Blondes at Work

Last updated
Blondes at Work
Blondes at Work 1938.jpg
Theatrical release poster
Directed by Frank McDonald
Screenplay by Albert DeMond
Produced by Bryan Foy
Starring Glenda Farrell
Barton MacLane
Cinematography Warren Lynch
Edited byEverett Dodd
Music by Howard Jackson
Production
company
Distributed byWarner Bros.
Release date
  • February 6, 1938 (1938-02-06)
Running time
63 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Blondes at Work is a 1938 American comedy mystery film directed by Frank McDonald and written by Albert DeMond. The film stars Glenda Farrell and Barton MacLane. It is the fourth film in a series of Torchy Blane movies by Warner Bros. [1] [2] [3] Released on February 6, 1938, it is followed by Torchy Blane in Panama (1938).

Contents

The film focuses on the actions undertaken by Torchy to evade the efforts of Lieutenant Steve McBride to keep her from using inside information to "scoop" rival newspapers on the progress of police investigations.

Plot

Lieutenant Steve McBride is in trouble with his boss, Captain McTavish, who suspects him of leaking police information to his girlfriend reporter Torchy Blane, which has resulted in complaints to the police department from rival newspapers. Torchy and Steve have an argument about this, and they agree that they will not exchange information about any police cases in the future. And Torchy is told by her boyfriend to lay off the latest murder case that he’s handling; the killing of Marvin Spencer, the heir to the Bon Ton department store. Marvin was seen by Torchy being escorted into a cab by his friend Maitland Greer shortly before he was found dead in his room at the Park Plaza Hotel.

With Torchy's latest story of Marvin's murder hitting the front page of the newspaper, McBride's boss Capt. McTavish orders him to keep information away from Torchy. Capt. McTavish isn't really concerned about Torchy getting her hands on top-secret police information, he is secretly working for Torchy's rival newspaper, The Daily Express, which wants Torchy's access to top-secret police investigations cut off. Maitland is arrested for Marvin's murder. Torchy finds a clue which leads her to Louisa Revelle, the woman who was with Marvin the night he was stabbed. She admits to Torchy that Maitland was present that night and is upset with his arrest for murder, but will not reveal any more information. Torchy decides to eavesdrop on the trial's jury from a nearby supply closet. She overhears the jury's decision to declare Maitland guilty, and out-maneuvers both Capt. McTavish and the Daily Express into thinking that the jury’s verdict is going to be “Not Guilty”. To their surprise, Maitland is found guilty, leaving the newspaper's editor red-faced.

At the same time, Torchy breaks the story in an extra edition in her own newspaper, before the verdict is announced in court. However, the judge sentences her to jail for contempt. Steve visits Torchy a few days later and has her released from jail. He informs her that after the verdict was announced, Louisa confessed to the crime; she stabbed Marvin when he threatened to shoot Maitland, who had become her new lover. Steve says that it looks like self-defense and speculates that both Louisa and Maitland will be cleared. Torchy is disappointed because she didn't have time to write the story and have it make the front page. Steve tells her that he filed the story for her, before the other newspapers and once again Torchy scoops them all.

Cast

Home media

Warner Archive released a boxed set DVD collection featuring all nine Torchy Blane films on March 29, 2010. [4]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Glenda Farrell</span> American actress (1904-1971)

Glenda Farrell was an American actress. Farrell personified the smart and sassy, wisecracking blonde of the Classic Hollywood films. Farrell's career spanned more than 50 years, and she appeared in numerous Broadway plays, films and television series. She won an Emmy Award in 1963 for Outstanding Supporting Actress for her performance as Martha Morrison in the medical drama television series Ben Casey.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Barton MacLane</span> Actor, playwright, screenwriter (1902–1969)

Barton MacLane was an American actor, playwright, and screenwriter. He appeared in many classic films from the 1930s through the 1960s, including his role as General Martin Peterson on the 1960s NBC television comedy series I Dream of Jeannie, with Barbara Eden and Larry Hagman.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Torchy Blane</span> Female reporter in 1937-39 film series

Torchy Blane is a fictional female reporter, the main character of nine films produced by Warner Bros. between 1937 and 1939. The Torchy Blane series, which blend mystery, action, adventure and comedy, were popular second features.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Ridgely</span> American actor (1909–1968)

John Ridgely was an American film character actor with over 175 film credits.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kenneth Harlan</span> American actor (1895–1967)

