Annoying performance!

[donwc1996]

I just watched the film Smarty (1934-Warner Bros). Joan Blondell, without a doubt, gives one of the most annoying, aggrivating performances which I have ever seen. In this film, she plays a very selfish, manipulating woman. She
has unaccountable changes of mood and behavior. It was a sort of Johnny-one-note type performance. Warren William was her co-star & he was at least interesting to watch. The movie also seems to approve of
slapping women around. Normally I'm a fan of Joan Blondell--she usually play smart and sassy real well.

[entredeuxguerres]

The movie also seems to approve of slapping women around.

British title was much more to the point: Hit Me Again. Strange & rather unappealing story--both parties are borderline nuts; of course, it's meant to be a crazy farce. But the "slapping around," which I don't care for either, is somewhat mitigated by Williams' great & immediate remorse, so I wouldn't exactly say it's "approved." But marrying the "best friend" in revenge--that was a low blow!

[Richard M Roberts]

I just watched the film Smarty (1934-Warner Bros). Joan Blondell, without a doubt, gives one of the most annoying, aggrivating performances which I have ever seen. In this film, she plays a very selfish, manipulating woman. She
has unaccountable changes of mood and behavior. It was a sort of Johnny-one-note type performance. Warren William was her co-star & he was at least interesting to watch. The movie also seems to approve of
slapping women around. Normally I'm a fan of Joan Blondell--she usually play smart and sassy real well.

Yeah, but she sure looks great in that low-cut black number.


RICHARD M ROBERTS

[entredeuxguerres]

Yeah, but she sure looks great in that low-cut black number.


RICHARD M ROBERTS

MUCH too great to waste on Horton! (Just like Merriam Hopkins in Arrangement for Living.)

Uh, make that DESIGN for Living. (Thanks, Brent.)

[donwc1996]

It's true--Joan Blondell looked sensational in that low cut, backless black dress. Her character was annoying--but she looked great--no doubt about it!

[gjohnson]

I just watched the film Smarty (1934-Warner Bros). Joan Blondell, without a doubt, gives one of the most annoying, aggrivating performances which I have ever seen. In this film, she plays a very selfish, manipulating woman. She
has unaccountable changes of mood and behavior. It was a sort of Johnny-one-note type performance. Warren William was her co-star & he was at least interesting to watch. The movie also seems to approve of
slapping women around. Normally I'm a fan of Joan Blondell--she usually play smart and sassy real well.

It's called cranking out 8 to 10 films a year. It wore her to a frazzle, ruined her marriages (although the first one was doomed to begin with) and over-exposed her to the point that when she finally broke free of the Warner's contract the movie-going public had basically moved on from her image. It's the reason stars like Cagney and Davis began fighting the studio's early and often. They extended their stardom by being more aggressive over their careers. Blondell rues that fact in her memoirs.