcement of the Motion Picture Production Code censorship guidelines, popularly known ...

comedy film A comedy film is a category of film which emphasizes humor. These films are designed to make the audience laugh through amusement. Films in this style traditionally have a happy ending (black comedy being an exception). Comedy is one of the ol ...

directed by

Edmund Goulding Edmund Goulding (20 March 1891 – 24 December 1959) was a British screenwriter and film director. As an actor early in his career he was one of the 'Ghosts' in the 1922 silent film ''Three Live Ghosts'' alongside Norman Kerry and Cyril Chadwick. ...

and written by

Anita Loos Corinne Anita Loos (April 26, 1888 – August 18, 1981) was an American actress, novelist, playwright and screenwriter. In 1912, she became the first female staff screenwriter in Hollywood (film industry), Hollywood, when D. W. Griffith put h ...

and

Frances Marion Frances Marion (born Marion Benson Owens, November 18, 1888 – May 12, 1973) was an American screenwriter, director, journalist and author often cited as one of the most renowned female screenwriters of the 20th century alongside June Mathis a ...

.The AFI Catalog of Feature Films:''Blondie of the Follies''
/ref>

Plot

In a crowded New York tenement on the upper east side, Blondie and Lottie are neighbors and best friends. Lottie joins the Follies, a burlesque show, driving away from their noisy, crowded, poverty-stricken life with a Mr. Kinskey. When we see Lottie again, she is a great success in burlesque, has changed her name to Lurline, is speaking French to her maid and is being kept by wealthy Larry Belmont. Blondie comes to visit her in her elegant Park Avenue apartment, and Larry takes a fancy to the pretty blonde who is always laughing. So does his older friend, Murchenson. Larry invites Blondie to go to the Follies that night and arranges for her to get into the show. They go to the nearby speakeasy, and while they are dancing, he propositions her. She rebuffs him, but he backs off, and by the time he drives her home in the morning she is merrily intoxicated and he realizes there is something special about her. The whole family has been in a state, wondering where she is. Her father is furious, and makes her choose between promising never to see Larry again and getting out. She leaves home and goes to Lottie's. Too naive to understand the whole situation, she confesses her attraction to Larry and is bewildered when the revelation shatters Lottie. The next day, Blondie's father comes to Lottie's apartment and tells Blondie he has “finished being an old-time Pa.” When she tells him she is going into the Follies, he is very worried but kisses her and wishes her luck. Blondie promises Lottie to keep “hands off” Larry. Lottie brings Blondie to a party on board Murchenson's yacht. Larry accuses her of procuring her friend for Murchenson. He says Blondie does not understand this party—and the lifestyle it represents. He tells Lottie that they are through: He has “made arrangements” for her financial welfare. He tries to convince Blondie that his feelings for her are different. Lottie cannot let go of her jealousy and forces Blondie to admit that she “might” care for Larry. In reaction Blondie throws herself at Murcheson. Three months later a successful, serene, soignée, sophisticated—and subdued—Blondie has invited Larry to tea in her beautiful apartment. He congratulates her on her success in “the bigger life”. Lottie arrives: Blondie is trying to bring them together, but it is no good. Larry never loved Lottie; he leaves. The girlfriends talk. Murchenson wants to marry Blondie, but she will only marry for love. Blondie throws a wild party full of her Follies friends, including Jimmy Durante, who does a comic turn on the film ''

Grand Hotel A grand hotel is a large and luxurious hotel, especially one housed in a building with traditional architectural style. It began to flourish in the 1800s in Europe and North America. Grand Hotel may refer to: Hotels Africa * Grande Hotel Beir ...

'', with Blondie as Garbo. Then Blondie gets a phone call and rushes away from the chaos to go to a warehouse where her father has collapsed from a heart attack. He dies moments after she arrives. One night, while the show is running, Larry sends a messenger to tell Blondie to meet him at the speakeasy. He is leaving for Europe. Lottie intercepts the message and goes over first, in costume, AWOL from the performance. When Blondie arrives, Larry tells her he loves her and is going away. Lottie flies at her, and the two women carry their argument onto the stage. When Lottie lets go of her hand during a crack the whip production number, Blondie is thrown into the orchestra pit. The show goes on. Frantic, Lottie forces her way into the ambulance with her friend. We next see Blondie on crutches in her crowded apartment, laughing hysterically and calling for champagne. The party is to celebrate her move back home. Murchenson still wants her, but as far as she is concerned, he is “finished”. Larry appears and tells her that her place is with him. She refuses to consider it: The doctors have no hope for her damaged leg. Sometime later, in the middle of the night, Larry bangs on the door of the flat. He has a group of specialists with him who can cure her. They think she is his wife. She is not. “But you will be, won't you?” he asks, and she sobs, “Okay...”

Cast

Marion Davies Marion Davies (born Marion Cecilia Douras; January 3, 1897 – September 22, 1961) was an American actress, producer, screenwriter, and philanthropist. Educated in a religious convent, Davies fled the school to pursue a career as a chorus girl ...

as Blondie McClune * Robert Montgomery as Larry Belmont *

Billie Dove Lillian Bohny (born Bertha Eugenie Bohny; May 14, 1903 – December 31, 1997), known professionally as Billie Dove, was an American actress. Early life and career Dove was born Bertha Eugenie Bohny in New York City in 1903 to Charles and Ber ...

as Lottie Callahan / Lurline Cavanaugh * Jimmy Durante as Jimmy *

James Gleason James Austin Gleason (May 23, 1882 – April 12, 1959) was an American actor, playwright and screenwriter born in New York City. Gleason often portrayed "tough-talking, world-weary guys with a secret heart-of-gold." Life and career Gleason w ...

as Pop McClune *

ZaSu Pitts Zasu Pitts (; January 3, 1894 – June 7, 1963) was an American actress who starred in many silent dramas, including Erich von Stroheim's epic 1924 silent film ''Greed'', and comedies, transitioning successfully to mostly comedy films with the ...

as Gertie *

Sidney Toler Sidney Toler (born Hooper G. Toler Jr., April 28, 1874 – February 12, 1947) was an American actor, playwright, and theatre director. The second European-American actor to play the role of Charlie Chan on screen, he is best remembered for his ...

as Pete *

Douglass Dumbrille Douglass Rupert Dumbrille (October 13, 1889 – April 2, 1974) was a Canadian actor who appeared regularly in films from the early 1930s. Life and career Douglass Dumbrille ( ) was born in Hamilton, Ontario. As a young man, he was employed ...

as Murchenson * Sarah Padden as Ma McClune * Louise Carter as Ma Callahan * Clyde Cook as Dancer

References

External links

* * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Blondie Of The Follies 1932 films Films directed by Edmund Goulding Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer films 1932 comedy films Films with screenplays by Anita Loos American comedy films American black-and-white films Films with screenplays by Frances Marion 1930s English-language films 1930s American films