Heidelburg Sunset art print by Joseph Mallord William Turner

May 16, 2008 | By Doug In William Turner |

Blonde Crazy describes the perpetual mental state of James Cagney. A conniving bellhop, Cagney increases his bank account by using his blonde girlfriend Joan Blondell as a come-on to various “sugar daddies” whom he suckers out of their hard-earned cash. When Jimmy and Joan try their con game in New York, they fall victim to sharpster Louis Calhern. Angry that Cagney has lost their money, Joan marries straight-arrow Ray Milland (in one of his earliest roles) Jimmy tries to get back the dough by committing a holdup, and is promptly arrested. Joan, realizing that Cagney has landed in jail because of her, throws over her husband and vows to wait for Jimmy. Made in the pre-code era when Joan Blonell in the bathtub was sexy rather than sinful, Blonde Crazy is a window on a wise-cracking, flim-flamming, fascinating world. Year: 1931 Director: Roy Del Ruth Starring: James Cagney, Joan Blondell, Louis Calhern, Ray Milland, Guy Kibbee, Polly Walters, William Burress
List Price: $19.98
Used Price: $7.46
Customer Review: Cagney makes this precode something special
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.
Customer Review: Looks like Cagney turns out to be Rumpole
I purchased this new from media_distributors but I made the mistake of not looking at it right away. It looked like it was new and the video was labeled Blonde Crazy. It came in a Blonde Crazy Box wrapped in cellophane. When I popped it into the video machine I had to rewind it. When I played it, it turned out to be Rumpole. Update. I wrote an email to Media Distributors after posting this, and they replaced my video. Outstanding.
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List Price: $13.98
Used Price: $10.00
Customer Review: Diverse offering full of laughter, love and the blues!!
This musical soundtrack is my favorite! It has a diverse offering of artists who range in vocals from a very robust and alluring tenor to enchanting soprano. The types of songs go from fun & upbeat to “somebody-please-get-me-a-tissue” blues. These selections will make you envision whatever scene/theme that is being performed and will force you to crawl into the number and savor/enjoy the fun or the blues of it. I love it!! I believe you will, too.
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The Saint gets mixed up with European counterfeiters
List Price: $19.98
Used Price: $15.00
Customer Review: Thin Man w/British accent.
The Saint in London was a nice surprise for me. I enjoy these early light hearted detective movies and the Saint did not disappoint me. George Sanders looked the part of a sophisticated, but rugged hero. He is wealthy, but he easily engages people of every social status. The give and take with the female hero was much like the Thin Man series that I understand proceeded this film. The Saint, though, is not made for marriage for which he makes clear to his girlfriend. He is the stereotypic “Man’s Man” and this is a classic Saturday afternoon movie.
Customer Review: Style over substance. Done on location in London.
I soon found out that I much prefer George Sanders over the foppish Roger Moore, the tv Saint, 30 years later. An amusing little movie featuring some smart banter between The Saint & his young attractive admirer, Penny Parker (Sally Gray)who helps him solve the crime. She’d jump his bones in a minute but he’s too much a gentleman for that. Most of the other members of the cast are rich, idle drones, without much to say. The slight plot is a theft of foreign currency & a murder to be solved. But the best part is the flirtatious dialogue between Penny & Simon Templar (The Saint). Diverting…entertaining, in pre-war London.
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List Price: $44.98
Amazon Price: $34.99
Used Price: $30.00
Customer Review: Fantastic Nostalgia
Anyone who has ever been a fan of the humble cartoon and especially if you were a 1970’s “latch key kid” will LOVE this boxed set. It takes you back to the day of simple humour, fun characters and overall good, light hearted entertainment. The amazing Hanna Barbera at it’s best!!!!
Customer Review: T.C. and the Gang are Great!
I was just a kid when Top Cat became the second prime-time cartoon show, and couldn’t wait to watch it. The Flintstones broke the ice in ‘60, and TC and crew came on in ‘61. It is a real tragedy they didn’t make more Top Cat, because of the two, I and many others prefer this feline take on the old Sgt. Bilko show. The quality of the video is fantastic–and it’s GREAT seeing them all in color. (I had no idea Choo-Choo was PINK)… of course it was only done that way to create all the right shades of gray/white/black for a show that only aired in black and white–but in color it’s even better. The audio could be a little louder, unless it’s just that my DVD player doesn’t pick up the audio track that well; I have to have the volume almost to full 100 to get it clear across my living room. Other than that, I split my sides watching the antics of TC and company, and am amazed at how much I remember even after not having seen this show in over 40 years! I KNEW sooner or later he’d call officer Dibble–Officer Dribble… I distinctly remembered it… and he did. Memories, Memories! Benny the Ball, Chooch, Fancy, Brain, Spook, and TC, they’re all here and what fun it is to share them with my grandkids who love them as much as I did. It’s SO refreshing to be able to show them cartoons that do NOT have kids who hate their parents, dysfunctional families that are rife with obscenities, and sexual innuendo… none of that.. just good clean wholesome…and funny entertainment. Love it. Oh, and the extra features on each disc are fun as well… interviews with the voices of Leo De Lyon who was both Spook and Brain, (Am I just spinning wheels, or was there a character called Leo the Lion, and Hardy Har Har?—could this be the guy who was THAT voice too? LOL) and in another one, the guy who was Chooch’s voice, and even Top Cat himself. They also have one episode on each disk where you can hear them discussing the show as it’s played (this is NOT the regular show–but an extra)… and it’s really enlightening hearing all the commentary. I was leery of the investment at first, and still rue the fact that there aren’t a whole lot more episodes of this wonderful show available. That said, anyone who came up in the era of those great Hanna-Barbera cartoon shows like Yogi Bear, Huckleberry Hound, Deputy Dawg, Flintstones, Jetsons,…all great FAMILY fun… will just love TC and the Gang!
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