Rita Hayworth shines in The Strawberry Blonde (1941) alongside James Cagney and Olivia de Havilland

The Strawberry Blonde and Biff on a date

Since Rita Hayworth is my classic movie goddess of the month, I decided to watch some of  her movies. Top of the list, the wonderful period comedy from 1941 The Strawberry Blonde, co-starring James Cagney, Olivia de Havilland and Jack Carson. Talk about some star power. Rita is Virginia Brush, the Strawberry Blonde, who is every guy's dream. She has so many callers coming to date her, it borders on the ridiculous.  Biff Grimes (played by James Cagney) is the dentist of their small town who takes a fancy to her, so when his best bud Hugo (played by the always reliable Jack Carson) sets up a double date with Virginia and her friend Amy (Olivia de Havilland) who is a brash suffragette, the fireworks begin. Amy doesn't hold back on her ideas which include doing everything a man can do, like smoking and swearing. And she believes there is nothing wrong with winking at men so they can pick her up. She has the most delightful wink too.

Heads turn as Virginia walks by

Anyway Biff prefers Virginia but Hugo always manages to steal her away. Biff does manage one date with Virginia which turns out to be great but weeks later she winds up marrying Hugo. Biff and Amy end up marrying but Biff still carries a torch for Virginia. Flash forward a few years where Biff is struggling and Virigina convinces Hugo to give him a job. Which is fine until some documents get signed that shouldn't have and Biff has to take the fall. And he resents Hugo even more. They will meet years later on when Hugo needs emergency surgery on his tooth and Biff relishes the opportunity. Let's just say it's a painful extraction for Hugo.

Biff caught between two girls

I love this movie. All four leads are great, especially Cagney and De havilland. They really make this movie but also get wonderful support from Carson and Hayworth. So nice seeing Hayworth in a comedy, where I think she could have been a top screen comedienne had she did more of them. Also co-stars Alan Hale as Biff's dad and George Reeves (TV's Superman) as a Yale student who gets into a brawl with Biff. Good stuff!

Amy and Biff

THE MONTIES: 1941 - BETTE DAVIS and OLIVIA de HAVILLAND win their first Monties...and PENNY SERENADE wins a few as well...

1941 was another strong year in film and some notable first timers who landed their first Monties.

BEST FILM:

THE LADY EVE
THE LITTLE FOXES
MR. AND MRS. SMITH
THE MALTESE FALCON
PENNY SERENADE - WINNER
ZIEGFELD GIRL

Penny Serenade is one of the all time great tear-jerkers that mixed comedy and drama magnificently well. Throw in another pairing with my favorite screen team of Cary Grant and Irene Dunne, and it easily is my favorite film of 1941.

BEST DIRECTOR:

ALFRED HITCHCOCK - MR. AND MRS. SMITH
GEORGE STEVENS - PENNY SERENADE (WINNER)
ROBERT Z. LEONARD - ZIEGFELD GIRL
JOHN HUSTON - THE MALTESE FALCON
WILLIAM WYLER - THE LITTLE FOXES

Veteran director George Stevens superb direction of Penny Serenade gives him his first Montie. I expect to see George back up here again with potential winners in A Place in The Sun, Shane and Giant.

BEST ACTOR:

HUMPHREY BOGART - THE MALTESE FALCON
HENRY FONDA - THE LADY EVE
CARY GRANT - PENNY SERENADE (WINNER)
ROBERT MONTGOMERY - MR. AND MRS. SMITH
GARY COOPER - SERGEANT YORK

My guy Cary gives a marvelous performance as the devoted father and husband in Penny Serenade. This is the performance that showed Cary could do more than just comedy. And he was amazing. If you don't believe me, just check out that one scene where he has to to plead with the judge not to take away his adopted child. How Cary lost out an Oscar for this performance remains a mystery. Well he picks up his 3rd Montie from me, so congratulations Cary.


BEST ACTRESS:

BARBARA STANWYCK - THE LADY EVE
BETTE DAVIS - THE LITTLE FOXES (WINNER)
IRENE DUNNE - PENNY SERENADE
CAROLE LOMBARD - MR. AND MRS. SMITH
LANA TURNER - ZIEGFELD GIRL

The grand diva of film, Bette Davis picks up her first Montie with her performance as the wicked Regina Gidden, who is the type of character you just love to hate. And Bette gets to put on quite the show. One of her very best performances ever. And what should be the first of many Monties.


BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR:

CHARLES DINGLE - THE LITTLE FOXES
PETER LORRE - THE MALTESE FALCON (WINNER)
WALTER BRENNAN - SERGEANT YORK
SYDNEY GREENSTREET - THE MALTESE FALCON (WINNER)
EDGAR BUCHANAN - PENNY SERENADE

I couldn't decide who deserved a Montie more between Peter Lorre and Sydney Greenstreet, as they were both memorable as Joel Cairo and Kasper Gutman, respectively. Nefarious and shady, they are perfect foils to Bogart's Sam Spade. So they both get Monties.

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS:

TERESA WRIGHT - THE LITTLE FOXES
MARY ASTOR - THE MALTESE FALCON
CAROLE  LANDIS - MOON OVER MIAMI
OLIVIA DE HAVILLAND - THE STRAWBERRY BLONDE (WINNER)
JOAN LESLIE - SERGEANT YORK

One of my favorite actresses, Olivia de Havilland picks up her first Montie for her engaing turn as Amy Lind, the outspoken and brash suffragette who butts heads with James Cagney. You could argue hers is the main performance even though Rita Hayworth portrays the title character. But that's schematics, and I'm here to award Olivia a Montie.


So the final tally is PENNY SERENADE wins 3 Monties (Film, Director, and Actor); THE MALTESE FALCON picks up 2 Monties for Supporting Actor. And first time Montie winners inlcuded Bette Davis and Olivia de Havilland. Congratulations to all the winners and I will be back soon for my favorites of 1942.

Good Morning from Olivia de Havilland and Rita Hayworth

Here's a lovely pic of Olivia and Rita on the set of their 1941 film The Strawberry Blonde. Good morning to everyone and hope you have a great day!