The Beautiful Blonde from Bashful Bend (1949)

71% of critics liked it
(7 reviews)
56% of users liked it
(201 ratings)

Preston Sturges' final American film was generally conceded to be a disaster in 1949; even star Betty Grable publicly bad-mouthed the finished product. When seen today, Beautiful Blonde from Bashful Bend, while no classic, seems a lot better than it did five decades ago. Grable plays a western… More Preston Sturges' final American film was generally conceded to be a disaster in 1949; even star Betty Grable publicly bad-mouthed the finished product. When seen today, Beautiful Blonde from Bashful Bend, while no classic, seems a lot better than it did five decades ago. Grable plays a western dancehall girl named Freddie, who is forced to take it on the lam after accidentally shooting a judge (she'd been aiming at her faithless boyfriend Blackie Jobero, played by Cesar Romero). Arriving in the tiny burg of Bashful Bend, Freddie is mistaken for the schoolmarm whom the town elders have recently hired. Taking advantage of this mistaken-identity situation, Freddie puts the make on wealthy banker Charles Hingelman (Rudy Vallee, a Sturges "regular"), who owns a valuable gold mine. Before the film's 77 minutes are over, Freddie finds herself smack dab in the middle of a shootout between the Good Guys and a family of dimwitted outlaws. As was always the case in a Preston Sturges production, Beautiful Blonde of Bashful Bend is chock full of colorful supporting players, including Hugh Herbert (hilarious as a myopic dentist), El Brendel, Sterling Holloway, and Margaret Hamilton. Also on hand are stalwart Sturges stock company players Porter Hall, Alan Bridge, J. Farrell McDonald, Georgia Caine, Esther Howard, Torben Meyer, Dewey Robinson, and Harry Hayden--many of whom, in keeping with 20th Century-Fox's curious billing policy, are denied on-screen credit. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 17 min.
Directed By: Al Bridge, Betty Grable
Genres: Western, Drama, Classics, Comedy

In Theaters: May 27, 1949 Wide

Critic Reviews

Variety Staff, Variety
Preston Sturges plays his script [based on a story by Earl Felton] with frantic slapstick, stressing raw, bawdy comedy rather than genuine humor, to get the laughs.
Bosley Crowther, New York Times
To paraphrase the theme song, it looks pretty well shot in the end.
Fernando F. Croce, CinePassion
Not so much a lament for the end of the West but for the end of the 1940s
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
Shoots itself in the arse once too many times for its prolonged spoof to work smoothly.
, TV Guide's Movie Guide
Even a fair-to-middling Preston Sturges production is better than most comedies by other writer/directors.
Geoff Andrew, Time Out
Fast-moving and witty spoof of Western conventions from one of Hollywood's finest writer/directors of comedy.
, Film4
This musical western burlesque looks slightly better today, but its still more energetic than funny.

Read all 7 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

jay n

A notorious flop in its day time has been kind to this and today it is a pleasant if unremarkable comedy, a little risque for the period with a sprightly performance from Betty Grable. Many Sturges regulars pop up in the supporting cast which is always a good thing and Olga San Juan… More
A notorious flop in its day time has been kind to this and today it is a pleasant if unremarkable comedy, a little risque for the period with a sprightly performance from Betty Grable. Many Sturges regulars pop up in the supporting cast which is always a good thing and Olga San Juan is fun as Betty's boon companion.

Cast

            Betty Grable as Freddie Jones/ Hilda Swandumper

            Cesar Romero as Blackie Jobero

            Rudy Vallee as Charles Hingleman

            Olga San Juan as Conchita

            Sterling Holloway as Basserman Boy

            Hugh Herbert as Doctor

            El Brendel as Mr. Jorgensen

            Porter Hall as Judge O'Toole

            Pati Behrs as Roulette

            Margaret Hamilton as Elvira O'Toole

            Dan Jackson as Basserman Boy

            Emory Parnell as Mr. Hingleman

            Al Bridge as Sheriff

            Chris-Pin Martin as Joe

            John Farrell MacDonald as Sheriff Sweetzer

            Richard Hale as Mr. Basserman

            Georgia Caine as Mrs. Hingleman

            Esther Howard as Mrs. Smidlap

            Harry Hayden as Conductor

            Chester Conklin as Messenger Boy

            Torben Meyer as Dr. Schultz

            Dewey Robinson as Bartender

            Richard Kean as Dr. Smidlap

            Harry Tyler as Station Agent

            Dudley Dickerson as Pullman Porter

            Russell Simpson as Grandpa

            Marie Windsor as LaBell Bergers
See full cast