All language subtitles for Blondie’s Big Deal (1949).en

♪ Blondie ♪

♪ Pretty face, funny hat ♪

♪ That's what my Blondie is ♪

♪ Lovable feet, both flat ♪

♪ That's what my Dagwood is ♪

♪ Blondie's not always right ♪

♪ I let her think she is ♪

♪ All of my thoughts are bright ♪

♪ Long as he thinks they're his ♪

♪ Life with us is ♪

♪ Fun and crazy ♪

♪ Baby Dumpling ♪

♪ Us and Daisy ♪

♪ What a family ♪

♪ Incredible ♪

♪ Bumsteadable ♪

♪ Hurry, you'll miss your bus ♪

♪ Watch out, you'll burn your stew ♪

♪ Nothing's too much for us ♪

♪ As long as with me, there's you ♪

♪ Dagwood and Blondie ♪

♪ Blondie and Dagwood ♪

♪ Always, with me, there's you ♪

♪ Dun dun dee dee dee ♪

Huh?

Wh-wh-what are you looking for?

I wanna make sure that
character, Bumstead,

doesn't knock me flat on my back, again.

Huh?

Every day for the past-

Oh!

- Mr. Bumstead!
- Yeah,

good morning, Mr. Beazley!

Morning!

Yeah.

You're not going to work, today?

Oh, no, see, I worked
about half the night

on a set of plans, and
my boss is so pleased,

he gave me the day off!

Oh, I see.

Well, as long as you're
here, here's your mail.

- Oh, thanks.
- Now, these packages here

are for you, too.

There's Premiere Chemical Company.

- Uh huh.
- New Jersey Chemical Company.

Mm.

Acme Chemical Company.

Yeah.

What are you gonna do
with all those chemicals?

Mm. It's a secret!

Oh.

Another invention?

Well, sort of, yeah.

Well, whatever it is,

if it doesn't succeed the first
time, don't get discouraged!

Remember Alexander Graham Bell!

Yeah.

Huh? Alexander Graham Bell.

Hm. What did he do?

Oh, darling, please be careful

and don't get any of that
smelly stuff in my stew.

Don't worry, I won't, dear.

Ah!

Hi, daddy! Whatcha doin'?

Oh, just making some
stuff, where's Alexander?

He's over in his old barn!

What's he doing over there?
He promised to help me today.

Mr. Simmons is going to
let the boys use his old barn

for a gymnasium.

So, they're all over there, fixing it up.

Well, I told him to
stay here and help me.

Do you want me to go
get him for you, daddy?

N-no, it's too far. I'll go get him.

Here, you stay here

and keep this stirred for
me while I'm gone, huh?

Yeah, that's it.

Alexander can help fix
that barn some other time.

Ow.

Oh, boy!

Hi, Mr. Bumstead!

Oh, hi, Alvin!

Wow! This is quite a gymnasium
you boys have got, here.

Well, well!

Look out, pop!

Is he hurt?

Hey, pop, are you okay?

I'm all right, I think.

Yeah, I'm okay.

Hey pops, how do you like our gymnasium?

Oh, swell! Oh yeah,
brings back fond memories.

You know, when I went to college,

I practically lived in a gymnasium.

Couldn't you afford a room?

No.

Yes, yes, I could.

Hey, Rollo, Alvin got the boxing gloves!

Mr. Bumstead, I want you
to meet my cousin, Rollo.

Yeah, hi, hi son!

Oh, how do you do, Mr. Bumstead?

Oh, how do you do, Rollo?

Are these okay, Rollo?

Not a very good grade of
leather, but they'll do.

Why, the
manly art of self-defense!

You know, when I went to college,
I was a pretty good boxer!

Is that so?

Oh, yes indeed!

In those days, Mr. Bumstead,

were you a bantam or a welter?

No, I was a sophomore.

That's good, huh?

You wanna box a few rounds, Gerard?

Not me.

How 'bout you, Marvin?

I'm busy!

You, Alvin?

No, thanks.

You know,
if you were a little bigger,

I might box you.

Oh, don't worry about
that, Mr. Bumstead!

Huh? Oh, now I wouldn't
wanna hurt you, sonny boy!

Oh, I'll watch out for that.

You will, huh?

Okay, Rollo, don't say
that I didn't warn you.

Gimme a hand, boys.

Mr. Bumstead, you
shouldn't box with him.

Somebody's liable to get hurt.

Yeah, well, don't worry.

I won't hit him very hard,

I'll just tap him a little bit.

Okay, boys, get these
mats out of the way.

Come on, Rollo.

All right, now, look.

See, now, like this I'm about

the same height as you are.

Oh, no, you don't have
to do that, Mr. Bumstead.

Yeah, oh. Mm-hm.

Okay.

Come on, come on.

How do you like the fancy footwork, Rollo?

Look out!

Don't worry, I won't hurt you, kid.

Come on, Rollo!

Get in there, Mr. Bumstead.

Well, come on! Fire 'em at me!

Ooh!

See, now you're the same height!

Ooh! Huh, what happened?

He ran through a red light.
Did you get his number?

Oh, gee, I'm sorry, Mr. Bumstead.

Hey, Rollo, how about giving me a hand?

I'll be right with ya!

I warned you about Rollo, Mr. Bumstead!

Rollo? How can a little fella like that?

- Ooh!
- Oh, dear.

Oh, here, keep this on your eye

and maybe it won't be black tomorrow.

Oh, thanks, Blondie.

Well, go ahead and finish your story.

Story?

Yes, how you got the black eye.

Oh, uh, a glove did it.

A glove?

Uh-huh.

What kind of a glove?

A boxing glove.

Oh, Dagwood,

how could you run your
eye into a boxing glove?

It, there was a fist in it.

Whose fist was it?

Well, I, I was over
at the boys' gymnasium,

and I was boxing with a fellow,
a great big tall fellow.

Who was he?

Oh, his name was Rollo.

Well, never mind, dear.

- Oh!
- Just keep

this piece of steak-

S-T-E-A-K on it.

- Oh, right there.
- That'll make it

feel better.

Darling, are you all ready to
test your fire proof paint?

Oh, that should be dry by now.

