''The Strawberry Blonde'' is a 1941 American

romantic comedy film Romantic comedy (also known as romcom or rom-com) is a subgenre of comedy and slice of life fiction, focusing on lighthearted, humorous plot lines centered on romantic ideas, such as how true love is able to surmount most obstacles. In a typica ...

directed by

Raoul Walsh Raoul Walsh (born Albert Edward Walsh; March 11, 1887December 31, 1980) was an American film director, actor, founding member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS), and the brother of silent screen actor George Walsh. He w ...

, starring

James Cagney James Francis Cagney Jr. (; July 17, 1899March 30, 1986) was an American actor, dancer and film director. On stage and in film, Cagney was known for his consistently energetic performances, distinctive vocal style, and deadpan comic timing. He ...

and Olivia de Havilland, and featuring Rita Hayworth, Alan Hale, Jack Carson, and George Tobias. Set in New York City around 1900, it features songs of that era such as "

The Band Played On "The Band Played On", also known (by its refrain) as "Casey Would Waltz with a Strawberry Blonde", is a popular music, popular song. It was written in 1895 in music, 1895 with lyrics by John F. Palmer and music by Charles B. Ward (1865–1917). ...

", "

Bill Bailey Mark Robert Bailey (born 13 January 1965), known professionally as Bill Bailey, is an English musician, comedian and actor. He is known for his role as Manny in the sitcom ''Black Books'' and his appearances on the panel shows ''Never Mind the ...

", " Meet Me in St. Louis, Louie", " Wait Till The Sun Shines Nellie", and "Love Me and the World Is Mine". It was nominated for an

Academy Award The Academy Awards, better known as the Oscars, are awards for artistic and technical merit for the American and international film industry. The awards are regarded by many as the most prestigious, significant awards in the entertainment ind ...

in 1941 for Best Scoring of a Musical Picture. The title is most often listed beginning with the word ''The'' (as it appears in the opening credits), but the film's posters and promotional materials called it simply ''Strawberry Blonde''. The film was a more lighthearted remake of the 1933 non-musical movie ''

One Sunday Afternoon One Sunday Afternoon may refer to: * One Sunday Afternoon (1933 film), an American pre-Code romantic comedy-drama film * One Sunday Afternoon (1948 film) ''One Sunday Afternoon'' is a 1948 musical film directed by Raoul Walsh, starring Dennis Mor ...

'', directed by Stephen Roberts and starring

Gary Cooper Gary Cooper (born Frank James Cooper; May 7, 1901May 13, 1961) was an American actor known for his strong, quiet screen persona and understated acting style. He won the Academy Award for Best Actor twice and had a further three nominations, a ...

. Unlike that earlier picture, it was a hit. In 1948, Walsh directed a third version of the story, also called ''

'', featuring early 20th-century songs combined with original musical numbers.

Plot

The movie runs as a long flashback in the 1890's in New York City and opening with Biff Grimes (

) as an unsuccessful dentist on a Sunday without work. Hugo Barnstead ( Jack Carson), an old partner, nemesis and rival makes a desperate appointment to see him. As Biff considers killing Hugo when he gives him nitrous oxide, the flashback begins. Biff falls in love with strawberry-blonde society girl Virginia Brush ( Rita Hayworth). However, Biff's more enterprising "pal", Hugo, wins Virginia's affections. Biff ends up marrying Virginia's less-glamorous best friend, Amy Lind (

Olivia de Havilland Dame Olivia Mary de Havilland (; July 1, 1916July 26, 2020) was a British-American actress. The major works of her cinematic career spanned from 1935 to 1988. She appeared in 49 feature films and was one of the leading actresses of her time. ...

), who Biff eventually realizes was the right one for him all along.

