cult film freak: joan blondell

Showing posts with label joan blondell. Show all posts

Written by James M. Tate / 7/03/2026 / No comments / aldo ray , blaxploitation , bounty hunter , candace bowen , howard honig , jack carter , joan blondell , joanna cassidy , john saxon , michael pataki , neo noir , rosey grier , ross hagen , seventies

NOIRISH JOHN SAXON FINGERS ROSEY GRIER WEARING 'THE GLOVE'

<p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQRPgFap32KeVfLLgEk8cQQ2B541pzYCUy8Sp8IlxmrDGi_XzHRgNWLnnEVacv-B88m2yw3r2SkEFSPFUbza4mfza_AqA12jpR8TZo4vra5iDDrASgL81OW881jBuJ3TnmxP-y9cApr2J6BIQjGGQIEzUf_i_z9qIbYvYp_b9TZyE65bwqSJvJwihQMytG/s1600/Screen%20Shot%202026-07-09%20at%2010.53.51%20AM.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="938" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQRPgFap32KeVfLLgEk8cQQ2B541pzYCUy8Sp8IlxmrDGi_XzHRgNWLnnEVacv-B88m2yw3r2SkEFSPFUbza4mfza_AqA12jpR8TZo4vra5iDDrASgL81OW881jBuJ3TnmxP-y9cApr2J6BIQjGGQIEzUf_i_z9qIbYvYp_b9TZyE65bwqSJvJwihQMytG/s1600/Screen%20Shot%202026-07-09%20at%2010.53.51%20AM.jpeg"></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><u>Title: THE GLOVE Year: 1979 Rating: ****</u></td></tr></tbody></table><p>Ross Hagen's THE GLOVE seems like a latter blaxploitation that got away, opening with a song crooned in a bluesy/somber voice... and then opening with muscular white veteran actor Aldo Ray... <br><br>Who's just off work as prison guard, soon attacked in a parked car while a giant black man beats him to a bloody pulp with that titular riot glove... a steely device that can even punch through metal...  <br></p><p><span></span></p>

aldo ray, blaxploitation, bounty hunter, candace bowen, howard honig, jack carter, joan blondell, joanna cassidy, john saxon, michael pataki, neo noir, rosey grier, ross hagen, seventies

NOIRISH JOHN SAXON FINGERS ROSEY GRIER WEARING 'THE GLOVE'

Title: THE GLOVE Year: 1979 Rating: **** Ross Hagen's THE GLOVE seems like a latter blaxploitation that got away, opening with a song cr...

JAMES CAGNEY & JOAN BLONDELL HIDE OUT IN 'HE WAS HER MAN'

<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeNkW44YcDoEu8fcxnUF2PndULT9AdlXY6GFzb0-PTPQREuXBn4fQgh6mzqKMLHzOvdHgDg-E4_3ox-08TuFO9f_cpc2BZSKfKgWAnD1aN2h-ARCTF0CCQnDJSB2502sVffBRv4idkW1oAGmr-fk0q0GzsP0hqrUo4F7LFXoMFlKuZqk90oscSjp6s7kiu/s1846/Screen%20Shot%202023-10-06%20at%203.01.59%20AM%202.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1380" data-original-width="1846" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeNkW44YcDoEu8fcxnUF2PndULT9AdlXY6GFzb0-PTPQREuXBn4fQgh6mzqKMLHzOvdHgDg-E4_3ox-08TuFO9f_cpc2BZSKfKgWAnD1aN2h-ARCTF0CCQnDJSB2502sVffBRv4idkW1oAGmr-fk0q0GzsP0hqrUo4F7LFXoMFlKuZqk90oscSjp6s7kiu/s320/Screen%20Shot%202023-10-06%20at%203.01.59%20AM%202.jpeg" width="320"></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><u>Lobby Card for HE WAS HER MAN Year: 1934</u></td></tr></tbody></table>James Cagney dime-novel-style programmer has his character Flicker Hayes, newly released from prison, 
dangerously double-crossing the hoods who'd double-crossed him as two more goons plan to keep on 
his trail...<br>
<br>
Beginning in San Fransisco where he meets Joan Blondell, as a prostitute 
setting her mind on marrying a simple fisherman in a John Steinbeck 
Monterrey style seaside town. She has a seemingly benign passenger
 in Cagney's Hayes, both hiding out in completely different ways. Cagney's surprisingly soft-spoken here, but not nearly as much as dutiful
 Victor Jory as the fisherman who doesn't 
care about Blondell's past. This is merely a distraction to Cagney's 
story that, in itself, distracts from what the movie's
 leading to — with armed goons on the way, it doesn't look likely he'll 
survive...<br>