Yeah. Uh huh.

Okay, they're dry. We're
all ready for the test.

Well, good!

I'll get it.

You just be sure and keep
that st, uh, on your eye!

Yeah.

Huh?

Oh. Now listen, Daisy, I
gotta have this for my eye.

You wouldn't want me to
have a black eye, would you?

Oh, all right, all right.

Just one little piece, and that's all.

There.

Oh, Elmer.

Now, Elmer, you heard what Blondie said,

I gotta keep this to put on my eye!

I can't go to the office with, with...

All right, but this is the
last piece, positively!

There.

Oh, no. Oh, fuzz!

Well, have a heart!

Look at my eye.

Oh! Ooh, ooh, ooh!

All right, all right.

Yes, Mr. Fuller. That's right.

Please do. Thank you, goodbye.

It was the grocer,
honey, he wanted to...

Dagwood.

Huh?

What happened to the steak?

Well, uh, it shrunk.

Oh.

Well, let's try the paint, dear.

Oh, right.

Oh, Blondie, do you think it'll work?

I know it'll work.

If it doesn't, you'll have to try again.

Yeah.

You know, dear, very few inventors

were ever successful
on their first attempt.

Yeah. You're right, Blondie.

Now, you take Alexander
Graham Bell, for instance.

Do you think his steamboat worked

the first time he tried it?

Dagwood.

Huh?

Alexander Graham Bell
didn't invent the steam ship.

H-he didn't?

No, dear.

Oh, well, whatever he did invent,

I bet it didn't work the first time.

Well, Blondie, here goes.

Yeah.

Mm-hm! Oh.

Oh, boy.

Oh, look, Dagwood!

Huh?

Dagwood, the fire has no effect on it!

Look, it turns it black,

but it doesn't even blister
the paint underneath!

Dagwood, your fire repellent
paint is successful!

Oh boy, hey, come on,
let's try some paper!

Okay!

- I'll try the paper.
- Oh, I can hardly believe it!

It's dry already.

Oh, my goodness!

How 'bout it?

What? What's happening?

Just turns it black.

Oh, I'm so excited!
- Look at this!

Here, try some excelsior,

if this doesn't burn, nothing will!

Dagwood, look at this!

Huh?

Look at this, oh!

- It won't do it?
- Dagwood! No!

Oh, just imagine how proud
Mr. Radcliffe will be of you.

Oh, you think he will, Blondie?

I know he will!

Tomorrow morning, you go
straight to Mr. Radcliffe

and tell him all about it!

Yeah.

You know, I know he'll
want to use this paint

on every construction
job he gets, from now on!

Oh, I can't believe it!

Hi, mom! Hi pop!

Oh, hello son!

Oh, hello, Mrs. Bumstead!

Oh, you must be the new
boy in the neighborhood!

Oh, yeah, say, mom,
I'd like you to meet-

Uh, Alexander, I-

Mr. Bumstead, Alexander
has asked me to teach him

the fundamentals of chess.

Oh, that's nice! Go ahead!

Go ahead.

Oh, Mrs. Bumstead?

Yes?

Uh, I hope you'll forgive
my asking, Mrs. Bumstead,

but don't you think
you're cooking this stew

just a little too fast?

Why, I don't think so.

To assure yourself
of a truly tasty stew,

you should never allow the temperature

to go beyond 212 degrees fahrenheit.

I'm sure that this must
be at least 250 degrees.

Who was that?

Oh, that was Rollo.

Rollo?

You mean, that was the big, tall?

Who gave you?

Dagwood, you oughta be
ashamed of yourself!

Fighting with a little boy like that.

Huh?

All right, fellows, let's go in.

Huh?

Oh, good morning, Mary!

Good morning, Dagwood!

Um, looks like I'm the first
one in this morning, huh?

Oh, no. You're the last.

So you better hurry, there's
a big meeting going on

in Mr. Radcliffe's office.

Oh!

Is everybody here?

Everybody but Bumstead.

Oh, well.

Oh, uh, good morning, everybody!

Good morning, Mr. Radcliffe.

Now, I called you all in here

to tell you that we are
bidding on a new contract.

A very important contract.
The new school building.

I want to impress it upon you

that safety must be
uppermost in your thoughts

when you draw up these plans.

Oh-oh.

Yes, Dagwood?

Oh, excuse me, Mr. Radcliffe,

uh, I'll keep the good
news 'til you get through.

Go ahead.

Oh, thank you.

Now, I think you should know
that there is a new firm,

Dillon and Slack, who is
bidding on this project, also.

So, we must all pull
together and see to it

that the Radcliffe
Construction Company wins out.

Now, then, are there any questions?

Well, how soon do these
plans have to be completed?

Well, the chairman of
the board of education

wants them as quickly as possible.

Oh, yeah.

Any more questions?

Well, that's all I have to say.

Now then, let's hop to it!

Because, as you know,
if we land this contract

it will mean a lot to all of us.

That's all, gentlemen.

Well.

Now, what is this good news

that I could wait for, Dagwood?

Mr. Radcliffe, that
contract is as good as ours!

Dillon and Slack haven't got a chance!

Oh, they haven't?
What gave you that idea?

You know that little
invention I've been working on?

You mean those paper mache shingles?

Yeah. No, no, my fire repellent paint!

Why, we tested it yesterday,
and everything that we painted

was absolutely fireproof!

Bumstead, you forget
your fire repellent paint

and concentrate on those plans!

Oh, now, now, Mr. Radcliffe,

you must realize what my paint means

to the safety of the school!

Now look, now just imagine

if the school house caught on fire.

And little children were,
were running around, confused!

And then, maybe all the children escaped,

except this one little girl.

Now, she's trapped upstairs
in her room on the top floor,

and the flames, they're
licking at the staircase,

and they're burning their way
right up to the top floor.

Now, the little girl runs to the window,

Gasping, gasping for
breath, she can't breathe,

she's having an awful time!

Smoke pours in the room. The
little girl coughs.

Oh, that poor little girl.

She throws open the window
and calls, "help, help, help!"

The fire engine, it's
roaring up the street,

the bells are ringing,
"clang, clang, clang, clang!"

