Watch Blondie of the Follies
- Passed
- 1932
- 1 hr 31 min
-
6.4 (1,339)
Blondie of the Follies is a 1932 comedy-drama film directed by Edmund Goulding, starring Marion Davies, Robert Montgomery, and Billie Dove. This film depicts the long-standing friendship between two working-class girls who navigate their way through life, love, and the ruthless competition of show business. Blondie McClune (Marion Davies) and Lottie Callahan (Billie Dove) have been best friends since childhood, growing up in a tenement in New York City. They have always dreamed of making it big in show business and continuously practice their dancing and singing in a nearby dance studio. However, their journey to stardom is far from easy.
Blondie starts working at a department store while Lottie gets a gig as a burlesque dancer. Even though they have different jobs, they still manage to get together every night at the dance studio to practice. However, their friendship is put to the test when Blondie falls in love with wealthy playboy Larry Belmont (Robert Montgomery), who happens to be Lottie's former flame.
Larry is drawn to Blondie's charm and innocence, but his aristocratic mother wants him to marry a woman of his class. Lottie, on the other hand, is resentful of Blondie's newfound happiness with Larry and is determined to break them apart. She invites Larry to a burlesque show, hoping to embarrass Blondie and show Larry that she is not worthy of him. However, her plan backfires, and Larry realizes that he is truly in love with Blondie.
As the years go by, Blondie and Larry's relationship becomes stronger. However, their happiness is once again threatened by Lottie, who feels neglected by her friend and is resentful of her success. She tries to break up their engagement by accusing Blondie of being a gold-digger, but her plan fails when Larry defends her, proving his love for her.
The film's climax takes place at the Follies, a vaudeville show where Blondie and Lottie are both performing. Lottie, desperate for attention, attempts to upstage Blondie on stage, leading to a physical altercation between the two. In the end, Blondie forgives Lottie and even convinces Larry to give Lottie a chance.
Blondie of the Follies is a lighthearted film with excellent performances from the cast. Marion Davies shines as the naive Blondie, who stays true to herself despite the challenges she faces in show business. Robert Montgomery is charming as Larry Belmont, a man torn between his love for Blondie and his duty to his mother. And Billie Dove portrays Lottie Callahan, a complex character with a troubled past and a burning desire for success.
The film's production design is also impressive, capturing the vibrant and glamorous atmosphere of vaudeville shows in the 1930s. The musical numbers are catchy and entertaining, and the comedy is well-timed, making the film enjoyable to watch.
Overall, Blondie of the Follies is a classic Hollywood film that tells the story of friendship, ambition, and love. Marion Davies, Robert Montgomery, and Billie Dove give excellent performances, and the film's stunning production design and catchy musical numbers make it a must-watch for fans of classic Hollywood cinema.
Blondie of the Follies is a 1932 comedy with a runtime of 1 hour and 31 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.4.