Cast

as T. L. 'Biff' Grimes * Olivia de Havilland as Amy Lind * Rita Hayworth as Virginia Brush * Alan Hale as William 'Old Man' Grimes * Jack Carson as Hugo Barnstead * George Tobias as Nicholas Pappalas * Una O'Connor as Mrs. Timothy Mulcahey * George Reeves as Harold * Lucile Fairbanks as Harold's girlfriend *

Edward McNamara Edward James McNamara (August 13, 1884 - November 10, 1944) was an American Broadway and Hollywood actor. He appeared in several films between 1929 and 1944. Early life He was born on August 13, 1884, in Paterson, New Jersey. Rotund in bui ...

as Big Joe *

Helen Lynd Helen Merrell Lynd (March 17, 1896 – January 30, 1982) was an American sociologist, social philosopher, educator, and author. She is best known for conducting the first Middletown studies of Muncie, Indiana, with her husband, Robert Staughto ...

as Josephine * Herbert Heywood as Toby *

Russell Hicks Edward Russell Hicks (June 4, 1895 – June 1, 1957) was an American film character actor. Hicks was born in 1895 in Baltimore, Maryland. During World War I, he served in the U.S. Army in France. He later became a lieutenant Colonel in the Cali ...

as Treadway (uncredited) *

Frank Mayo Frank Mayo may refer to: * Frank M. Mayo (1839–1896), American actor and comedian * Frank Mayo (actor) Frank Lorimer Mayo (June 28, 1889 – July 9, 1963) was an American actor. He appeared in 310 films between 1911 and 1949. Biograp ...

as Policeman (uncredited) * Jack Mower as Streetcleaner (uncredited) *

Nan Wynn Nan Wynn, born Masha VatzNew York Times & Arno Press ''The New York Times biographical service, Volume 2'', p. 1013; 1971 (May 8, 1918 – March 21, 1971) was an American big-band singer, and Broadway and film actress. She sang and recorded thro ...

as Rita Hayworth's singing voice (uncredited)

Development and production

Both the director of ''Strawberry Blonde'', Raoul Walsh, and its star James Cagney came to the project looking for a change of pace. Walsh had just completed the dark

Humphrey Bogart Humphrey DeForest Bogart (; December 25, 1899 – January 14, 1957), nicknamed Bogie, was an American film and stage actor. His performances in Classical Hollywood cinema films made him an American cultural icon. In 1999, the American Film In ...

Ida Lupino Ida Lupino (4 February 1918Recorded in ''Births Mar 1918'' Camberwell Vol. 1d, p. 1019 (Free BMD). Transcribed as "Lupine" in the official births index – 3 August 1995) was an English-American actress, singer, director, writer, and producer. T ...

vehicle '' High Sierra'', shot largely on location, and the good notices the film received had Walsh "as fired up as Jack Warner to keep the ball rolling on projects in development and production."Moss, p. 198 The transition between the outdoorsy film noir and the light and sentimental studio-centered ''Strawberry Blonde'' "proved no problem" for Walsh. Cagney had earned his stripes with Warner Bros. in the early 1930s playing tough guys, but he also had shown his talents at lighter, musical material in films like ''

Footlight Parade ''Footlight Parade'' is a 1933 American pre-Code musical film starring James Cagney, Joan Blondell, Ruby Keeler and Dick Powell and featuring Frank McHugh, Guy Kibbee, Hugh Herbert and Ruth Donnelly. The film was written by Manuel Seff and Ja ...

'' (1933) He left the studio in mid-decade, then returned in 1938 with a contract that gave him more control in choosing roles and brought his younger brother William Cagney onboard as assistant producer and informal buffer between himself and studio executives.Warren, p. 124 But Cagney soon found himself getting slotted right back into tough guy parts and by 1940, he "wanted a nostalgic part—any part—to take him away from the gangsters he was now loathe icto play."Moss, p. 200 A property on the lot that might fill that bill was ''One Sunday Afternoon''. It had started out early in 1933 as a successful Broadway play by James Hagan and had been adapted later that year by

Paramount Paramount (from the word ''paramount'' meaning "above all others") may refer to: Entertainment and music companies * Paramount Global, also known simply as Paramount, an American mass media company formerly known as ViacomCBS. The following busin ...

