A Bit About Two Films

A classic movies channel has a Blondie feature on Saturday mornings.  The old comic strip (still going on, the character being a flapper suggests how long ago it began) became a film series during the 1940s.  Those were the days of multiple pleasant standards including the Bowery Boys and Andy Hardy.   

Blondie was of this character; two attempts at television series (one with the original Bumstead though watching a bit once he seemed more serious) were not as successful.  Penny Singleton played the title character; the character's husband was clearly the show's star. He was laid on a bit thick though then we are talking about a comic strip character.

Penny Singleton later was the mother's voice on The Jetsons, which she also played years later when a film was made (Tiffany voiced the daughter).  Her Wikipedia page (see also) highlighted as well her later work as a labor representative, including testifying in front of Congress about how "B-Girls" were exploited.  She even was accused of slander against a labor leader though the charge was eventually dropped. 

She plays a standard housewife type (being Dagwood Bumstead's wife though does require some levelheadedness and independence of mind; can't rely on that goofball too much).  The character is not as sexy as the comic strip version though Penny Singleton's background would be comparable to the "flapper" version.  I was not aware of her interesting advocacy.

Today's film was Blonde in the Dough (cookies that is) in which radio plays an important role.  Typical Bumstead clowning.  

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Strawberry & Chocolate is a well-received Cuban film from a few decades ago about a surprising friendship between an artistic-loving gay guy and a somewhat hapless straight guy.  I could not really get into it though it seemed well-made and well-acted.  The film was somewhat controversial as a criticism of the Cuban position on GLBTQ issues and such.

A few notable scenes even in the first ten minutes or so.  Our hapless straight guy is not having too much luck with a girl. He gets a view of what he was missing by listening (and then viewing through a peephole) to a couple having sex in the next room.  A nice visual of the rather big-chested woman with a full shot as well of her hairy crotch.

(U.S. films -- even soft porn on Showtime -- are very hesitant to give us such a view.)  

There is also a sly attempt by the homosexual character to pick up the guy, including a bit about ice cream. There is also a bit involving a bit with a civilian official asking if the couple consents to marriage after being made aware of "Articles 24-28." I checked and this refers to provisions that provide a socialist-inspired bit of equality in marriage, including a responsibility of providing equal support in the marriage.  

I'm all for that to be at least part of our marriage vows.  Anyway, as I said, the movie did seem to have potential, if I was in the mood for such a thing. A very helpful thing was that the subtitles were nice and clear.  A few films have tiny subtitles [NY Daily News shrunk lately; I wrote them a letter complaining and it actually was published] and it's hard for me to see.