Kenneth Daniel Harlan was a popular American actor during the silent film era, playing mostly romantic leads or adventurer roles. His career extended into the sound film era, but during that span he rarely commanded leading-man roles, and became mostly a supporting or character actor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tom Kennedy (actor)</span> American actor (1885–1965)

Thomas Aloyisus Kennedy was an American actor known for his roles in Hollywood comedies from the silent days, with such producers as Mack Sennett and Hal Roach, mainly supporting lead comedians such as the Marx Brothers, W. C. Fields, Mabel Normand, Shemp Howard, El Brendel, Laurel and Hardy, and the Three Stooges. Kennedy also played dramatic roles as a supporting actor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Frank Shannon</span> Irish–American actor (1874–1959)

Francis Connolly Shannon was an Irish actor and writer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Frank Orth</span> American actor (1880–1962)

Frank Orth was an American actor born in Philadelphia. He is probably best remembered for his portrayal of Inspector Faraday in the 1951-1953 television series Boston Blackie.

Front Page Woman is a 1935 American comedy film directed by Michael Curtiz. The screenplay by Laird Doyle, Lillie Hayward and Roy Chanslor based on the novel Women Are Bum Newspapermen by Richard Macauley.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Willard Robertson</span> American actor (1886–1948)

Willard Robertson was an American actor and writer. He appeared in more than 140 films from 1924 to 1948. He was born in Runnels, Texas and died in Hollywood, California.

<i>Smart Blonde</i> 1937 film by Frank McDonald

Smart Blonde is a 1937 American mystery film directed by Frank McDonald. Starring Glenda Farrell as Torchy Blane, a fast-talking wisecracking female reporter, teaming up with her boyfriend detective Steve McBride, to solve the killing of an investor who just bought a popular local nightclub.

<i>Fly-Away Baby</i> 1937 film by Frank McDonald

Fly-Away Baby is a 1937 American crime-mystery film starring Glenda Farrell as reporter Torchy Blane, along with her detective boyfriend, Steve McBride solving a murder and smuggling case during around-the-world flight.

<i>Torchy Gets Her Man</i> 1938 film by William Beaudine

Torchy Gets Her Man is a 1938 American comedy-drama film directed by William Beaudine and starring Glenda Farrell as Torchy Blane and Barton MacLane as Detective Steve McBride. It was released on November 12, 1938.

<i>Torchy Blane in Chinatown</i> 1939 film by William Beaudine

Torchy Blane in Chinatown is a 1939 American mystery film directed by William Beaudine and starring Glenda Farrell and Barton MacLane. Released on February 4, 1939, it is the seventh film in the Torchy Blane film series by Warner Bros. and is followed by Torchy Runs for Mayor (1939).

<i>The Adventurous Blonde</i> 1937 film by Frank McDonald

The Adventurous Blonde is a 1937 American comedy mystery film directed by Frank McDonald and starring Glenda Farrell, Barton MacLane and Anne Nagel. It was written by Robertson White and David Diamond. It was released on November 13, 1937.

<i>Torchy Blane in Panama</i> 1938 film by William Clemens

Torchy Blane in Panama is a 1938 American mystery film directed by William Clemens and starring Lola Lane, Paul Kelly, and Tom Kennedy. Released on May 7, 1938, the fifth film in a series of Torchy Blane movies by Warner Bros. It is followed by Torchy Gets Her Man (1938).

<i>Torchy Runs for Mayor</i> 1939 film by Ray McCarey

Torchy Runs for Mayor is a 1939 American drama-comedy film directed by Ray McCarey. It is the eighth film in the Torchy Blane film series by Warner Bros., and the last film starring Glenda Farrell and Barton MacLane as Torchy Blane and Steve McBride. It was released on May 13, 1939. The film is followed by Torchy Blane... Playing with Dynamite (1939).

<i>Torchy Blane... Playing with Dynamite</i> 1939 film by Noel M. Smith

Torchy Blane... Playing with Dynamite is a 1939 American mystery film directed by Noel M. Smith, written by Earle Snell and Charles Belden, and starring Jane Wyman, Allen Jenkins, and Tom Kennedy. It was released on August 12, 1939.

Warren Lynch (1896–1970) was an American cinematographer and stills photographer.

References

  1. ↑ "Blondes at Work (1938)". Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved 2015-08-28.
  2. ↑ "Blondes at Work (1938)". All Movie. Retrieved 2015-08-28.
  3. ↑ "Blondes at Work". American film Institute: catalog of feature films. Retrieved 2015-08-28.
  4. ↑ KEHR, DAVE (May 7, 2010). "The Torchy Blane Collection". The New York Times. Retrieved October 1, 2016.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.