Three Girls About Town (1941). Comedy film directed by Leigh Jason. The story is written by Richard Carroll. Cast: Joan Blondell, Binnie Barnes and Janet Blair (in her film debut).
As the Merchants Hotel is preparing for a couple of conventions, hotel manager Wilburforce Puddle, is not looking forward to a story criticizing the hotel's hostesses coming out in the paper.
After reading the dreaded story, one of the hostess Hope Banner, goes to confront her fiancee, reporter Tommy Hopkins. Of coarse Tommy, denies that he had anything to do with the story, but.. he does ask her to find a "regular" job.
Hope, tells him she needs the money to keep her sister Charity, in private school. Charity, arrives and goes looking for her two sisters Hope and Faith, to tell them that she also wants to be a hostess at the hotel. Both girls, tell her "no" and that she is too young to leave school.
In the room next to theirs, a body is found by three zanny maids and reported to Faith and Puddle. Not wanting for the news to get out, they decide to hide the body in the alley, but.. they run into the chief of police and a group of women who want to discuss the problem with the hotel's hostess.
Puddle does not want to carry the body to the street, so Hope goes looking for Tommy, who is talking to a group of reporters, who have been waiting for the labor mediator to arrive. As soon as Tommy, sees the body, he recognizes the body as the mediator and phones in his story to the paper. Convinced they will get the blame for the death sisters try to hide the body. The problem is... the body won't stay hidden. I think you will love this film, especially the clever twist ending.
Janet Blair (April 23, 1921 – February 19, 2007), she began her acting career on film in 1942. She is best remembered for playing Rosalind Russell's sister in, My Sister Eileen (1942) and Rita Hayworth's best friend in, Tonight and Every Night (1945).
She made a rare dramatic performance in the horror film, Night of the Eagle(1962).
Her last performance was on television in a 1991 episode of Murder, She Wrote.
Binnie Barnes (25 May 1903 – 27 July 1998), began her acting career in films in 1923, appearing in a short film made by Lee De Forest in his Phonofilm sound-on-film process.
Her film career continued in Great Britain, then later in Hollywood, until 1973, when she appeared in the comedy, 40 Carats. This was her last acting role.
Her most famous film may have been, The Private Life of Henry VIII (1933).
Janet Blair was a wonderful singer. I recall her fondly from many television appearances.
ReplyDeleteIn my world, my first Binnie Barnes association is always as Alice in 1936s "The Last of the Mohicans".
It would probably surprise the ladies to know by what they are remembered.
I have vague memories of "Three Girls About Town" from late night movies. It certainly sounds like something I need to see again.
oh - another one to add to my list.. Love all those ladies.. It's always great to visit your blog and know I will learn about a new film.. Thank you for doing this, Dawn! (This means also all your other blogs!!)
ReplyDeleteAnd thank you for finding also all the time to visit my blog and leave so many nice comments!
You are really a great person!
Have a nice day!
Irene
Dawn, not familiar with this one, but I like Joan Blondell, so I'll keep an eye out for it.
ReplyDeleteCaftan Woman, I'm on a huge Joan Blondell, kick. So, I try and kep an eye out for all her movies coming up on TCM.
ReplyDeleteIrene Palfy, Thank you for your kind words and thank you for stopping by N and CF.
KimWilson, Please keep an eye on my side bar for all of Joan Blondell films. She is one of my favs.