crime, film noir or melodrama, frank craven, james cagney, joan blondell, mob, romance, thirties, victor jory

JAMES CAGNEY & JOAN BLONDELL HIDE OUT IN 'HE WAS HER MAN'

Lobby Card for HE WAS HER MAN Year: 1934 James Cagney dime-novel-style programmer has his character Flicker Hayes, newly released from priso...

JAMES CAGNEY REPLACES EDWARD WOODS FOR 'THE PUBLIC ENEMY'

<p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzl3ruogn54WyiOHhGnSTYMrs4VMdiPAGN2hleed_MddJMiQdp3AJSOHNJchiy3-iQnpI5OQBXQLU-chkpkQbH0dyl0ESbwVBLJeDPxe858BZggI7mpcIcO9-LN6lXcY2JO2526QyY4sVkaqZXXT4_BZiXT1Iq4VxP5KVmKcvQhYogJyC1fnGcDTnVvGJo/s1972/Screen%20Shot%202023-09-30%20at%203.03.43%20AM.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1222" data-original-width="1972" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzl3ruogn54WyiOHhGnSTYMrs4VMdiPAGN2hleed_MddJMiQdp3AJSOHNJchiy3-iQnpI5OQBXQLU-chkpkQbH0dyl0ESbwVBLJeDPxe858BZggI7mpcIcO9-LN6lXcY2JO2526QyY4sVkaqZXXT4_BZiXT1Iq4VxP5KVmKcvQhYogJyC1fnGcDTnVvGJo/s16000/Screen%20Shot%202023-09-30%20at%203.03.43%20AM.jpeg"></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><u>Title: THE PUBLIC ENEMY Year: 1931 Rating: ****</u></td></tr></tbody></table><p>It's already known but equally confusing when THE PUBLIC ENEMY prologue introduces a tall young instigator and his much shorter sidekick breaking laws — then to grow up a tall and lanky follower of the pint-size firebrand in charge... and that's because once James Cagney was recast to lead Edward Woods, the backstory intro wasn't changed...<br></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>Which hardly really matters... once Cagney appears on screen he's as mesmerizing to the audience as he was to director William A. Wellman, who saw him in another movie's walk-on, and was convinced the days of secondary-lead... like SINNER'S HOLIDAY and BACK DOOR TO HEAVEN... were long gone...<br></p><p><span></span></p>

action, gangster, james cagney, jean harlow, joan blondell, mae clarke, melodrama, thirties

JAMES CAGNEY REPLACES EDWARD WOODS FOR 'THE PUBLIC ENEMY'

Title: THE PUBLIC ENEMY Year: 1931 Rating: **** It's already known but equally confusing when THE PUBLIC ENEMY prologue introduces a tal...

JAMES CAGNEY AND PARTNER JOAN BLONDELL IN 'BLONDE CRAZY'