And the siren is screaming,
"ah-ah! Ah-ah-ah-ah!"

But, will it get there in
time to put out the fire?

Will it get there in time to
save that little child's life?

The, the, the poor little
girl's father and mother

are wringing their hands in agony!

Will their little baby be saved,

or will she be burned to an ember?

Will she be saved, Mr. Radcliffe?

Yes. Yes!

Dagwood.

What?

Get to work on those plans,

and forget your crockpot ideas
about fire repellent paint!

Oh.

All right, Mr. Radcliffe,

you can call me a crackpot if you wanna,

but remember, that's what they
called Alexander Graham Bell

when he invented the, uh,
th-the sewing machine!

I'm gonna see Mr. Radcliffe
the first thing in the morning,

and really try to get him to
listen to me about my paint!

Darling, Mr. Radcliffe is
just a plain businessman.

Yeah.

He doesn't have the
imagination you have.

Cookie, will you please
stop playing a minute?

There's no use telling
a man like Mr. Radcliffe

about your paint, you've
gotta show it to him.

Mr. Bumstead?

Huh?

I couldn't help overhearing
your conversation,

I think that Mrs. Bumstead
is absolutely correct.

Oh, she is?

Now, if you could take a
can of paint to your office-

And prove to Mr. Radcliffe
that it is not inflammable-

He would have to see the value of it!

Hmm, he would, wouldn't he?

'Course he would, dear!

Okay, I'll do it!

I'll take that paint in, tomorrow,

and I'll make Mr. Radcliffe believe in it!

That's the spirit, Mr. Bumstead!

Thanks!

Cookie, take it from where you left off.

Yeah, let's do have a little music!

Uh, Blondie, will you please
get that can of paint?

I don't wanna forget it.

Yes, dear.

Now, remember, Dagwood, no
matter what Mr. Radcliffe says,

don't take no for an answer!

Ah.

I remember the time that, oh.

Oh, the time!

Oh, my goodness, you're late for the bus!

Come on, children!

Bye!

Ahh!

Oh, oh my!

Huh?

Oh! Oh, it's lucky I made up this batch

the same color as your uniform,

you'd be an awful mess
if I'd made it in white.

Here, let me help you, here.

There. There you are.

There. It's hardly noticeable, now.

Well, oh my, I'm gonna be late.

Uh, since I talked to you yesterday,

I have received this
letter from Mr. Forsyth,

of the board of education.

He indicates that the points
in the new school building

to be watched most carefully, are,

point number one, the fire exits

from the right and the left...

Whew, what is that odor?

Oh, I'm sure I don't
know, Mr. Radcliffe.

Unless it's uh...

Well it smells sort of like, uh...

Dagwood, have you been
around a livery stable?

Uh, not today, Mr. Radcliffe.

Oh. Well, let me see, where were we?

Oh yes, the fire exits from
the left and the right,

will have to be widened
to permit the evacuation

of 3,600 chil-

Phew! It's you!

- Huh? Oh!
- What have you got

on that handkerchief?

Oh, uh, that's my fire repellent paint!

I spilled some of it this morning!

In fact, I was going to
bring a whole can of it!

Is this the paint that
you were telling us about?

The paint that won't burn?

Uh huh.

Get rid of that
handkerchief, immediately!

Throw it away! In fact, burn it!

Oh, but Mr. Radcliffe,

Dagwood said anything treated
with his paint won't burn.

Didn't you, Dagwood?

Yes, I did. But I'll throw
it away, Mr. Radcliffe.

We'll see.

We'll see, just a minute. Heh.

Wha-wha-I can't believe this!

Yeah, go ahead! Go ahead.

It doesn't burn!

Uh-huh!

It doesn't burn!

It doesn't burn!

Dagwood, why didn't you tell me

this paint was fire repellent?

Uh, well, you wouldn't
listen to me, yesterday.

I tried to!

Fire repellent.

Uh-huh!

Fire repellent!

Dagwood, congratulations.
This is sensational!

Do you realize what this'll
mean to my business?

Yeah, and especially to the schoolhouse!

Yes!

The schoolhouse!

Get me Mr. Forsyth of the
school board, immediately!

Dagwood, I think we've got something!

Buddy.

Hello, board of education?
Mr. Forsyth, please.

Forsyth speaking.

Oh, good morning, Radcliffe.

What's that? It does?

Why, that's fantastic.

Mr. Forsyth, I have
just seen a demonstration,

with my own eyes, right here in my office!

Yes, it absolutely works!

Radcliffe, we provide fire escapes

at each end of the building,

sprinkler systems in every room,

and automatic fire doors.

Of course our schools

must have 100% safety as our goal, but-

You're perfectly right, Mr. Forsyth,

you can never have too much protection,

especially where children are concerned.

But suppose something should
go wrong, and a fire broke out?

There's always a possibility, you know.

Yeah, little girl is
trapped on the top floor.

A little girl is
trapped on the top floor.

Smoke pours in the room.

The little girl coughed.

Smoke pours into the room.

She starts to cough.

She gasps for breath.

She gasps for breath.

She runs to the window and she
screams, "help, help, help!"

The fire engines are
roaring down the street.

The bells are clanging, "clang, clang!"

The sirens are screaming!

Will they be there in
time to put the fire out?

Will they be there in time
to save the little girl?

Radcliffe, Radcliffe,
what's the matter with you?

Uh? Oh.

Oh, are you all right, now?

Well, it sounds good, of course,

but before we even talk about a contract,

I'd have to know a lot
more about this paint.

That's exactly what I wanted
you to say, Mr. Forsyth.

We will give you a demonstration.

How about day after
tomorrow, here, in my office?

No, no, no.

I'd have to see it used
on a much larger scale.

Oh. You mean on a,
on an actual building?

Oh, well I, I don't know, Mr. Forsyth.

How 'bout your fishing
shack up at Woods Lake?

Yeah.

How about my fishing
shack, up at Woods Lake?

Woods Lake? Why yes.

You must be pretty sure of this paint

if you're willing to try
it on your own cabin.

Well, yes, I, yes, I mean, yes!

Yes I am!

Now then, it's all set.

Saturday afternoon at Woods Lake.

Mr. Bumstead will go up the
day before and apply the paint.

