Blonde Fever (1945) - Turner Classic Movies

Brief Synopsis

A woman fights to save her husband from a sluttish waitress.

Cast & Crew

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Richard Whorf

Philip Dorn

Mary Astor

Felix Bressart

Gloria Grahame

Marshall Thompson

Photos & Videos

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Blonde Fever - (Original Trailer)

Blonde Fever (1945) -- (Movie Clip) Decorative, Isn't She?

Blonde Fever (1945) -- (Movie Clip) I'm Awful Fond Of You

Film Details

Also Known As

Autumn Fever

Genre

Comedy

Adaptation

Drama

Release Date

Feb 1945

Premiere Information

not available

Production Company

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Corp.

Distribution Company

Loew's Inc.

Country

United States

Screenplay Information

Based on the play Delila by Ferenc Molnár (Budapest, 17 Sep 1937).

Technical Specs

Duration

1h 9m

Sound

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Color

Black and White

Theatrical Aspect Ratio

1.37 : 1

Film Length

6,193ft (7 reels)

Synopsis

Peter Donay, an unhappily married and partly-reformed gambling addict, is the proprietor of the Café Donay, a posh inn on the road between Lake Tahoe and Reno, Nevada. Peter's wife Delilah knows that Peter is having an affair with Sally Murfin, a blonde, gold digging cigarette girl at the nightclub, and she tries to scare Sally away by telling her that the restaurant is losing money. Peter overhears the lie and denies it. Later, Delilah tries to drive another wedge between Peter and Sally when she hires Sally's young fiancée, Freddie Bilson, as a waiter. Delilah hopes that Freddie's presence will deter Peter from making further advances upon Sally, and she later offers him lodging in a room above the garage. During a radio broadcast announcing the winner of a $40,000 lottery, Peter and Freddie, who have entered the contest, listen anxiously as the numbers are read. Peter has the winning ticket, and the $40,000 prize makes him that much more appealing to Sally. After sending Delilah out on an errand, Peter shows Sally a clothing catalog for the "under twenty-one set" and strokes her hair. Sally then attempts to seduce Peter and plants a kiss on him. Freddie eventually becomes jealous of Peter's attention to Sally, and when Peter fires him, he explodes with rage and threatens Peter. When Freddie accidentally intrudes on Sally and Peter's tryst in the wine cellar, he pulls a gun on Peter and threatens to shoot him. Forced at gun point to admit the truth, Peter tells Freddie that he and Sally are in love and intend to marry. That night, Delilah asks Peter for a divorce, and instead of accepting his offer of alimony, she tells him that she wants the $40,000 lottery check. Peter, however, knows that Sally is expecting the money for herself, and therefore refuses to grant Delilah's request. He eventually gives in, though. While Delilah packs her bags and makes an uncharacteristic but showy display of her new wealth, Peter confides in Sally's friend Johnny that he has made a big mistake and that he wishes to win back his wife. When Sally learns of the financial agreement Peter made with Delilah, she becomes upset and flustered and suggests that Peter sue his wife for "alienation of affection." Sally's loyalties quickly turn to Freddie, though, when he arrives on a new motorcycle that Delilah bought him. Freddie easily wins back Sally's fickle affections, and he whisks her off on his motorcycle. Peter then apologizes to his wife and tells her that he now knows the difference between loving someone and merely wanting someone. Delilah forgives her husband and tells him that she will be staying. While they kiss, Delilah's empty suitcase opens, revealing that she was bluffing all along.

Director

Richard Whorf

Cast

Philip Dorn

Mary Astor

Felix Bressart

Gloria Grahame

Marshall Thompson

Curt Bois

Elisabeth Risdon

Arthur Walsh

Paul Scott

Edward Kilroy

Sherry Hall

Carlyle Blackwell Jr.

String quartet leader

John Phipps

Hume Cronyn

Jessica Tandy

Tom Quinn

Dagmar Oakland

Celia Travers

Crew

Preston Ames

Rollie Asher

Assistant Director

Edward Baravalle

Patricia Coleman

Kay Dean

Peter P. Decker

John F. Dullam

Cedric Gibbons

George Hively

Irene

Costume Supervisor

Walter Lackey

Standish J. Lambert

Re-rec and Effects mixer

M. J. Mclaughlin

Richard Pefferle

Associate (Sets)

Al Raboch

Assistant Director

Arthur Rose

Douglas Shearer

Recording Director

Nathaniel Shilkret

Newell Sparks

Re-rec and Effects mixer

William Steinkamp

Re-rec and Effects mixer

Michael Steinore

Re-rec and Effects mixer

Lester White

Director of Photography

John A. Williams

Re-rec and Effects mixer

Edwin B. Willis

William H. Wright

Photo Collections

Videos

Blonde Fever (1945) -- (Movie Clip) Decorative, Isn't She? Nevada restauranteur Donay (Philip Dorn) and wife Delilah (Mary Astor) greeting friend Mrs. Talford (Elizabeth Risdon), who comments on the hot new cigarette girl Sally (Gloria Grahame), early in Blonde Fever, 1945

Blonde Fever (1945) -- (Movie Clip) I'm Awful Fond Of You Cigarette girl Sally (Gloria Grahame), discussing her boyfriend and unleashing considerable seductive charms on boss Donay (Philip Dorn), in Blonde Fever, 1945, based on a Ferenc Molnar play.