<p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhN5Bpb1dQXmDQPASd7wD4Qe_2UUlosNEf8pJuiOWTKciobBdvw7n4keimFu6dsf-2Fa8DvDbqUflUGkzkAFJG30wbRKhvco4vJqNRn3iq7ZJB0QrmVucIS_uWWuANIAD3Q4dmBMzz24BCA1tQLzTCrmQrsOyTfVugbE1iAXrsOQ6dAkremzoOKGB4qcg=s778" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="393" data-original-width="778" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhN5Bpb1dQXmDQPASd7wD4Qe_2UUlosNEf8pJuiOWTKciobBdvw7n4keimFu6dsf-2Fa8DvDbqUflUGkzkAFJG30wbRKhvco4vJqNRn3iq7ZJB0QrmVucIS_uWWuANIAD3Q4dmBMzz24BCA1tQLzTCrmQrsOyTfVugbE1iAXrsOQ6dAkremzoOKGB4qcg=s16000"></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><u>Title: BLONDE CRAZY Cast: James Cagney, Joan Blondell Year: 1931 Rating: ****</u></td></tr></tbody></table><p>Something about James Cagney, especially in his youthful early-1930's energetic programmers, and how he brings out the best, and worst, from his 
leading ladies — as in the best performances and the worst attitudes...<br>
<br>
Enter Joan
 Blondell dealing with Cagney’s conniving Bert Harris, half the 
fun of this con-game comedy/drama centering on Harris, a suave hotel 
employee who sees the right girl is hired: and it’s the blonde cutie
 Joan, as Anne Roberts, who fits the bill since men simply melt at her feet...<br></p><p></p><span></span>

comedy, con man, heist, james cagney, joan blondell, louis calhern, noel francis, ray milland, roy del ruth, thirties

JAMES CAGNEY AND PARTNER JOAN BLONDELL IN 'BLONDE CRAZY'

Title: BLONDE CRAZY Cast: James Cagney, Joan Blondell Year: 1931 Rating: **** Something about James Cagney, especially in his youthful early...

LAURA JOHNSON HAUNTS GENA ROWLANDS IN 'OPENING NIGHT'

<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_UAsgPMu9qLDJOOc_gc0IPCEmtLPRrEkCkEGvnTDab7w3_Q2bWl2jcQLHBnfy2r_ALn-ipUrGwyaj7fckqzmHLHqse5y6lag5khEKHHEwe31YdPXuLk2IYe7wKYq1u40j6O1xmjAoXFOO/s1600/41843222_572848109811036_8834029222793052160_n.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="621" data-original-width="960" height="258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_UAsgPMu9qLDJOOc_gc0IPCEmtLPRrEkCkEGvnTDab7w3_Q2bWl2jcQLHBnfy2r_ALn-ipUrGwyaj7fckqzmHLHqse5y6lag5khEKHHEwe31YdPXuLk2IYe7wKYq1u40j6O1xmjAoXFOO/s400/41843222_572848109811036_8834029222793052160_n.jpg" width="400"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><u>year: 1977 pictured here is haunting beauty Laura Johnson </u></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Not only centering on an 
actress portrayed by director John Cassevete's wife Gena Rowlands 
preparing for a Broadway play making initial rounds in New Haven and 
other small venues, but beneath the surface of this 
play-within-a-movie, there's an intense and spooky, eerie "ghost story" 
involving a beautiful young emotional fan, who's killed by a car after the first performance...<br>
<br>
Enter a primal, lusty, jarring, hauntingly gorgeous Laura Johnson stalking throughout as Cassavetes takes us on a voyeuristic journey with many layers albeit with the same frantic vibe, as if real life and fiction were inseparably hybrid: 
backstage, on stage, and in various locations where other characters, 
including Ben Gazzara as the director, Joan Blondell as the writer, Paul
 Stewart as the producer, and Cassevetes himself as the co-star, all try 
desperately to get Rowlands on track before <i>opening night.</i>..<br>

ben gazzara, drama, gena rowlands, independent, joan blondell, john cassavetes, laura johnson, paul stewart, seventies

LAURA JOHNSON HAUNTS GENA ROWLANDS IN 'OPENING NIGHT'

year: 1977 pictured here is haunting beauty Laura Johnson Not only centering on an actress portrayed by director John Cassevete's w...