as a vehicle for

. But it was "the only real flop of Cooper's stellar and carefully orchestrated career"Moss, p. 199—and the only Cooper picture ever to lose money. James Cagney had qualms about it because it would be a remake,Moss, p. 200 and Jack Warner knew it needed "complete retooling." But it was a "pet project" of William Cagney, who saw it as a "gift to

he brothers' He or HE may refer to: Language * He (pronoun), an English pronoun * He (kana), the romanization of the Japanese kana へ * He (letter), the fifth letter of many Semitic alphabets * He (Cyrillic), a letter of the Cyrillic script called ''He'' in ...

mother, Carrie Cagney, who would live only a few more years" and Warner recognized the inside track ''that'' would give him with his often recalcitrant star. Warner screened the 1933 film and wrote a memo to his production head Hal B. Wallis telling him to watch it also: "It will be hard to stay through the entire running of the picture, but do this so you will know what not to do." Wallis knew the trick was to tailor the script as a vehicle for Cagney, who had yet to commit, either to the project or even to his brother. Wallis had a first draft screenplay done by

Stephen Morehouse Avery Stephen or Steven is a common English first name. It is particularly significant to Christians, as it belonged to Saint Stephen ( grc-gre, Στέφανος ), an early disciple and deacon who, according to the Book of Acts, was stoned to death; h ...

that satisfied no one; he called in the Epstein brothers,

Julius The gens Julia (''gēns Iūlia'', ) was one of the most prominent patrician families in ancient Rome. Members of the gens attained the highest dignities of the state in the earliest times of the Republic. The first of the family to obtain the ...

and Phillip, for another vision—one that might hook Cagney into the project. The brothers and William all concurred that the first thing to do was move things from the play's midwest setting to New York City, "since they all knew it so much better."Moss, p. 200 Said Julius: "We thought the reason he Cooper filmlost money was it was too bucolic. It took place in a little country town. We said 'Change it to the big city. Put it in New York.'"McGilligan, p. 180 The Epstein version quickly took shape, aided by the objective of making it a Cagney picture. "When we went on the rewrite," Julius said, "we knew it was for Cagney. That was a help." Yet still Cagney was reluctant. Wallis was getting impatient; he considered the emerging

John Garfield John Garfield (born Jacob Julius Garfinkle, March 4, 1913 – May 21, 1952) was an American actor who played brooding, rebellious, working-class characters. He grew up in poverty in New York City. In the early 1930s, he became a member of ...

for the role of Biff Grimes. By July 1940, concern about the impasse stretched all the way to New York, where Harry Warner cabled brother Jack that he was willing to give Cagney 10% of the gross. Then Cagney began to budge. One issue was that he didn't want to play scenes with the much-taller Jack Carson; he would prefer the shorter

Brian Donlevy Waldo Brian Donlevy (February 9, 1901 – April 6, 1972) was an American actor, noted for playing dangerous tough guys from the 1930s to the 1960s. He usually appeared in supporting roles. Among his best-known films are ''Beau Geste'' (193 ...

, or the shorter-still

Lloyd Nolan Lloyd Benedict Nolan (August 11, 1902 – September 27, 1985) was an American film and television actor. Among his many roles, Nolan is remembered for originating the role of private investigator Michael Shayne in a series of 1940s B movies. Bi ...

. The problem was, Nolan commanded $2,000 a week while Carson got just $750. Despite Cagney's misgivings, Carson was cast as Hugo Barnstead. More problematic was the casting of the Virginia Brush role, which was originally created for

Ann Sheridan Clara Lou "Ann" Sheridan (February 21, 1915 – January 21, 1967) was an American actress and singer. She is best known for her roles in the films ''San Quentin'' (1937) with Humphrey Bogart, ''Angels with Dirty Faces'' (1938) with James Cagne ...

