Blondie Johnson (1933)

Sexy, wisecracking blonde Joan Blondell starred in the pre-code gangster film Blondie Johnson (Ray Enright, 1933). Her co-stars were 'tough guy' Chester Morris with his chiselled jaw and Earle Foxe, who was one of the attractive and wicked screen gigolos of the 1920s. Film Weekly published a series of cards for this First National production. A marvelous piece of film fun, according to an IMDb reviewer.


British postcard by Film Weekly. Photo: First National. Joan Blondell and Chester Morris in Blondie Johnson (Ray Enright, 1933).


British postcard by Film Weekly. Photo: First National. Chester Morris and Joan Blondell in Blondie Johnson (Ray Enright, 1933).

Too much of a good thing is wonderful

Blondie Johnson (Ray Enright, 1933) is set during the Great Depression. Blondie Johnson (Joan Blondell) quits her job after her boss sexually harasses her. She and her sick mother are then evicted from their apartment and are unable to get any government relief funds.

After her mother dies, Blondie is determined to become rich. She soon gets involved in a criminal organisation and falls in love with Danny, one of its members (Chester Morris). Later she convinces him to take down his boss, Max Wagner (Arthur Vinton). Blondie eventually climbs up the criminal ladder, becoming the boss of the "little navy" gang before the gang is exposed. When Danny opposes Blondie, she avenges and the gang thinks he ratted about the killing of Max. Blondie arrives too late to hold back the thugs, but Danny is not mortally wounded. Instead, the gang is arrested. Blondie is convicted too and sent to prison for six years, but she and Danny promise each other that they will make a fresh start after paying their debts to society.

The story and screenplay of Blondie Johnson was written by Earl Baldwin. Joan Blondell makes the most of his put-downs:

Danny: If you was my dame I’d break your neck.
Blondie: If I was your dame I’d deserve it.

Danny: What are you trying to do? Put ideas in my head?
Blondie: There's certainly plenty of room for ’em.

'Blondell is her usual wisecracking, tear-jerking, tough, funny, sexy self, but the film gives her more dramatic scope than usual and an edge of bitterness lacking in her wised-up-but-good-hearted sidekick roles.', Imogensera Smith writes at IMDb. Another IMDb reviewer, Glennstenb: 'Joan Blondell Shines as Blondie! Blondie Johnson is a marvellous piece of film fun, made just before the era of the speakeasy was to conclude. The story is engaging and is a so-called 'gangster movie' with a difference. The fun dialogue goes on relentlessly with generous helpings of stellar interactions. This movie contains, additionally, an eye-boggling march across the screen of sparkling Art-Deco interiors and Depression-era fashions.'

Imogensara Smith: 'Blondie Johnson is obviously derivative of the previous year's Blonde Crazy, but here is a case where, in the words of Mae West, "too much of a good thing is wonderful." The only flaw is that Chester Morris is no Jimmy Cagney; he is convincing as a rather dim bulb and shares none of the chemistry with Blondell that lit up Blonde Crazy. The supporting cast helps fill the breach, with Allen Jenkins earning a laugh at his first appearance just by being Allen Jenkins; Mae Busch as Jenkins's world-weary girlfriend; the lovely and sardonic Toshia Mori; and the inevitable 'other woman', Claire Dodd.'

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British postcard by Film Weekly. Photo: First National. Joan Blondell and Earle Foxe in Blondie Johnson (Ray Enright, 1933).


British postcard by Film Weekly. Photo: First National. Chester Morris and Joan Blondell in Blondie Johnson (Ray Enright, 1933).

Sources: Imogensara Smith (IMDb), Glennstenb (IMDb), Wikipedia and IMDb.