Blondie and her "Housewives of America" turn Dagwood's peace and quiet upside down in this patriotic entry of the series where a woman's work takes precedence over her breadwinner husband's. Spoofing women's involvement in war activities, it shows how good intentions can go awry when they interfere in other people's lives. Blondie actually criticizes the hard working men who for one reason or another stayed out of military service, bringing on questions of misandry during the war. Blondie even has the audacity to pull Dagwood out of his business responsibilities on several occasions, the most ridiculous for a ladies brigade fashion show. Of course, misogynistic Mr. Dithers has old fashioned ideas about women's responsibilities inside or outside of war, and his influence over Dagwood creates turmoil in the Bumpstead home.
More visually funny than situationally funny, this shows Blondie in a negative light, treating Dagwood like Baby Alexander Dumpling and turning herself into a harpy. Many familiar character actresses appear as the equally sour pussed matrons, including Almira Sessions and Renie Riano who is hysterical as the constantly sleeping babysitter. Rarely do you see a classic comedy with reverse sexism, although it is obvious that Lake's singing of "Blondie's not always right. I let her to think she is" will come back to haunt her. This turns into a modernized version of "Taming of the Shrew" with Stuart Erwin as one of the soldiers staying at Dithers' house. Dagwood enlists husbands to put the Housewives for America in their place, leading to more complications.
I spent more time rolling my eyes at the attitudes of the women here than laughing which left me cold as far as the women as a whole was concerned. It put a new perspective as to the real enemy being on the homefront rather than overseas. The women on their own become cowardly after bullying their husbands simply by the sight of a little mouse. Compared to films such as "So Proudly We Hail", "Cry Havoc" and "Ladies Courageous", this ends up being a major disappointment as far as documenting the importance of women in war.
More visually funny than situationally funny, this shows Blondie in a negative light, treating Dagwood like Baby Alexander Dumpling and turning herself into a harpy. Many familiar character actresses appear as the equally sour pussed matrons, including Almira Sessions and Renie Riano who is hysterical as the constantly sleeping babysitter. Rarely do you see a classic comedy with reverse sexism, although it is obvious that Lake's singing of "Blondie's not always right. I let her to think she is" will come back to haunt her. This turns into a modernized version of "Taming of the Shrew" with Stuart Erwin as one of the soldiers staying at Dithers' house. Dagwood enlists husbands to put the Housewives for America in their place, leading to more complications.
I spent more time rolling my eyes at the attitudes of the women here than laughing which left me cold as far as the women as a whole was concerned. It put a new perspective as to the real enemy being on the homefront rather than overseas. The women on their own become cowardly after bullying their husbands simply by the sight of a little mouse. Compared to films such as "So Proudly We Hail", "Cry Havoc" and "Ladies Courageous", this ends up being a major disappointment as far as documenting the importance of women in war.