, the studio's "Oomph Girl". But Sheridan was in one of her contract disputes with the studio and refused to do the film. Jack Warner asked Walsh to talk Sheridan into it, but she still refused. Wallis tested actress Brenda Marshall for the part, but Walsh spoke up about "a girl" he had seen in several Columbia pictures: young Rita Hayworth. "He thought she was perfect for the part, and after she was signed without a hitch, from then on he always referred to Hayworth as his 'find' (despite he splash she had made in''

Only Angels Have Wings ''Only Angels Have Wings'' is a 1939 American Adventure film, adventure drama (film and television), drama film directed by Howard Hawks, starring Cary Grant and Jean Arthur, and is based on a story written by Hawks. Its plot follows the manager ...

'' released in 1939)." Hayworth received $450 a week for the film and began work immediately with makeup man Perc Westmore to find the look for the title character in what would soon be retitled ''Strawberry Blonde''. After shooting test footage and many stills of his makeup experiments, Westmore memoed Wallis: "Her head is so large and she has so much hair that it will practically be impossible to put a wig on her. Whatever color you decide on, she will be happy to have it made that color. Then at the end of the picture, we will dye it back to its natural color."Moss, p. 201 This film marked the first time Hayworth was seen as a redhead and the only time that audiences heard her real singing voice. The shooting of ''Strawberry Blonde'' began on October 21, 1940. Wallis and Walsh quickly came to loggerheads. The producer thought his director was coming in too close on the actors, that the close-ups decreased the nostalgia by obscuring the period backgrounds. Wallis's October 29, 1940 memo chided "You have so much opportunity on this picture for atmosphere and composition... and I hate like hell to see them go by without full advantage being taken of what we have." (Several months later, with Michael Curtiz on ''

Yankee Doodle Dandy ''Yankee Doodle Dandy'' is a 1942 American biographical musical film about George M. Cohan, known as "The Man Who Owned Broadway". It stars James Cagney, Joan Leslie, Walter Huston, and Richard Whorf, and features Irene Manning, George Tobias, Ro ...

'', Wallis's complaints would be just the opposite: "Mike, get the story from the actors' faces, instead of going all over the place.")Moss, p. 202 Walsh in reality had "memorized the entire script and had worked out every camera angle and move—a visual map of just how he would shoot." As the footage continued to flow in, the memos slowed, then stopped. Olivia de Havilland had no idea of the friction between the two, no problem with the closeups, and she debunked Walsh's reputation as a tough guy. "I loved working with Raoul. He seemed to understand perfectly the characters we were playing, and to understand, too, the 'actor' approach to them. It was a happy, harmonious set, a happy picture to make." The screenwriters too found Walsh a good boss. Julius Epstein said he "was great. He was very businesslike. He didn't change a word on ''The Strawberry Blonde''. Some writers complained about Walsh. My experience with him was very good." When Warner Bros. released ''Strawberry Blonde'' on February 21, 1941, "the studio knew it had a hit on its hands."Moss, p. 203 Walsh considered it his most successful picture to date, and from then on would call it his favorite film. File:AmyBiffStrawbBlonde1941Trailer.jpg, Amy Lind shocks Biff with her modern "new ideas", so scandalous in the Gay '90s File:VirginiaBiffStrawbBlonde1941Trailer.jpg, Virginia's flirtatious beauty captivates Biff and holds him tight for years afterward File:BiffFightsStrawbBlonde1941Trailer.jpg, Pugnacious Biff calls out Nicholas's barbershop patron over Miss Brush's honor File:BiffNicholasStrawbBlonde1941Trailer.jpg, Biff and Nicholas, lifelong pals; George Tobias received good notices as Nicholas

Reception

Critic Bosley Crowther praised ''Strawberry Blonde'' in a ''

New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''the Times'', ''NYT'', or the Gray Lady) is a daily newspaper based in New York City with a worldwide readership reported in 2020 to comprise a declining 840,000 paid print subscribers, and a growing 6 million paid d ...

