The Bamboo Blonde
Encyclopedia
The Bamboo Blonde is a 1946 American film directed by Anthony Mann
based on an original story "Chicago Lulu" by Wayne Whittaker, and starring Frances Langford
and Ralph Edwards
in a patriotic War movie.
In the Pacific, after realizing that a string of their bad luck has to be broken, Captain Ransom acquiesces to the crew painting the image of "Bamboo Blonde" on the nose of his bomber, as the crew members think that the striking blonde singer they had seen, is his girl. The "Bamboo Blonde" becomes famous when the B-29 sinks a Japanese battleship and shoots down numerous Japanese fighter aircraft. The armed forces decides to bring the "Bamboo Blonde" and its crew back home to sell war bonds across the country and Clark knows that he can exploit his singer's connection to the famous bomber. Back in New York, the Captain leaves his fiancée and seeks out Louise, who has also fallen in love with the pilot.
on (primarily) western films like The Naked Spur
(1953), film noir and epics in his last years, this early film in his career, is typical of a period when Mann accepted any and all assignments in a variety of genres.
Characterized by a low budget, The Bamboo Blonde stars singer Frances Langford in the title role with Ralph Edwards (from TV's This is Your Life
) and bit player Russell Wade as leading men. As an RKO star, Langford was famous for her role in entertaining the troops in World War II and the film featured a number of songs that her character sings at a nightclub.
, Dennis Day
and Ray Bolger
. The new film was a kind of filmed vaudeville show, using old material from RKO films and some new filmed scenes.
Mainly due to its connection with Mann, the film was screened at the recent B Musicals Film Festival at Film Forum in New York City.
Anthony Mann
Anthony Mann was an American actor and film director, most notably of film noirs and Westerns. As a director, he often collaborated with the cinematographer John Alton and with James Stewart in his Westerns.-Biography:...
based on an original story "Chicago Lulu" by Wayne Whittaker, and starring Frances Langford
Frances Langford
Julia Frances Langford was an American singer and entertainer who was popular during the Golden Age of Radio and also made film appearances over two decades.-Birth:...
and Ralph Edwards
Ralph Edwards
Ralph Livingstone Edwards was an American radio and television host and television producer.-Early career:Born in Merino, Colorado , Edwards worked for KROW-AM in Oakland, California while he was still in high school...
in a patriotic War movie.
Plot
Businessman Eddie Clark (Edwards) tells a reporter the story behind his conglomerate of products branded as the "Bamboo Blonde". During the Pacific War, Captain Patrick Ransom, Jr. (Wade), the pilot of a B-29 bomber is stood up by his fiancée Eileen Sawyer (Greer) on the way to meet his new crew at a New York nightclub, owned by Clark. Instead, he sees Louise Anderson (Langford), a beautiful blonde singer at the nightclub. Although engaged, he falls in love with the singer, but has to leave next day for action in the Pacific, joining an experienced bomber crew as their new pilot. The crew is reluctant to accept their new "skipper" and decide to dump him at the out-of-bounds nightclub, coming back later to find the Captain and the torch singer kissing.In the Pacific, after realizing that a string of their bad luck has to be broken, Captain Ransom acquiesces to the crew painting the image of "Bamboo Blonde" on the nose of his bomber, as the crew members think that the striking blonde singer they had seen, is his girl. The "Bamboo Blonde" becomes famous when the B-29 sinks a Japanese battleship and shoots down numerous Japanese fighter aircraft. The armed forces decides to bring the "Bamboo Blonde" and its crew back home to sell war bonds across the country and Clark knows that he can exploit his singer's connection to the famous bomber. Back in New York, the Captain leaves his fiancée and seeks out Louise, who has also fallen in love with the pilot.
Cast
Cast (in credits order):- Frances LangfordFrances LangfordJulia Frances Langford was an American singer and entertainer who was popular during the Golden Age of Radio and also made film appearances over two decades.-Birth:...
as Louise Anderson - Ralph EdwardsRalph EdwardsRalph Livingstone Edwards was an American radio and television host and television producer.-Early career:Born in Merino, Colorado , Edwards worked for KROW-AM in Oakland, California while he was still in high school...
as Eddie Clark - Russell Wade as Patrick Ransom, Jr.
