Try and watch this – and be sure to let me know what you think, Good review Aurora…I agree, Jack Carson is underrated. More details at

One day, several years before (the naughty nineties), as Biff practices his correspondence course dentistry on his father, his friend Hugo Barnstead invites him to go on a double date with two local girls, one of which turns out to be the object of his infatuation, Virginia. Some quick thoughts: The first half hour is mostly boring and its story implications could be summed up in two minutes. There are tons of great examples where love is on full display in films from every decades, providing an enlightening and enriching experience for audiences around the world. Most of the time, the phrase is paired with moments of heartbreak. And I’ll be darned if I’m not going to make “The Band Played On” the ringtone on my phone for a while. somewhat slow (he gets fooled in scene after scene) and seems to have Walter Mitty issues about his real life. About 18 people attended. The Strawberry Blonde is a charming and nostalgic look at turn of the century New York City as seen through the eyes of 1940's Hollywood. Gary Cooper in the 1933 film is particularly unlikeable as “Biff”. He is reading the instructions on how to use the nitric oxide as he is putting the mask on his skeptical patient. The best one is in the scene where Hugo gets his comeuppance. Hugo appears to have stolen Biff's dreams, and Biff has to deal with the realisation that having what he wants and … As Patrick wrote, the movie takes a fond look at a simpler time. Then there’s George Tobias in a wonderfully funny supporting role and cameos by Una O’Connor and George Reeves, later to be television’s Superman. In college, I stumbled upon a film that answered and discussed what love is and how it can be expressed. Watched this film in preparation for a virtual discussion arranged by the Gene Siskel Film Center. It is also a comedy/drama. Too often in The Strawberry Blonde, the scenes and dialogue seem constructed just to show the details and nuances of the time. Rest in peace to Olivia de Havilland. A great cast that includes the under acknowledged Jack Carson. The discussion is what makes life much more interesting. Then rewound and sang along again. Both movies even feature similar songs. “I’m pretty adventurous with my hair, I’ll try a lot of things.”. To be fair, every character is kind of bad in this, not bad characters but people I’m still trying to figure out. Her desires are less clear; I am sure she would be happy with Biff, but she is not so clear cut.

We have to start discussing a date/time frame for that already!! But a terrific, feel- good movie. Within each year…, A huge thanks to everyone who added films, helped me find films with alternate titles,…, David Blakeslee 3,764 films 607 53 Edit, Updated on 9/30/2020 - A list, arranged in order of original release, of all films associated with the Criterion Collection,…, Musicals are my favourite film genre. Because I like to spread joy, I must demand that you go see The Strawberry Blonde immediately if you’ve yet to do so! © 2000 - 2017 Three Movie Buffs. Still, she will always be Melanie Wilkes to me. So after seeing this film for the first time many years ago, I now always remember Olivia DeHavilland affectionately as the winker, . I have my own personal nick names for alotta actresses and actors. An underrated actor by my estimation. And we are LIVING for it. Both of you, Eric and Patrick, mention her stealing scenes, but I can't think of one where she did. Found these on Letterboxd, from lists from the Halliwell's film…, Bergman's Boho Beret 1,136 films 64 Edit, Taken from the appendix of Rosenbaum's 2004 book Essential Cinema: On the Necessity of Film Canons. The great cast gives this movie most of its appeal. We spend lots of time with Cagney's character, and mainly get the impression of him as a born loser, everyone making a sucker out of him over and over, and he doesn't appear to have grown or learned very much by the end aside from realizing that Amy is a good wife. Virginia, on the other hand, turns out to be high maintenance, she is sort of an early prototype for today's bitchy high fashion model. Now that the beloved 11-season comedy has come to an end, Winter is free to experiment with her look. Two people that should be together end up together. About the same time this movie was being made MGM did Meet Me In St Louis. It is the only genre which really took off with the birth of sound,…, (Casi) todas las películas disponibles en Filmin. Among the many things to celebrate is the film’s cast – James Cagney takes a repose from the tough guy role he is best remembered for and plays a hot-tempered, but likeable – even loveable, Biff. I cut Dennis Morgan some slack in the musical remake because it just isn’t fair to compare anyone to Cagney. They lift this movie above its slightly leisurely pace. In any case, he does The Strawberry Blonde script great justice and an affecting romantic comedy results. But when we first see them in the past, they are best friends. Then Hugo lets Biff take the fall for a shoddy business deal and poor Biff goes to prison for a few years. Biff winds up in jail for five years. He does manage to get his dentistry diploma while incarcerated and shortly after he returns home to the faithful Ann, He is able to exact revenge on the backstabbing Hugo and the movie has a happy ending. How shocking! We move into the backstory of Biff’s life, and the meat and potatoes of the film, when he is reintroduced to Hugo Barnstead (played by Jack Carson). Watched The word “love” is thrown around almost everyday with seemingly little thought or reason: “I love her/him”; “I love this song”; “Brie Larson? (It certainly helps that Cagney and de Havilland are at the top of their game; they are electric on screen). But between all of these genre facets lies The Strawberry Blonde's genius, because together they make it tonally…, Guy in a Yale sweater threatens to beat up Cagney.Cagney: "Aha, a college man! The Hawksian hero knows how to do what he is doing even if he doesn't know why.

