Joan Blondell is taking
her giant googly eyes on the road in this Warner Brothers comedy. She is
billed equally with her often co-star Glenda Farrell but unfortunately Farrell
gets the short end of the stick and doesn't get much screen time. Which is
unfortunate because their pairing up as friends and playing off one another
in Kansas City Princess and Havana Widows was good fun. Their tough
talking wit and barbs can cut any man in half. Not that Blondell doesn't
do the same here but it is almost cruel on her own. She rips her male competitor
in half. Interesting to see in 1935 but she and Farrell were given those
roles by Warner and Ray Enright was to direct them in most of those films.
Her character is the daughter of a toothpaste magnate (Grant Mitchell) who
owns the Twitchell brand. She wants a job in the company but he refuses to
give any woman a top position. She meets up with Hugh Herbert who gives one
of his many befuddled performances - he has a nifty idea for toothpaste.
Give it an alcohol flavor - brandy, whiskey, cocktail and more. They take
the idea to a rival toothpaste company and the owner goes for it. Under an
assumed name she takes it on the road and keeps beating the number one salesman
from Twitchell, William Gargan, with less than ethical means - sex appeal
and being sneaky. Farrell plays the owner of a chain of drugstores in love
with Gargan. It is mildly amusing and rolls along quickly at 63 minutes.
Blondell has more energy than a house full of rabbits and is always a pleasure
to watch her go.
