“Don’t Bet on Blondes” is a pre-Code American romantic comedy film released in 1935. It stars Robert Armstrong as Bob Warriner and Jean Arthur as Jerry Martin. The film was directed by Robert Florey and produced by the Fox Film Corporation.
The plot revolves around Bob Warriner, a successful advertising executive who is engaged to Jerry Martin, a blonde who is seemingly the perfect woman. However, Jerry’s cousin, a brunette named Bubbles, enters the picture and complicates Bob’s life. Bubbles is a more free-spirited and less conventional woman, and her presence challenges Bob’s expectations and assumptions about relationships and love.
“Don’t Bet on Blondes” is known for its witty dialogue and the chemistry between its leads. It is also reflective of the pre-Code era’s more relaxed approach to dealing with risqué themes and situations, which would become less permissible with the enforcement of the Production Code in the following years.
The film is part of the early screwball comedy genre, which was characterized by rapid-fire dialogue, satirical plotlines, and a focus on the battle of the sexes. It’s worth noting that the title itself plays on the common stereotypes of the time regarding blondes and their perceived characteristics.