'' February 1941 review, calling it "lusty, affectionate, and altogether winning." Part of its "amiable, infectious quality", he wrote, came from its cast: "James Cagney, true to form, is excellent as the pugnacious and proud little guy who 'don't take nothing from nobody' cause that's the kind of hairpin he is. Olivia de Havilland is sweet and sympathetic as the girl he marries and Rita Hayworth makes a classic 'flirt' of the one who got away." Part of it also came from the screenplay by ''Casablanca'' writers Julius J. and

Philip G. Epstein Philip G. Epstein (August 22, 1909 – February 7, 1952) was an American screenwriter most known for his screenplay for the film ''Casablanca'' (1942), which won an Academy Award. He had written it in partnership with his twin brother Julius and ...

: they took "the little play, ''One Sunday Afternoon''... and fashioned from it a gas-lit comedy, laced with sentimental romance, about a fellow who thinks he's been played for a chump, but, in the end, discovers that he's the winner." Crowther also liked the supporting performances of George Tobias and Jack Carson. On

Rotten Tomatoes Rotten Tomatoes is an American review-aggregation website for film and television. The company was launched in August 1998 by three undergraduate students at the University of California, Berkeley: Senh Duong, Patrick Y. Lee, and Stephen Wang ...

, the film has an aggregate score of 100% based on 9 critic reviews. The entertainment trade publication '' Variety'' liked it as well: "Cagney and de Havilland provide topnotch performances that do much to keep up interest in the proceedings. Rita Hayworth is an eyeful as the title character, while Jack Carson is excellent as the politically ambitious antagonist of the dentist." In ''Halliwell's Film Guide'' (1994), reviewer Leslie Halliwell describes the production as a "pleasant period comedy drama" and recognizes its three stars and cinematographer

James Wong Howe Wong Tung Jim, A.S.C. (; August 28, 1899 – July 12, 1976), known professionally as James Wong Howe (Houghto), was a Chinese-born American cinematographer who worked on over 130 films. During the 1930s and 1940s, he was one of the most soug ...

for their outstanding contributions.Halliwell, p. 1140 In 1998,

Jonathan Rosenbaum Jonathan Rosenbaum (born February 27, 1943) is an American film critic and author. Rosenbaum was the head film critic for ''The Chicago Reader'' from 1987 to 2008, when he retired. He has published and edited numerous books about cinema and has ...

of the ''

Chicago Reader The ''Chicago Reader'', or ''Reader'' (stylized as ЯEADER), is an American alternative weekly newspaper in Chicago, Illinois, noted for its literary style of journalism and coverage of the arts, particularly film and theater. It was founded by a ...

'' included the film in his unranked list of the best American films not included on the AFI Top 100.

Soundtrack

* ''

'' ** Music by Chas. B. Ward ** Lyrics by

John F. Palmer John F. Palmer (born 1870) was an American professional actor and songwriter. He and Charles B. Ward wrote the popular 1890s song "The Band Played On". Who wrote what is disputed; some sources say that Palmer wrote the music and lyrics, and that ...

* ''

Won't You Come Home Bill Bailey "(Won't You Come Home) Bill Bailey", originally titled "Bill Bailey, Won't You Please.... Come Home?" is a popular song published in 1902. It is commonly referred to as simply "Bill Bailey". Its words and music were written by Hughie Cannon, an ...

'' ** Music and Lyrics by Hughie Cannon * '' Meet Me in St. Louis, Louis'' ** Music by

Kerry Mills Kerry Mills ''(né'' Frederick Allen Mills; 1 February 1869 in Philadelphia – 5 December 1948 in Hawthorne, California), publishing also as F.A. Mills was an American ragtime composer and music publishing executive of popular music during the Ti ...

** Lyrics by

Andrew B. Sterling Andrew B. Sterling (August 26, 1874 – August 11, 1955) was an American lyricist. Biography Born in New York City, after he graduated from high school, he began writing songs and vaudevilles. An important event was his meeting with the compo ...