Yeah!

Goodbye, Mr. Forsyth.

My fishing shack?

Bumstead, that paint of
yours had better work!

Oh, sure it will, Mr.
Radcliffe. It can't miss!

Bumstead, my boy.

Come on, eat your breakfasts.
You'll be late for school.

- All right, mommy.
- Okay, mom.

Dagwood, do you think you
have enough paint made up

for Mr. Radcliffe's cabin?

Oh, sure, there's two
full cans under the sink,

that'll be plenty!

Okay.

Oh, oh! Thank you, Daisy!

Oh, excuse me, Daisy, I forgot your tip.

There.

Hm, hm, hm.

Hey!

Oh-ho!

What's the matter?

Oh, look, right in the paper!

It's a picture of me!

A picture of you?

- Yeah.
- It's in the paper?

No. Oh!

Oh, my, my, how handsome you were.

Oh, oh darling!

Listen to what it says about you.

What?

"In an interview yesterday
with Mr. G. M. Radcliffe,

it was disclosed that Dagwood Bumstead,

prominent member of the
Radcliffe Construction Company

of this city, has perfected a paint,

which he guarantees, is
absolutely fire repellent.

A public demonstration is to be given

Saturday afternoon at 3
o'clock, at Woods Lake.

The fishing cabin of Mr. G. M. Radcliffe

is to be used for the demonstration."

Mm-hm!

"And the public is
cordially invited!"

"If this demonstration
proves successful,

Mr. Radcliffe hints that
there is a strong possibility

that this paint will be used
on a new school building,

to be erected shortly, in our city."

Get a load of that schmo.

Schmo or no schmo, the
dope may have something.

Do you think so?

Well, if the paint is fire
proof, we stand a good chance

of losing that school contract.

Well, then, let's get in touch

with this Bumstead character,

and try and make a deal with him.

Oh, it's ten to one Radcliffe's got him

and his paint tied up.

And if that paint really works-

Why, Mr. Dillon, I'm surprised at you.

We couldn't possibly let
anything like that happen.

Now, could we?

You're right, we couldn't.

Mrs. Bumstead?

Yes?

My name is LaVan, I, uh,

represent the Vesuvius
Fire Insurance Company.

Oh, yes. Uh, what can I do for you?

I read the account of your
husband's brilliant discovery,

the paint formula, that is,
in the paper this morning.

You must be very proud
of him, Mrs. Bumstead.

Oh, yes I am, I really am.

Oh, uh, won't you come in, Mr. Uh?

LaVan. Thank you, Mrs. Bumstead.

We of the Vesuvius Fire Insurance Company

are naturally very interested.

A fire repellent paint like Mr. Bumstead's

would cut the percentage
of our liabilities

to practically nothing, you know.

Why, of course, you're right!

I wish I'd thought of that.

Well, we think of everything.

And I thought, that is,

the Vesuvius Fire
Insurance Company thought,

we ought to do everything in
our power to help Mr. Bumstead.

For instance, if he's had any
difficulty obtaining material

to paint an entire cabin,

we might help him.
- Oh,

oh no, he has plenty.

He has four gallons already made up,

it's right out in the kitchen.

Good.

Mrs. Bumstead, do you
suppose that I might see it?

Why, why, I guess so.

It looks just like paint, though.

Daisy, what's the matter with you?

Oh, Daisy, stop that.

Allow me, Mrs. Bumstead.

Oh, thank you.

There we are.

You see, it does look
like any other paint.

Yes, it does.

Is, uh, is this the color
Mr. Bumstead is using

on Mr. Radcliffe's cabin?

This is the paint.

Mrs. Bumstead, do you
suppose Mr. Bumstead would mind

if I went along when he applies the paint?

My company wants me to
get all the data I can.

Oh, I'm sure he wouldn't mind at all.

We're going out by bus,
first thing in the morning.

The bus? I wouldn't think
of letting you go by bus.

I'll drive you. What time
do you want to leave?

Oh, now, I couldn't let you do that.

Around 9:30 in the morning.

I'll be here 9:30 sharp.

Oh, that's awfully nice of you, Mr...

LeVan.

Now children, are you
sure you'll be all right

'til we get back?

Oh, sure, mom.

Soon as we're out of school,

I'm going over to our gymnasium.

Well, fine. And what
are you going to do?

I'm going too. It's
ladies' day, and I'm invited.

Well, how wonderful!

And don't forget your lunch,

it's all ready for you in the ice box.

We won't, mommy.

Okay.

Don't worry about
us, mom. We'll be okay.

All right, darling.

Run along, go on.

Dagwood, hurry, I think Mr. LeVan is here!

I'll be right there,

Blondie!

Good morning, Mr. LeVan.

Good morning, Mrs. Bumstead.

Mr. Bumstead'll be right down.

Fine.

While we're waiting,

I might as well put the paint in the car.

Oh, you don't have to
bother, my husband'll do it.

It's a pleasure, I assure you.

Oh, Daisy, such manners.

Now, you get right on back
to the kitchen. Go on!

Thank you.

Dagwood, please hurry, dear!

Coming, Blondie!

Mr. LeVan, this is my
husband, Mr. Bumstead.

It's a pleasure, Mr. Bumstead.

Yeah, it was real nice of
you to go to all this trouble.

Oh, no trouble at all, I assure you.

Mm-hm.

Uh, you can put your brushes
in the back, if you care to.

Oh, yeah.

Here's mine, Dagwood.

Uh-huh.

There we are. Hmm.

Okay.

I'll get it, Mr. Bumstead.

Now, there we are!

You know,

this is going to surprise a lot of people!

It certainly is.

Yeah.

Isn't this a wonderful place

for our experiment, Mr. LeVan?

Yes, indeed.

- Dagwood?
- What?

Are you sure you made the paint up

according to your tested formula?

Oh, I didn't forget a thing!

Well, I'm all ready to go to work!

- You are, huh?
- Mm-hm!

Okay, there. Here's the paint.

Oh, now remember, Blondie.

Don't leave one tiny
little spot unpainted,

because we don't wanna take any chances

with Mr. Radcliffe's cabin.

Don't worry, I'll paint everything.