- Iris AdrianIris AdrianIris Adrian was an American film actress.-Life and career:Born in Los Angeles, California as Iris Hostetter, Adrian won a beauty pageant and worked with the Ziegfeld Follies, before she entered films at the end of the silent era in Chasing Husbands and appeared as an extra or chorus girl in early...
as Montana Jones - Richard MartinRichard MartinRichard Martin may refer to:*Saint Richard Martin*Richard Martin , , Master of the Mint 1582-1617*Richard Martin , , lawyer of the Virginia Company...
as Jim Wilson - Jane GreerJane GreerJane Greer was a film and television actress who was perhaps best known for her role as femme fatale Kathie Moffat in the 1947 film noir Out of the Past.-Career:...
as Eileen Sawyer - Glen Vernon as Shorty Parker (as Glenn Vernon)
- Paul HarveyPaul Harvey (actor)Paul Harvey was an American actor who appeared in at least 177 films.-Selected filmography:*They Shall Have Music *Behind the News *Moonlight Masquerade *Spellbound...
as Patrick Ransom, Sr. - Regina Wallace as Mrs. Ransom
- Jean BrooksJean BrooksJean Brooks born Ruby M. Kelly was an American film actress who appeared in over 30 films. She was raised in both New York City and Costa Rica, and was fluent in both English and Spanish. She never achieved major stardom in Hollywood, though she landed a number of prominent roles in the early 1940s...
as Marsha - Tommy NoonanTommy NoonanTommy Noonan was a comedy genre film performer, screenwriter and producer. He acted in a number of 'A' and 'B' pictures from the 1940s through the 1960s, and he is best known for his supporting performances as Gus Esmond, Marilyn Monroe's wealthy boyfriend, in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes , and as the...
as Art Department (as Tom Noonan) - Dorothy Vaughan as Mom
- Jason Robards, Sr.Jason Robards, Sr.Jason Nelson Robards, Sr. was an American stage and screen actor, and the father of Oscar-winning actor Jason Robards, Jr...
as American Officer
Production
In May 1943, RKO originally advertised that a countrywide series of contests would be used to find an "unknown" to portray The Bamboo Blonde in a future romantic comedy feature.Directed by film auteur Anthony Mann, helming only his 11th film as a director, who was known later mostly for working with James StewartJames Stewart
James Stewart was a Hollywood movie actor and USAF brigadier general.James Stewart may also refer to:-Noblemen:*James Stewart, 5th High Steward of Scotland*James Stewart, the Black Knight of Lorn James Stewart (1908–1997) was a Hollywood movie actor and USAF brigadier general.James Stewart...
on (primarily) western films like The Naked Spur
The Naked Spur
The Naked Spur is a 1953 American western movie directed by Anthony Mann and starring James Stewart in their third collaboration. The screenplay was written by Sam Rolfe and Harold Jack Bloom, and was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay - a rare honor for a Western. The...
(1953), film noir and epics in his last years, this early film in his career, is typical of a period when Mann accepted any and all assignments in a variety of genres.
Characterized by a low budget, The Bamboo Blonde stars singer Frances Langford in the title role with Ralph Edwards (from TV's This is Your Life
This Is Your Life
This Is Your Life is an American television documentary series broadcast on NBC, originally hosted by its producer, Ralph Edwards from 1952 to 1961. In the show, the host surprises a guest, and proceeds to take them through their life in front of an audience including friends and family.Edwards...
) and bit player Russell Wade as leading men. As an RKO star, Langford was famous for her role in entertaining the troops in World War II and the film featured a number of songs that her character sings at a nightclub.
Music
The soundtrack included many big band pieces performed by Frances Langford.- "I'm Good for Nothing but Love", written by Mort Greene and Lew Pollack, sung by Frances Langford
- "Dreaming out Loud", written by Mort Greene and Lew Pollack, sung by Frances Langford
- "Moonlight over the Islands", written by Mort Greene and Lew Pollack, sung by Frances Langford with chorus
- "Right Along about Evening", written by Mort Greene and Lew Pollack, sung by Frances Langford
- "Right Along about Evening", written by Mort Greene and Lew Pollack, sung by Frances Langford, Paul Harvey, Ralph Edwards, Iris Adrian and Regina Wallace
Reception
Mixing music and the homeland war effort along with archival wartime footage showing B-29 bombers in action, elevated the slight film to better than a B-feature. Scenes from The Bamboo Blonde later appeared in an excerpted form in Make Mine Laughs (1949), starring Joan DavisJoan Davis
Joan Davis was an American comedic actress whose career spanned vaudeville, film, radio and television. Remembered best for the 1950s television comedy, I Married Joan, Davis had a successful earlier career as a B-movie actress and a leading star of 1940s radio comedy.Born as Madonna Josephine...
, Dennis Day
Dennis Day
Dennis Day born Owen Patrick Eugene McNulty, was an Irish-American singer and radio, television and film personality.-Early life:...
and Ray Bolger
Ray Bolger
Raymond Wallace "Ray" Bolger was an American entertainer of stage and screen, best known for his portrayal of the Scarecrow and Kansas farmworker Hank in The Wizard of Oz.-Early life:...
. The new film was a kind of filmed vaudeville show, using old material from RKO films and some new filmed scenes.
Mainly due to its connection with Mann, the film was screened at the recent B Musicals Film Festival at Film Forum in New York City.