Blonde Fever - (Original Trailer) A woman fights to save her husband after he gets Blonde Fever (1945) with a young Gloria Grahame as the Blonde.

Film Details

Also Known As

Autumn Fever

Genre

Comedy

Adaptation

Drama

Release Date

Feb 1945

Premiere Information

not available

Production Company

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Corp.

Distribution Company

Loew's Inc.

Country

United States

Screenplay Information

Based on the play Delila by Ferenc Molnár (Budapest, 17 Sep 1937).

Technical Specs

Duration

1h 9m

Sound

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Color

Black and White

Theatrical Aspect Ratio

1.37 : 1

Film Length

6,193ft (7 reels)

Articles

Blonde Fever

June 18, 2009

Peter Donay, an unhappily married and partly-reformed gambling addict, is the proprietor of the Café Donay, a posh inn on the road between Lake Tahoe and Reno, Nevada. Peter's wife Delilah knows that Peter is having an affair with Sally Murfin, a blonde, gold digging cigarette girl at the nightclub, and she tries to scare Sally away by telling her that the restaurant is losing money. Peter overhears the lie and denies it.

The plot thickens when Delilah tries to drive another wedge between Peter and Sally by hiring Sally's young fiancée, Freddie Bilson, as a waiter. Delilah hopes that Freddie's presence will deter Peter from making further advances upon Sally, and she later offers him lodging in a room above the garage.

During a radio broadcast announcing the winner of a $40,000 lottery, Peter and Freddie, who have entered the contest, listen anxiously as the numbers are read. Peter has the winning ticket, and the $40,000 prize makes him that much more appealing to Sally. Will Peter take the money and run away with Sally or reconcile with his wife?

Producer: William H. Wright
Director: Richard Whorf
Screenplay: Patricia Coleman; Ferenc Molnar (play)
Cinematography: Lester White
Art Direction: Preston Ames, Cedric Gibbons
Music: Nathaniel Shilkret
Film Editing: George Hively
Cast: Philip Dorn (Peter Donay), Mary Astor (Delilah Donay), Felix Bressart (Johnny), Gloria Grahame (Sally Murfin), Marshall Thompson (Freddie Bilson), Curt Bois (Brillon), Elisabeth Risdon (Mrs. Talford), Arthur Walsh (Willie).
BW-69m.

Blonde Fever

Blonde Fever

Peter Donay, an unhappily married and partly-reformed gambling addict, is the proprietor of the Café Donay, a posh inn on the road between Lake Tahoe and Reno, Nevada. Peter's wife Delilah knows that Peter is having an affair with Sally Murfin, a blonde, gold digging cigarette girl at the nightclub, and she tries to scare Sally away by telling her that the restaurant is losing money. Peter overhears the lie and denies it. The plot thickens when Delilah tries to drive another wedge between Peter and Sally by hiring Sally's young fiancée, Freddie Bilson, as a waiter. Delilah hopes that Freddie's presence will deter Peter from making further advances upon Sally, and she later offers him lodging in a room above the garage. During a radio broadcast announcing the winner of a $40,000 lottery, Peter and Freddie, who have entered the contest, listen anxiously as the numbers are read. Peter has the winning ticket, and the $40,000 prize makes him that much more appealing to Sally. Will Peter take the money and run away with Sally or reconcile with his wife? Producer: William H. Wright Director: Richard Whorf Screenplay: Patricia Coleman; Ferenc Molnar (play) Cinematography: Lester White Art Direction: Preston Ames, Cedric Gibbons Music: Nathaniel Shilkret Film Editing: George Hively Cast: Philip Dorn (Peter Donay), Mary Astor (Delilah Donay), Felix Bressart (Johnny), Gloria Grahame (Sally Murfin), Marshall Thompson (Freddie Bilson), Curt Bois (Brillon), Elisabeth Risdon (Mrs. Talford), Arthur Walsh (Willie). BW-69m.

Quotes

Mr.Donay there are two kinds of girls, good girls and the other kind. I hope you don't think I'm the other kind.
- Sally Murfin

Trivia

Notes

A working title for this film was Autumn Fever. This picture marked the screen debut of actress Gloria Grahame. Grahame, who was born Gloria Grahame Hallward, acted under the name Gloria Hallward when she made her Broadway debut in 1943. Although the onscreen credits announce the "introduction" of actor Marshall Thompson, he made his first screen appearance in the 1944 Universal film The Reckless Age (see below). Blonde Fever was producer William H. Wright's first picture for M-G-M.

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