Yeah.

Let's see, uh, oh, why don't
you start around in back, huh?

Oh. Uh-huh.

A-a-and I'll get this
front part started.

All right.

Say, how about letting
me do a little painting?

Oh, you don't want to get
paint all over that nice suit.

I think I have a pair
of coveralls in the car.

Yeah? Well all right,

but be sure you put it on good and thick.

Don't worry. I will.

Yeah.

Blondie! Did you miss any spots?

Are you kidding?

Are you nearly finished?

I am finished!

Oh. Did you cover everything?

Uh huh.

Ooh!

I certainly did.

There.

Uh, where's that can of gasoline, Ollie?

It's right here on the porch, Dag.

Oh. Oh yeah, thanks.

Rollo, all that gasoline,

isn't that asking too much of the paint?

Oh, no, Mrs. Bumstead.

I tested some of your husband's
paint in my own laboratory.

It will absolutely resist any fire.

Oh, look, children!
Here comes our mayor.

Uh, this way, Mr. Mayor.

Hold it, your honor.

Thanks, your honor.

Your honor, I want you
to meet the gentleman

who's responsible for
this marvelous paint,

Mr. Dagwood Bumstead.

Well, it's an honor
to meet you, I'm sure.

Oh, it is? Oh, thank you, your honor.

And I want you to meet Mr.
Bumstead's charming wife,

Mrs. Bumstead.

Yes.

Charmed.

Hello.

And this is the chairman
of the board of education,

Mr. Forsyth, and our fire chief.

How do you do?

Hello chief.

Uh, is everything all set,
Dag? I-I mean, Mr. Bumstead?

Oh, everything's all ready!

Good.

Then, your honor, if you just
take your position over there,

I'll announce that the
demonstration is about to begin.

Mrs. Bumstead.

Yes.

Thank you.

Oh, Dagwood, you sure
everything's gonna be all right?

Nothing can go wrong.

Oh, now, don't worry, Mr. Radcliffe,

when this little experiment is over,

you won't even be able to smell
smoke in your little cabin.

Oh. Oh, good.

Good. Uh, ladies and gentlemen,
your attention, please!

You're about to witness
a scene, that, I believe,

you will remember for
the rest of your lives.

But before we proceed
with the demonstration,

I think it only fitting that we introduce

our esteemed inventor,
and my business associate,

Mr. Dagwood Bumstead.

Oh, there's the inventor, now!

You can tell he's a brilliant
man just by looking at him!

Ladi-Oh,

Excuse me.

Uh, ladies and gentlemen, thank
you for your kind applause.

But, there is another member of my family

who should share in my triumph today.

Just like Alexander Graham's Bell's wife,

she has stood with me

through these many months
of experimentations.

But, without this person's encouragement,

I could not,

I could not have, have succeeded.

No.

And that one person,
ladies and gentlemen,

is my own little wife, Blondie Bumstead!

The matches.

And, with your approval,
ladies and gentlemen,

I want my little wife, Blondie,

to have the honor of
applying the first match.

Thank you, thank you.

There.

Oh.

Thank you, dear.

Thank you, I appreciate the honor

you have so graciously given me,

but I feel the privilege
of striking the first match

should go to our own mayor,
the honorable A. K. Ramsey!

Mrs. Bumstead, Mr.
Bumstead, Mr. Radcliffe.

When I was elected mayor, a few years ago,

one of my many, uh, promises,

to our good voters and tax payers,

was that I would keep the
ideal of civic improvement

and progress, of our fair
city, ever before me.

And I hope, that at the polls this year,

you will all remember the new sewer system

I have just installed on the south side.

Mr. Mayor.

Oh, yes, the paint.

Today, I
am not looking for votes,

nor for personal honor.

But, I am here to pay tribute to a man.

A man, who is offering
to the world, a gift,

that will make our fair
city famous, the land over.

And, in accepting this
honor bestowed upon me,

it is with great pleasure
that I apply the first match.

Go ahead, Mr. Mayor.

Yeah. Yeah, yeah, go ahead.

There's plenty of
gasoline on it. Go ahead.

- Oh! Oh!
- The children!

Oh!

What happened? What's wrong?

Oh, no, no, now, don't worry,
Mr. Radcliffe, don't worry.

Th-the fire hasn't reached the paint, yet.

Th-th-that's just gasoline burning.

Oh.

Yeah, yeah, I hope.

Huh?

Will it be better, mommy?

I don't know! Come
on, get back, children!

Get back!

Forsyth, I should've had more sense

than to listen to you, you,
oh, you half-baked nitwit!

Look who's calling me half-baked!

Oh!

You're the fire chief,
can't you do anything?

Don't blame me, Mr. Mayor,

I wanted to bring some equipment,

but Mr. Forsyth said I wouldn't need any.

Oh, he did, did he?

Oh.

Would you say the, the flames
had reached your paint, yet?

Now, now we mustn't get
impatient, Mr. Radcliffe.

I, we, we, we just gotta
give it a little more time.

Oh.

Oh!

Chief, when's the paint start working?

It's working.

One of the nicest fires I've ever seen,

and not a spoonful of water.

Would you say we've given
it enough time, now, Bumstead?

Yeah.

Radcliffe!

Radcliffe, I ought to sue you
for everything you've got!

Yes, and if the law didn't compel me

to accept bids from anyone,

I'd award that contract to
Dillon and Slack right now!

And, as for this nincompoop,
this associate of yours-

Just a moment, your honor,

you may be the mayor of this town,

but you can't call my
husband a nincompoop,

you and your old sewer system!

Hold it, your honor!

Come on, Forsyth!

Your honor! Your honor!

Your honor, what about me? How
am I gonna get back to town?

You've got an inventor.
Let him invent a way.

That's the hottest, hey! Wait for me!

Oh, oh, oh, oh, look, Mr. Radcliffe!

Mickey's almost as good
as new. Poor moose.

Don't you think we
oughta get going, Blondie?

There's nothing we can do, here.

You take the children to the car, Ollie.

I'll wait for Dagwood.

Say, I wonder where Rollo is?

I can't find Daisy, either.

Daisy? Here, Daisy.

