The Strawberry Blonde (A- or 3.5/4 stars)
'The Strawberry Blonde' (directed by Raoul Walsh) is an absolutely wonderful movie from 1941 that contains elements of light drama, comedy, & music. It's set in NY around the turn-of-the-century when the genial parks were lit by gaslight & the story is told in flashback through the eyes of pugnacious Brooklyn dentist Biff Grimes (James Cagney), who reminisces with his amiable barber pal, Nick (enjoyable George Tobias) about his double-crossing buddy from the old neighborhood, Hugo Barnstead (Jack Carson). He's the man responsible for Biff's unfair 5 yr.(!) prison sentence and who stole 'the strawberry blonde' from him. See, 8 long yrs. ago, back in the 'old neighborhood', Biff dreamed of becoming a dentist; wanting to move up the social ladder & not be like his drunk philandering father (Alan Hale).
While hanging around Nick's barbershop, Biff & the neighborhood guys whistle at the 'strawberry blonde' as she passes by - aka as Virginia Brush (Rita Hayworth). Hugo leaps first; making an informal date with Virginia in the park. As a double date, she brings along her sweet-natured, free-thinking nurse friend Amy Lind (Olivia de Havilland) for Biff -- this irks Biff, of course, because he's desperately in love with Virginia. Within a month, the successful-in-business Hugo marries Virginia (who we later discover is a nagging gold digger). So what does Biff do? Marries Amy on the rebound.
Some 3 yrs. go by & Hugo becomes a big-time contractor, while Biff still plugs away in dentist courses. By request of Virginia, Hugo hires Biff to be his firm's VP. But when the wall in Hugo's building collapse (killing a man) because poor materials were used, Biff gets blamed 'cause he signed certain papers and is sent to prison. This flashback ends & the story resurfaces with Biff happily married to Amy and a miserable, ailing Hugo needing a tooth pulled by the only dentist around ... Biff. Biff could really have a go at him. But after seeing his old nemesis again, as well as how the girl he once loved has changed for the worse, Biff realizes how good he has it with Amy; their love & life of happiness is worth far more than exacting full revenge.
What a great little film. My grandma assured me that I would love it as much as she does, and she was correct. There's just something irresistible about it; an original story with solid direction, great period design, wonderful music, a nostalgic 1890s/turn-of-the-century milieu, and all supported by a superb cast -- what more could you want? As mentioned above, the story has a little bit of everything: drama, romance, comedy, beautiful visuals, & music. Speaking of the music, one of the film's strongest themes - for me - would be nostalgia; from a long time past. I'm reminded of 1944's Meet Me in St. Louis -- same type of delightful, warm-&-fuzzy feeling as I watched this film. The barbershop quartets, the horse-&-buggies, the handlebar moustaches, the band playing in the park ... all wonderful.
Playing slightly against type, James Cagney is excellent as the quarrelsome, but completely endearing Biff -- you just gotta love the guy. He & Olivia De Havilland provide great chemistry, as well. As Amy, De Havilland is funny, sweet, sympathetic, but also one tough cookie; preaching her women's lib to Virginia, who responds, "I refuse to listen to advanced ideas!!" {haha}. I loved de Havilland here because there's vulnerability hidden beneath her feminist/suffragette bravado. i.e., "(marriage is) an institution started by the cavemen & endorsed by florists & jewelers"). Rita Hayworth is stunning as the titular Virginia. She may be beguiling, but she also lets us see her shallow, wannabe socialite ways. And Jack Carson is stellar as the charismatic womanizer-turned-political tycoon. Great performances, great movie.
While hanging around Nick's barbershop, Biff & the neighborhood guys whistle at the 'strawberry blonde' as she passes by - aka as Virginia Brush (Rita Hayworth). Hugo leaps first; making an informal date with Virginia in the park. As a double date, she brings along her sweet-natured, free-thinking nurse friend Amy Lind (Olivia de Havilland) for Biff -- this irks Biff, of course, because he's desperately in love with Virginia. Within a month, the successful-in-business Hugo marries Virginia (who we later discover is a nagging gold digger). So what does Biff do? Marries Amy on the rebound.
Some 3 yrs. go by & Hugo becomes a big-time contractor, while Biff still plugs away in dentist courses. By request of Virginia, Hugo hires Biff to be his firm's VP. But when the wall in Hugo's building collapse (killing a man) because poor materials were used, Biff gets blamed 'cause he signed certain papers and is sent to prison. This flashback ends & the story resurfaces with Biff happily married to Amy and a miserable, ailing Hugo needing a tooth pulled by the only dentist around ... Biff. Biff could really have a go at him. But after seeing his old nemesis again, as well as how the girl he once loved has changed for the worse, Biff realizes how good he has it with Amy; their love & life of happiness is worth far more than exacting full revenge.
What a great little film. My grandma assured me that I would love it as much as she does, and she was correct. There's just something irresistible about it; an original story with solid direction, great period design, wonderful music, a nostalgic 1890s/turn-of-the-century milieu, and all supported by a superb cast -- what more could you want? As mentioned above, the story has a little bit of everything: drama, romance, comedy, beautiful visuals, & music. Speaking of the music, one of the film's strongest themes - for me - would be nostalgia; from a long time past. I'm reminded of 1944's Meet Me in St. Louis -- same type of delightful, warm-&-fuzzy feeling as I watched this film. The barbershop quartets, the horse-&-buggies, the handlebar moustaches, the band playing in the park ... all wonderful.
Playing slightly against type, James Cagney is excellent as the quarrelsome, but completely endearing Biff -- you just gotta love the guy. He & Olivia De Havilland provide great chemistry, as well. As Amy, De Havilland is funny, sweet, sympathetic, but also one tough cookie; preaching her women's lib to Virginia, who responds, "I refuse to listen to advanced ideas!!" {haha}. I loved de Havilland here because there's vulnerability hidden beneath her feminist/suffragette bravado. i.e., "(marriage is) an institution started by the cavemen & endorsed by florists & jewelers"). Rita Hayworth is stunning as the titular Virginia. She may be beguiling, but she also lets us see her shallow, wannabe socialite ways. And Jack Carson is stellar as the charismatic womanizer-turned-political tycoon. Great performances, great movie.