"Blondie Has Servant Trouble", the 6th film in the series, might well be alternately titled: "Blondie in the Haunted House".
Albert Duffy has come up with a rather entertaining story about a haunted mansion complete with sliding panels and secret passages and a demented magician (splendidly played by Arthur Hohl).
For once, Freulich's photography is superb; while the art direction rich in faded rococo décor, and the original music score are also distinct assets.
As we have suspected from the previous films, director Strayer is much more at home directing drama than comedy. Witness the marvelously effective slow tracking shot of Dagwood and Horatio with candles in hand.
The support cast is strong too. Ray Turner, who plays Horatio, gives a wonderfully comic performance, what with his staring eyes and shuffling walk, his shoulders drooping and head hanging in a delightful impersonation of imbecility.
Jonathan Hale is getting into stride as Mr. Dithers, while Irving Bacon registers strongly in yet another clever variation of his running postman gag.
Nice to see Blondie model the fur coat Dagwood bought for her in the previous picture, "Blondie on a Budget".
As usual, Gene Havlick's film editing is somewhat flabby. But I guess you can't have everything!
Albert Duffy has come up with a rather entertaining story about a haunted mansion complete with sliding panels and secret passages and a demented magician (splendidly played by Arthur Hohl).
For once, Freulich's photography is superb; while the art direction rich in faded rococo décor, and the original music score are also distinct assets.
As we have suspected from the previous films, director Strayer is much more at home directing drama than comedy. Witness the marvelously effective slow tracking shot of Dagwood and Horatio with candles in hand.
The support cast is strong too. Ray Turner, who plays Horatio, gives a wonderfully comic performance, what with his staring eyes and shuffling walk, his shoulders drooping and head hanging in a delightful impersonation of imbecility.
Jonathan Hale is getting into stride as Mr. Dithers, while Irving Bacon registers strongly in yet another clever variation of his running postman gag.
Nice to see Blondie model the fur coat Dagwood bought for her in the previous picture, "Blondie on a Budget".
As usual, Gene Havlick's film editing is somewhat flabby. But I guess you can't have everything!