Daisy, something smells around here,

and I don't mean the paint!

I ought to fire you for this.

Huh? Oh, no, Mr. Radcliffe, please.

Oh, no, don't worry, I'm not going to.

No? Oh!

No, you're going to work for
me for the rest of your life.

Oh, gee. Thanks, Mr. Radcliffe.

Because it's gonna take that long

for you to pay me back for this cabin!

Huh?

I'm going to deduct 10
dollars a week from your salary

for the next 20 years!

Oh, no.

Yes.

No.

Yes.

- No, no, no, no, no...
- Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes...

I tell you, Joe, you shoulda been there,

I almost died, laughing.

Here was this Bumstead yokel,

pouring the gasoline on the excelsior,

and when the mayor's beard caught on fire,

you shoulda seen the
expression on Radcliffe's face!

Take a look at this.

"Bumstead's blunder
leaves mayor boiling.

Today at a demonstration
of Dagwood Bumstead's

fire repellent paint, at Woods Lake,

the honorable mayor, A. K. Ramsey,

did an impromptu burn, when
the whole experiment blew up,

as it were, in his beard."

Oh, say, did you bring some
of the paint back with you?

There are two full cans in the closet.

Well, I guess the school
house deal is as good as ours.

Come on, darling. Eat
your sandwich and cheer up.

There must be an explanation
to all this, somewhere.

Oh, no use, Blondie.

I'll bet, by now, everybody
in town is laughing at me.

I'm, I'm just a failure.

You are not a failure.

And they better not laugh at you.

I think you're one of the
smartest men in this town.

I am?

Of course you are, dear!

And besides, that paint does work.

I saw it with my own eyes.

Now I know how
Alexander Graham Bell felt

about his first radio set.

Dagwood.

What?

Alexander Graham Bell
didn't invent the radio.

He didn't?

No, dear.

W-what was it-

Well, it's just as I suspected.

Do what?

I've gone over the telephone book,

checked with information
in the city directory.

There is no Vesuvius
Fire Insurance Company

in this town, and there never has been.

What?

And it is my impression

that this Mr. LeVan is an imposter.

Well, even if he is, why
should he want to ruin our paint?

No reason at all,

unless he's in cahoots with someone else,

which, no doubt, he is.

Well, maybe, but who?

Dillon and Slack, for instance.

Oh, boy, if I thought they
did a dirty trick like that,

I'd go down there and I'd,
I'd, I'd-d-d

that's what I'd do.

No, it wouldn't be wise

for you to go down there, Mr. Bumstead.

Huh?

They'd know you.

Oh.

But if someone, say, Mrs. Bumstead,

could spend a few days in their office,

I'll bet she could find out plenty.

A few days? But how?

For instance, as their secretary.

Huh?

Oh, but Rollo, surely
they must have a secretary.

A minor problem, Mrs. Bumstead.

After Monday morning, they won't have.

Might as well.

Miss Norma Addison?

That's me.

Telegram.

Oh, my goodness.

Sign here, please.

What could it be?

Sign here, please.

Oh, I just hate telegrams,
they always bring bad news.

Then again, it might be good news.

I wonder if it could be...

Sign here, please.

No, it couldn't.

Yes, it could.

Do you think so?

Well!

It is! Yippee!

Oh, you're, oh, oh!

Oh, Mr. Dillon, I did it, I did it!

You did what, Miss Anderson?

I won. And I gotta leave
for Chicago, right away.

You've won what?

I won the big radio contest.

Mr. Dillon, I'm awfully sorry

I have to leave you so sudden, like,

but I've gotta get out of here.

Well, you can't quit
now, without notice.

I've got all those figures
on the new school to get out!

Oh, Mr. Dillon, I'm awfully sorry,

but I can win a trailer, an aeroplane,

a trip to Havana, a mink
coat, a diamond ring,

six sets of dishes, and
the combined radio set

that opens up into a bed!

All right, all right.

Go ahead, get out.

You weren't much help to me, anyway.

You and your radio contest.

Oh, Mr. Dillon, you're such a dear.

And just for being so sweet
to me, when I come back,

I'm going to give you a set
of dishes! Ooh!

I can't wait!

Rollo, did it work?

Like a charm!

Oh!

Taxi!

But Rollo, we don't need a taxi!

That's right, we don't!

But she does!

Taxi! To the airport,
and make it snappy!

How did you know she
was in a radio contest?

Isn't everybody?

Well, here I go!

Strange you should drop in
on me like this, uh,

Miss, uh...

Uh, Smith. Abigail Smith.

Oh, I've been making the rounds,
looking for work, you know.

Very well, you can start in right away.

My former secretary left
unexpectedly, and I, uh...

Excuse me, Miss Smith.

May I get you a glass of water?

Oh, thanks.

The cooler is right out in the hall,

if you don't-

Not at all!

Uh, use this door. It's right out there.

Oh.

Hiya, Joe.

Oh, hello.

Hiccups.

No.

Say, they got those specifications

for the school building typed up yet?

No, they'll be ready by
this afternoon.

Our stenographer ran out on us.

Well, look, Forsyth wants those plans

by next week at the latest.

Now, quit worrying. I
just got a new stenographer.

Everything will be okay.

You know, Joe, I've been giving

this fire repellent
paint idea some thought.

That guy, Bumstead, has
really got something.

Uh, he had something. Now we've got it.

When we made that
test here in the office,

you could see for yourself.

It actually did work.

Now, what's to prevent us

from making up that paint, ourselves?

Give Forsyth a demonstration,

and slap a patent on it, in our name!

We might even insinuate

that Bumstead stole
the whole idea from us!

It's only his word against ours,

and since that fiasco at Woods Lake,

he's the laughingstock of the town!

Who'd believe him?

Yeah, but, wait a minute.
We haven't got the formula.

Look,

we've got two full cans of that paint,

right here in this closet, haven't we?

Yup.

All right.

Now, all we've gotta do,

is send out a sample
of that to be analyzed.

Once we get that formula,
we're in business.

I've got to hand it to you, Slack,

I wouldn't have thought of that.

I'll send a sample to the
laboratory, right away.

Tell them to get that report
back, as soon as possible!

Mr. Thief!

