Don't Bet on Blondes is a breezy, weird little relic

Is it worth your time?

If you have a soft spot for 1930s dialogue that moves at the speed of a machine gun, sure. It’s light, it’s fluffy, and it’s over before you can get bored. If you need logic or actual stakes, you’ll probably find this movie maddening.

Warren William plays this insurance guy, Dwight Boardman, who is essentially a professional gambler with a desk job. The whole premise is that he insures people against things like getting married or having twins. It’s a bizarre way to make a living, but in the world of this movie, it makes perfect sense.

The Errol Flynn factor

You’ll notice Errol Flynn in there, looking young and almost like he’s waiting for a better script to come along. He’s not doing heavy lifting here, but it’s a fun little footnote to see him before he became the massive star we all know. It’s like spotting an actor in The Bride Comes Home; you just nod and keep watching.

The pacing is genuinely frantic. There’s a scene involving a radio broadcast that goes on for a solid three minutes of pure noise and confusion. It felt like the writers just threw their hands up and said, "Let them all talk at once!" It actually worked, though. It felt like a real office meltdown, just louder.

The banter feels very Are Brunettes Safe?—that kind of era-specific sass that doesn't quite translate to today but is still fun to listen to. There’s a lot of talk about 'dames' and 'prospects' that feels like a costume party version of the 30s.

• The office sets look like they were built out of cardboard and optimism.
• Joan Barclay is doing a lot of heavy sighing in her scenes.
• The ending is exactly what you expect, which is almost comforting.

Is it a masterpiece? No. Is it a good way to kill 80 minutes on a rainy Tuesday? Absolutely. The whole thing has a certain breezy, unbothered energy that I kind of miss in modern comedies. It isn’t trying to change your life; it just wants to make you smirk at how silly these people are being with their insurance policies.

I found myself zoning out during the long exposition dumps about the insurance premiums, but the actors seem to be having a blast. Sometimes that’s enough. It reminds me of the chaotic charm in Cagey Love, where the plot barely holds together but the energy keeps the engine running. 🍿