* ''In the Evening by the Moonlight'' ** Music and Lyrics by James Allen Bland * ''

Wait Till the Sun Shines, Nellie "Wait 'Till the Sun Shines, Nellie" is a 1905 popular song with music written by Harry Von Tilzer and lyrics by Andrew B. Sterling. History "Wait 'Till the Sun Shines, Nellie" has been recorded many times and is now considered a pop standard. ...

'' ** Music by

Harry von Tilzer Harry Von Tilzer (born Aaron Gumbinsky, also known as Harry Gumm; 8 July 1872 – 10 January 1946) was an American composer, songwriter, publisher and vaudeville performer. Early life Von Tilzer was born in Detroit, Michigan. His parents, Sarah ...

** Lyrics by Andrew Sterling * ''

The Fountain in the Park "The Fountain in the Park", also known as "While Strolling Through (or Thru') the Park One Day", is a song by Ed Haley, a member of the vaudeville act the Haley Brothers. Some authors believe the song was written by Robert A. Keiser, to whom Haley ...

'' ** Music by Ed Haley * ''The Red, White and Blue'', aka '' Columbia, the Gem of the Ocean'' ** Written by David T. Shaw ** Arranged by Thomas A. Beckett * ''

In the Good Old Summertime ''In the Good Old Summertime'' is a 1949 American Technicolor musical film directed by Robert Z. Leonard. It stars Judy Garland, Van Johnson, S.Z. Sakall, Spring Byington, Clinton Sundberg, and Buster Keaton in his first featured film role at M ...

'' ** Music by

George Evans George Evans may refer to: Arts and entertainment * George "Honey Boy" Evans (1870–1915), American songwriter and entertainer * George Evans (bandleader) (1915–1993), English jazz bandleader, arranger and tenor saxophonist * George Evans (si ...

* '' A Life on the Ocean Wave'' ** Music by Henry Russell * ''Love Me, and the World Is Mine'' ** Music by

Ernest Ball Ernest Roland Ball (July 22, 1878 – May 3, 1927) was an American singer and songwriter, most famous for composing the music for the song "When Irish Eyes Are Smiling" in 1912. He was not himself Irish. Early life and education Born in Cl ...

** Lyrics by Dave Reed Jr. * '' In the Shade of the Old Apple Tree'' ** Music by Egbert Van Alstyne * ''

In My Merry Oldsmobile "In My Merry Oldsmobile" is a popular song from 1905, with music by Gus Edwards and lyrics by Vincent P. Bryan. The song's chorus is one of the most enduring automobile-oriented songs. The verses, which are slightly suggestive (by 1905 standard ...

'' ** Music by Gus Edwards * '' Let the Rest of the World Go By'' ** Music by Ernest Ball ** Lyrics by J. Keirn Brennan * ''

When You Were Sweet Sixteen "When You Were Sweet Sixteen" is a popular song, written by James Thornton and published in 1898. Inspired and sung by the composer's wife, the ballad quickly became a hit song in vaudeville. It has a long recording history that includes numerous ...

'' ** Written by James Thornton * '' The Bowery'' ** Music by Percy Gaunt

Home media

''Strawberry Blonde'' was released on both VHS and in a DVD edition through the

Warner Archive Collection The Warner Archive Collection is a home video division for releasing classic and cult films from Warner Bros.' library. It started as a manufactured-on-demand (MOD) DVD series by Warner Bros. Home Entertainment on March 23, 2009, with the inte ...

References

External links

* * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Strawberry Blonde, The 1941 films 1941 musical comedy films 1941 romantic comedy films American black-and-white films American films based on plays American musical comedy films American romantic comedy films American romantic musical films 1940s English-language films Films directed by Raoul Walsh Films produced by Hal B. Wallis Films scored by Heinz Roemheld Films set in New York City Films set in the 1890s Films with screenplays by Philip G. Epstein Films with screenplays by Julius J. Epstein Warner Bros. films 1940s American films