Hello? Interstate Laboratory?

Now, this is Dillon, of Dillon and Slack.

I want you to analyze some,

I want you to analyze some paint for me.

Yeah, that's right.

I'll send it over, right away. Thanks.

Here you are, Mr. Dillon.

Well, thanks.

Say, it took you long enough.

Well, um, there weren't any
cups, I had to run upstairs.

Well, call a messenger and
have him take that can of paint

over to the Interstate
Laboratories, right away.

Oh, yes, Mr. Dillon.

Hello? Messenger service?

This is Dillon and Slack,
in the Brooker Building.

Please send a boy over, right away.

Yes, the Brooker Building.
And make it snappy.

What detained you?

I want you to take this can of paint

over to the Interstate Laboratory.

Yes, ma'am. Right away, ma'am.

Get it out of here, hurry!

Burn down my cabin, will they?

Make me the laughingstock of the town?

Yeah.

Get me Mr. Forsyth on the phone.

Yes, sir.

Switch the paints, will they?

Yeah.

Forsyth speaking.

Oh, it's you, Radcliffe.

Now, wait a minute, wait
a minute, Radcliffe.

Those are pretty strong accusations.

Dillon and Slack are a
reputable firm, you know.

I don't believe they'd stoop

to stealing that so-called
fireproof paint of yours.

All right, Mr. Forsyth.

But if you get a call
from Dillon and Slack,

telling you that they now
have a fire repellent paint,

you'll change your mind
about this reputable firm.

Goodbye, Mr. Forsyth.

He doesn't believe
you, huh, Mr. Radcliffe?

Well, there's just one thing left to do.

We'll have to destroy
that other can of paint

they have in their office.

Say, I have a better idea.

Huh?

Tonight, we'll mix up
another can of paint,

exactly like the one they
have in their office,

only this can will have
none of Mr. Bumstead's

fire repellent ingredients.

Mrs. Bumstead will switch cans.

Then, when they give their demonstration

to Mr. Forsyth, we'll all sit
back and watch the fireworks!

Rollo, my boy,

I'm just beginning to appreciate you.

You come around and see
me in about 10 years,

I may have a job for you.

Huh?

Huh? Oh, good morning, Mr. Beazley!

I must be at the office
before Mr. Dillon, children.

Mm. Oh, I'm late!

Cookie, get my-

Oh!

Bye!

Yah!

Oh, I forgot something!

Goodbye!

Here.

Now, don't forget to give
me some sort of a signal

as soon as you switch cans.

Okay, I'll open the office
window as soon as I've done it.

Okay.

Peerless Lumber Company.
420 Olive Street, City.

Gentlemen, in reply to your inquiry,

please be advised that it is impossible

to give you the exact amount
of lumber we will need

for the school building, at this date.

However, we will be happy
to inform you, as soon as-

Hiya, Joe.

Good morning, Harry.

Well, it's all set.

We give Forsyth the demonstration

this afternoon at 2 o'clock.

Good. But how can we do it today?

We haven't got the report
back from the laboratory yet.

We've still got two
gallons of Bumstead's paint

in the closet, haven't we?

That's right.

We don't need the formula

until after we've got the contract.

You're so right, Mr. Dillon.

Say, where's the file on that contract?

I'll get it. Uh, Miss Smith?

Yes, Mr. Dillon?

Will you come in here, please?

Oh, I-I'm sorry, Mr. Dillon,
I don't feel very well.

I think I'd better go home.

What seems to be the matter?

Oh, I-I-I feel kind of dizzy,

I-I think if I could get
outside for a few minutes,

I'd be all right.

Oh, I'm sorry. Here,
you better sit down.

Let me help you.

Oh.

There, now. You rest a while.

Oh, I know if I went outside,

I-I really would be all right.

No wonder you feel dizzy,
you haven't any air in here.

Oh, no, Mr. Dillon.
Don't open the window.

But you said you wanted some fresh air.

Well yes, I know, but,

when the air's outside
the window it's fresh,

when it comes inside
it's not fresh anymore.

Nonsense. I know what's best for you.

You ought to be sitting down, you know.

Oh, no, no, I really ought

to go home.
- Oh yes, yes.

What's that?

That?

Oh, that's...

Tomato juice.

Tomato juice?

For my lunch.

Oh, I, I just love tomato juice.

It's full of vitamins and minerals,

and, well, that's just
about all I live on!

Well, look who's here!

You know Miss Smith?

Oh yes, we're old friends, aren't we?

Mrs. Bumstead.

Mrs. Bumstead?

Tomato juice, huh?

I put Worcestershire sauce
in mine, not turpentine.

What is all this?

Well, this happens to be paint.

And, unless my nose deceives me,

it's loaded with gasoline, too.

What were you planning to
do with this, Miss Smith?

I mean, Mrs. Bumstead?

Oh, well, I don't know!

Oh, no you don't!

Oh, oh, let go of me, you-

You were gonna switch it

with that can that's in the
other office, weren't you?

Is that what you intended to do?

You ought to know, you're
quite an expert at switching,

aren't you, Mr. LaVan?

How much does this dame know?

Too much to turn her loose.

Well then we have no
choice. Come on, sweetheart.

No, I won't! Help!

Dagwood!

Ah! Ow!

You! Oh!

Why doesn't Rollo call?

Now, now, be patient, Mr. Radcliffe,

you can rely on Blondie.

If she sets out to do
something, she always-

Oh! Yes?

Rollo's on
the phone, Mr. Radcliffe.

Well, put him on, put him on!

Hello? Hello?

Hello!

Try the other end.

What? Oh.

Yeah.

Hello? Hello, Rollo.

Blondie did it?

Yeah?

Great, Rollo, great!

Be here at 1:30,

we'll all go over to
Forsyth's office, together.

Yeah.

Okay, Rollo.

Blondie switched the paint!

She switched the paint!

I told you she'd do it!

Say.

Huh.

I hope Blondie knows
about the demonstration.

I wouldn't want her to
miss that, for the world!

Oh, don't worry about Blondie,
she'll be there!

Unless she's tied up or something.

That ought to hold her.

At least until that contract is signed.

Say, what are we going to
demonstrate this stuff on?