EARLY CAGNEY DOUBLE: HARD TO HANDLE & HE WAS HER MAN

<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipvPVRrYD6y-WkeADWRZHoLFM_XBWy7Ln-1JWOU_ZXF8R7YTQMnmyYLgbvbtyG4PzVzkHnPEMgUGuVMA34wraQYtg9cFe9Pus_VqDA7s-EEGSQB3QCVz70PlZ4jBt6zKELohAy73iREcBe/s1600/2.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="544" data-original-width="700" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipvPVRrYD6y-WkeADWRZHoLFM_XBWy7Ln-1JWOU_ZXF8R7YTQMnmyYLgbvbtyG4PzVzkHnPEMgUGuVMA34wraQYtg9cFe9Pus_VqDA7s-EEGSQB3QCVz70PlZ4jBt6zKELohAy73iREcBe/s320/2.jpg" width="320"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><u>Ruth Donnelly in HARD TO HANDLE ****</u></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Character-actress Ruth Donnelly is a genius. Was a genius. But art is eternal, and James Cagney is timeless, breezy, natural, edgy, hilarious, especially in the early programmers after his accidental game-changing role, upped from the sidekick to the leading, title character in THE PUBLIC ENEMY: A thoroughly entertaining yet dire and grim classic...<br>
<br>
And while regarded as one of his better features during the 1930's, ENEMY doesn't flow along Cagney's style since he hadn't established it like underrated lightweight crime-comedies such as: HARD TO HANDLE, with Cagney doing what would happen again in HERE COMES THE NAVY, hosting a dance contest, only this time his partner runs off with the money as the winning couple awaits their prize cash — plus he's dogged by crowds like villagers in a Frankenstein movie. The rest of the picture has Cagney's Lefty Merrill coming up with get-rich-quick schemes that, although entirely impossible and unrealistic, are involving and it's the aforementioned brilliant Ruth Donnelly as his patient girlfriend's impatient mother that carries the film. Moving around the scenery as if made of elastic, she steals the movie, outright.<br>

caper, comedy, con man, crime, frank craven, import, james cagney, joan blondell, pre-code, ruth donnelly, thirties, victor jory

EARLY CAGNEY DOUBLE: HARD TO HANDLE & HE WAS HER MAN

Ruth Donnelly in HARD TO HANDLE **** Character-actress Ruth Donnelly is a genius. Was a genius. But art is eternal, and James Cagney is ...

BLONDE CRAZY

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA2zJ_KtuwoDG8eRkuVsQKzxJXPinqWp8Vb3ZxTkkcmHijumn7FHTtCDHTpQjR9qqDKiIunugiSFSRLdSd0K-nA-oermPt1S-ZFRmGyeBeOToO4gmV1LTeTScVHnjqxEr7dZ4UxMbJy_EW/s1600/blonde+crazy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA2zJ_KtuwoDG8eRkuVsQKzxJXPinqWp8Vb3ZxTkkcmHijumn7FHTtCDHTpQjR9qqDKiIunugiSFSRLdSd0K-nA-oermPt1S-ZFRmGyeBeOToO4gmV1LTeTScVHnjqxEr7dZ4UxMbJy_EW/s320/blonde+crazy.jpg" width="220" /></a></div><b>title:</b> BLONDE CRAZY<br />
<b>year: </b>1931<br />
<b>cast:</b> James Cagney, Joan Blondell, Louis Calhern<br />
<b>rating:</b> ***1/2<br />
<br />
What is it about James Cagney – he brings out the best, and worst, of his leading ladies: the best performances and the worst attitudes – and Joan Blondell’s dealing with Cagney’s conniving “Bert Harris” is half the fun of this 1930’s comedy/melodrama dealing with Harris, a suave hotel employee who sees the right girl is hired: and it’s the blonde bombshell Joan, as “Anne Roberts,” who fits the bill. She’s not only sought after by Harris, but seedy rich guys melt at her feet. Here’s where our climbing antihero sees his future planned out: and together this made-in-heaven match goes from one sucker till the next, swindling relativity small time cash till meeting Louis Calhern, a successful con artist with a big apple for the duo: and a bigger worm inside. One scene involving a horse race and revenge against Calhern is confusing, and not all the con games are too clever, but the chemistry between the Cagney and Blondell, and the hidden desire for his platonic partner that slowly comes to light, is what makes this really shine. A very young Ray Milland plays Joan’s sophisticated new gent – making Cagney realize what, or rather, whom his drive’s been centered. And while a tacked-on “crime will pay” ending is a letdown, the rest works just fine: Especially a pre-Code bathtub scene with Blondell that’s quite… revealing.

classic gangster, james cagney, joan blondell, louis calhern, ray milland, thirties