All Rights Reserved. The latter starring Dennis Morgan and Janis Paige. All good things come to those who wait — even true love. It's as if someone dropped a short melodrama into the middle of a comedy. That is OK. This is a nostalgic look back at the early 1900s and most of the time it is a charming look, but this movie is definitely at its best when it keeps things light and funny. BTW, I just love the winking by Amy to Biff as they walk away. Olivia de Havilland, James Cagney and Rita Hayworth in The Strawberry Blonde. Amy Lind: Yes. Where had it been all my life!? Here they meet up with the ravishing strawberry blonde herself Virginia Brush (Rita Hayworth) and her friend Ann Lind (Olivia de Havilland).

", If the heroes of Ford are sustained by tradition, and the heroes of Hawks by professionalism, the heroes of Walsh are sustained by nothing more than a feeling for adventure. He continues to pursue Virgina and is caught off-guard when she and Hugo run off to get married. When he keeps repeating that he doesn't understand what just occurred she replies in an exasperated voice, "Come on, let's go home and I'll explain it to you... with blocks.". The job, the town dentist, is something that, sort of, falls into his lap. I’ll now have to re- view it!

You may not recognize the name, but if you watch this movie you will swear you have seen him in something else. But why live that way? Biff and Hugo had a falling out — which we learn of as the flashback continues.

I love her”. You see, Barnstead is responsible for Biff having spent several years behind bars for a crime he didn’t commit. Regardless of why, which we find out later, there is an attraction between the two established early on. modest but delightful. In Biff’s case, like in many romantic stories, it takes time to ultimately be with one’s soulmate. Here's how you say it.

NeverTooEarlyMP 4,925 films 7,097 432 Edit. and Mr Roberts, he proved to be an adept comedian. It’s poetic justice that Barnstead should need Biff’s help so desperately. Sometimes that love is deep, passionate and personal. The Strawberry Blonde will put a smile on your face and a song in your heart. Biff ultimately goes on a date with Virginia, but the duo’s time together is shallow and unfulfilling. Now I'm scared.". I guess that in the early 1940's people were pining for a simpler time. Not everyone can do a scene in which he’s under the influence of laughing gas as convincingly.

Everyone can see the strawberry blonde is way out of Biff’s league, except Biff.

In terms of relationships: how does one know that someone is right for you? Need to translate "strawberry blonde" to Arabic? Incidentally, she's great in this.

And while many fans associate her with a darker hair color, she’s in fact a natural blonde. The Strawberry Blonde has themes and a message that remains fresh to modern audiences. 2020. “With Modern Family ‘s long run ending, Ariel is finally free to have the hair color she wants,” Dueñas shared.

Rounding out the period piece are a smattering of barbershop quartets, bustles, bars and lots of stylish nostalgia, enhanced by James Wong Howe‘s cinematography, which by the way looks great on the Warner Archive DVD release, and Orry-Kelly‘s costumes. He plays the young Police Officer who doubles as a playwright, stealing many scenes in that classic comedy. Lloyd Nolan was the original “Biff” on Broadway in “One Sunday Afternoon”. The film has me believing not to force any sort of relationship — whether it be friendly or romantically — as those who are meant to be will be.