Blonde Crazy (1931)

Blonde Crazy
Directed by Roy Del Ruth
Written by Kubec Glasmon and John Bright
1931/USA
Warner Bros.
First viewing/Amazon Instant

[box] Ann Roberts: He can’t do me any harm. I haven’t any money and I don’t shoot craps.

Peggy: Oh, yeah? Well, maybe you have something else he can use.[/box]

Nobody did snappy dialogue like James Cagney and Joan Blondell.

Bert Harris (Cagney) is a wise-guy bellhop at the leading hotel in a small mid-West town. He sells bootleg hooch on the side.  One day he spots cute blonde Anne Roberts (Blondell) who is applying for a housekeeping job.  He expects to get a tumble from her after he helps her win the position.  But she only slaps his face repeatedly.

They do eventually get to be friendly and she reluctantly agrees to partner with him on some cons.  Initially all goes smoothly but later they get taken by an even bigger crook (Louis Calhern).  They follow him to New York to get revenge.  Meanwhile, Anne is wooed by Joe Reynolds (a very young Ray Milland).  I was not expecting the ending at all!

This has some great pre-Code moments including shots of Blondell in a bathtub and plenty of double entendres.  Cagney and Blondell always perform at 110% and their energy makes for a very enjoyable romp with an abrupt and surprising finale. Recommended.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IK93CE-KIds