Blonde Crazy (1931)

What's not to like about this movie? You have James Cagney as a smooth hotel bellhop, chasing women and intent on making it big. You have beautiful Joan Blondell standing up for herself, refusing to give in to his advances or to a hotel patron's, and not afraid to dish out a good slap across the face. You also have her taking a bath, for crying out loud! As well wear a very pretty wedding gown, although her marriage may not be to who you think.The film has the two of them improbably teaming up to dupe people out of their money, and the ways in which do this are sometimes quite clever. The little fish get swallowed up by bigger fish at one turn, and there are feints and double crosses along the way, prompting Cagney to famously say 'that dirty double-crossin' rat!' I'm not sure why there is criticism about the ending, but won't spoil it except to say it's perfectly balanced.Despite all the larceny, the movie is playful and it's a joy to watch the banter and chemistry between Cagney and Blondell. He playfully struts across the floor, calls her 'honn-ee', and is gentle with her after he's grabbed her and she tells him he's hurting her (which is nice particularly given the time!). I have no idea why the movie was called 'Blonde Crazy', except to say it may make you Blondell Crazy. :) And what a fantastic year 1931 was for James Cagney! 'The Public Enemy' appeared in the same year. This one would be a great introduction to films of this period – it's entertaining, and had all of the right touches.

Blonde Crazy (1931) does not boast the best plot in the world: the structure is a mess and many of the supporting characters are not that well developed. But gosh, who's here for any of that? This movie is all about James Cagney and Joan Blondell, giving them a framework around which to display their wonderful chemistry. The two play a pair of con artists who work in a hotel, swindling lecherous old men out of money. Of course, the partners in crime fall in love, though Joan is reluctant to hitch herself to such a scoundrel and lady killer.The whole thing is a lark, full of belly laughs. I near died every time Blondell smacked someone across the face or Cagney called someone "HON-EEY!" If you're a fan of either actor, then you'll have a great old time with Blonde Crazy. Everyone else may not be so impressed.

(Possible spoiler) Great fun as long as Joan and Jimmy are flirting and sparring -- she has a great right hook, which she's forced to employ repeatedly, and he has an unusually expressive vocal delivery, including a "HAW-nee" endearment unlike anything he ever attempted again. It's a rock-'em, sock-'em early talkie with the two stars at their most appealing, Cagney so full of energy that he seems to walk an inch or two above the ground. There's plenty of pre-Code intrigue, too, and the casual sexuality is pretty eye-opening for 1931. Blondell is pretty, spirited, and authoritative; like film historian David Thomson said, as far as professionalism goes, it is difficult to overpraise her. Up to the "Sting"-like episodes of the pair fleecing Louis Calhern (looking very dapper in black tie), it's a raunchy treat. But then the plot takes a wayward detour, with Blondell falling into an unhappy marriage with Wall Street crook Ray Milland. (Exactly how this blue-collar honey could charm her way into his high-society family is not clear.) The last 20 minutes or so plod into melodrama, chase, and only semi-happy ending, with the two stars finally in the clinch we knew they'd be in all along. Breezy going for the first two-thirds, though, and even when the narrative veers off, the stars are right on track.

Bellhop James Cagney and hotel maid Joan Blondell have a lot of ambitions during Depression Era America. They've seen the American dream go belly up on Wall Street, seen lots of people lose everything they have to crooks and chiselers and have decided if you can't beat 'em, join 'em. And Cagney has entitled what he considers the Depression to be, the age of chiselry.These two are obviously so suited for each other. But for what each considers practical reasons they hook up with other people. Cagney hero worships noted confidence man Louis Calhern and Blondell takes a shine to polished and dapper Ray Milland, a wall street broker. Each becomes quite disillusioned.This is a good piece of historic Americana, depression era. People like Cagney and Blondell lost a lot of ideals in that period and it rings true even today. Later on Preston Sturges would take some of the same themes in Blonde Crazy and use them in a more comedic way. But this film is still pretty good on its own merits.