Blondie Takes a Vacation
Brief Synopsis
Blondie, Dagwood, Baby Dumpling and Daisy help an elderly couple save their mountain resort.
Cast & Crew
Read More
Frank R. Strayer
Director
Penny Singleton
Blondie Bumstead
Arthur Lake
Dagwood Bumstead
Larry Simms
Baby Dumpling Bumstead
Daisy
Himself
Danny Mummert
Alvin Fuddle
Film Details
Genre
Comedy
Release Date
Jul
20,
1939
Premiere Information
not available
Production Company
Columbia Pictures Corp.
Distribution Company
Columbia Pictures Corp.
Country
United States
Screenplay Information
Based on the comic strip "Blondie" created by Chic Young and copyrighted by King Features Syndicate, Inc. (1930--).
Technical Specs
Duration
1h 1m
Sound
Mono (Western Electric Mirrophonic Recording)
Color
Black and White
Theatrical Aspect Ratio
1.37 : 1
Film Length
7 reels
Synopsis
Dagwood, Blondie, and Baby Dumpling Bumstead and their dog, Daisy, journey to a mountain lake for a much anticipated rest. Upon their arrival, the Bumsteads discover that their kindly old innkeepers, the Dickersons, are on the verge of losing their hotel due to the machinations of their business rival, Harvey Morton. Moved by the plight of the elderly pair, Dagwood and Blondie proceed to take the place in hand. After the family battles such minor disasters as a visiting skunk, the summer heats up when Morton's hotel burns down. Pyromaniac Jonathan Gillis saves Baby Dumpling from the fire, and later Dagwood is accused of arson. Luckily, Dagwood is vindicated when Baby Dumpling testifies that the fire was set accidentally by Morton himself. After saving the Dickersons' hotel, the Bumsteads end their summer vacation more exhausted than when they began it.
Director
Frank R. Strayer
Director
Cast
Penny Singleton
Blondie Bumstead
Arthur Lake
Dagwood Bumstead
Larry Simms
Baby Dumpling Bumstead
Daisy
Himself
Danny Mummert
Alvin Fuddle
Donald Meek
Jonathan Gillis
Donald Macbride
Harvey Morton
Thomas W. Ross
Matthew Dickerson
Elizabeth Dunne
Mrs. Dickerson
Robert Wilcox
John Larkin
Harlan Briggs
Holden
Irving Bacon
Mailman
Arthur Housman
Inebriated man
Wade Boteler
Engineer
Arthur Aylsworth
Sheriff
Emmett Vogan
Conductor
Gus Glassmire
Creditor
Milt Kibbee
Creditor
Bob Mckenzie
Creditor
Lou Fulton
Cab driver
Dave Willock
Hotel clerk
Harry Harvey
Poker player
Eugene Anderson Jr.
Newsboy
Crew
Lionel Banks
Art Director
Abby Berlin
Assistant Director
Robert Chapin
Story
Karen De Wolf
Story
Richard Flournoy
Story
Richard Flournoy
Screenwriter
Henry Freulich
Director of Photography
Jack Goodrich
Sound Recording
Kalloch
Gowns
Viola Lawrence
Film Editor
Robert Sparks
Producer
M. W. Stoloff
Music Director
Film Details
Genre
Comedy
Release Date
Jul
20,
1939
Premiere Information
not available
Production Company
Columbia Pictures Corp.
Distribution Company
Columbia Pictures Corp.
Country
United States
Screenplay Information
Based on the comic strip "Blondie" created by Chic Young and copyrighted by King Features Syndicate, Inc. (1930--).
Technical Specs
Duration
1h 1m
Sound
Mono (Western Electric Mirrophonic Recording)
Color
Black and White
Theatrical Aspect Ratio
1.37 : 1
Film Length
7 reels
Articles
Blondie Takes a Vacation
After establishing Dagwood's boss, Mr. Dithers (Jonathan Hale), as a major figure in the series, the third of Columbia's 28 Blondie films leaves him out altogether (he would stay with the series through 1946's Blondie Knows Best). Instead, it follows the Bumsteads (Arthur Lake as Dagwood, Penny Singleton as Blondie, Larry Simms as Baby Dumpling and Daisy the dog as Daisy the dog) on a vacation trip to the mountains. On the train, they run afoul of the manager (Donald MacBride) of the hotel they've booked. He kicks them out and another tenant (Donald Meek) leaves in sympathy. The only other place they can find is run by an elderly couple (Thomas W. Ross and Elizabeth Dunne) about to lose their business. So, Blondie and Dagwood set out to save the day, leading to a series of slapstick scenes as they take over cooking and cleaning. The presence of experienced pros like Meek and MacBride helps keep the series fresh. Esteemed character actor Harry Davenport was supposed to have played the aging innkeeper but he was held up making a much bigger film, Gone with the Wind (1939). That opened the door for stage and silent screen comic star Ross.
Blondie Takes a Vacation
After establishing Dagwood's boss, Mr. Dithers (Jonathan Hale), as a major figure in the series, the third of Columbia's 28 Blondie films leaves him out altogether (he would stay with the series through 1946's Blondie Knows Best). Instead, it follows the Bumsteads (Arthur Lake as Dagwood, Penny Singleton as Blondie, Larry Simms as Baby Dumpling and Daisy the dog as Daisy the dog) on a vacation trip to the mountains. On the train, they run afoul of the manager (Donald MacBride) of the hotel they've booked. He kicks them out and another tenant (Donald Meek) leaves in sympathy. The only other place they can find is run by an elderly couple (Thomas W. Ross and Elizabeth Dunne) about to lose their business. So, Blondie and Dagwood set out to save the day, leading to a series of slapstick scenes as they take over cooking and cleaning. The presence of experienced pros like Meek and MacBride helps keep the series fresh. Esteemed character actor Harry Davenport was supposed to have played the aging innkeeper but he was held up making a much bigger film, Gone with the Wind (1939). That opened the door for stage and silent screen comic star Ross.
Quotes
Trivia
Notes
According to a news item in Hollywood Reporter, Harry Davenport was slated to appear in this film, but his role in Gone with the Wind forced him to withdraw. This was the third picture in the Blondie series. For additional information about the series, consult the Series Index and see Blondie! (above).