What could be better

than the model of the
school building itself?

Right! We can pick up a
spray gun on the way over.

Goodbye, sweetheart.

We'll bring you a box of candy

when we come back with that contract.

You see, we thought it
would be most appropriate

to use the model, itself.

The model is made of cardboard.

That should prove how
efficient our paint really is.

I, uh, I've invited the
fire chief, uh, just in case.

Glad to have him.

But I assure you, he won't be needed.

I also invited Mr. Radcliffe.
I hope you don't mind.

Oh, not at all.

Now he can see how a real
fire repellent paint works,

right Joe?

Right.

Help! Mm.

Yoo-hoo! Anybody home?

Oh, well!

I always knew those
guys was slave drivers,

but they never tied me
down with a job like this!

Oh, thank you.

Did you hear about the big
radio contest that I won?

Oh, congratulations!

You mean you actually won?

Yeah, but you know,

I don't think those radio
contests are on the level.

They didn't call my number
until after I got there.

Oh, please hurry.

How do you like that, for a ring?

Oh, that's beautiful.

And little old me, in this mink coat!

Oh, yes!

And I get a trip to Havana!

Oh, that's wonderful!

But if I don't get out of here, soon,

something terrible's going to happen!

Well, what's going to happen, honey?

Dillon and Slack have stolen
something from my husband!

Well, what did they steal, honey?

A fireproof paint he's worked on,

day and night, for months!

Why, the crooks!

Oh, thank you, and I hope
you enjoy your trip to Havana!

Well I ought to, I won the boat!

There. Everything's ready.

Are you all set, chief, just in case?

Yes, sir!

There isn't a chance in the world

of anything going wrong with
our demonstration, Mr. Forsyth.

Good
afternoon, gentlemen.

Radcliffe.

Asbestos firefighter suits, huh?

Very funny, Radcliffe. Very funny.

You know the old saying,

"an ounce of prevention-"

Is worth two in the bush!

Ooh!

Take a seat, gentlemen.

W-well, if you don't mind,

we'd rather, kinda,
stay close to the door.

All right, you may proceed
with the demonstration.

Uh, just a minute!

Ready, men?

Aim!

You'd better save
that comedy, Radcliffe,

'til after the demonstration!

Yeah, go ahead, Harry.

It's a little blackened,

but underneath, the
paint is as good as new.

Wonderful.

Get funny, now, Radcliffe.

You say this model is made of cardboard?

Plain, ordinary, everyday
cardboard, Mr. Forsyth.

I'll have to admit, gentlemen,

that your fire repellent paint

is all that you claimed it was.

Thank you, Mr Forsyth.

And if your bid is anywhere
near Mr. Radcliffe's,

it's only fair that we
award you the contract.

You understand my
position, Mr Radcliffe.

Cheer up, Radcliffe,

I hear the city's asking for bids

on prefabricated doghouses.

That did it. Listen!

Dagwood, Dagwood, Dagwood!

Let the chiselers have their fun.

Blondie, where have you been?

Oh, am I too late?

It's all over.

Oh, and it was successful, wasn't it?

I'm afraid it was.

Well, that's because
I didn't get a chance

to switch the paint.

But Mrs. Bumstead,
you gave me the signal.

That wasn't me, Rollo,

those two men grabbed me and tied me up

before I had a chance to switch the paint.

Wh, th-th-they tied you up?

Yes.

Listen, here. Now I will do it!

Dagwood!

Oh!

Oh, and you too!

Oh!

Here, here, here, here.

Please.

- Dagwood.
- Dagwood!

Never mind, dear! They'll both
get what's coming to them.

Will someone please tell
me what this is all about?

I'll be glad to, Mr. Forsyth.

For several days, I've been acting

as Dillon and Slack's secretary.

Yeah, and she found out
that they were the men

that burned Mr. Radcliffe's cabin down.

They-

Dillon and Slack?

- Yeah, yeah.
- Yes.

They wormed their way into our confidence,

and replaced Dagwood's fireproof paint

with ordinary paint.

Then they were going to
have our paint analyzed,

steal the formula,

and have it manufactured
in their own names.

What about this?

It's a pack of lies.

What?

They're sore because
our paint is a success.

Yeah. Make them prove it.

That's just what I
wanted to hear you say.

What?

Excuse me.

Mr. Forsyth, I realize that
it's our word against theirs,

but if you hear the whole
story in their own words,

I'm sure you'll believe us.

Why yes, of course, Mrs. Bumstead.

Gentlemen,
in reply to your inquiry,

please be advised that it is impossible

to give you the exact amount
of lumber we will need

for the school building.

However, we will be happy
to inform you, as soon-

Hiya, Joe.

Good morning, Harry.

Well, it's all set.

We give Forsyth the demonstration

this afternoon at 2 o'clock.

Good. But
how can we do it today?

We haven't got the report
back from the laboratory yet.

We've still got two gallons

of Bumstead's paint in
the closet, haven't we?

That's right.

We don't need the formula

until after we've got the contract!

You're so right, Mr. Dillon.

There it is. In your own words.

Stop those men, they
burned down my cabin!

Hey, they burned down his cabin!

Don't let those men get away!

Yeah, I'm not the police!

Oh, it's all right, it's all right!

Come on, guys, stop!

All right, they can't get away,
the police are just outside!

Blondie, you are magnificent!

Magnificent,
she's even wonderful!

I'll go along with that, Mr. Bumstead,

if it hadn't been for you, Mrs. Bumstead,

I might've given those
crooks the contract!

As it is, I shall be proud
to award it to Mr. Radcliffe.

Well, thank you, Mr. Forsyth.

Well, Blondie, I think
we're all indebted to you.

And Rollo. A lot of the
credit should go to him.

You're absolutely right.

And, as I said before, Rollo,

if you want a job in a few
years, I'll have one for ya.

Thanks very much, Mr. Radcliffe.

But if my plans mature as they should,

I may be in a position to offer you a job!

Oh.

Oh?

Oh.

Well, darling, how do you feel now?

Oh, I feel just like
Alexander Graham Bell

when he invented his, uh, his, uh, um...

Yeah, his telephone!

Darling, you made it! Oh!