THE BAMBOO BLONDE (1946)

One might not instantly associate Anthony Mann with a dizzying rom-com set during World War II, but the acclaimed director of Westerns, epics, and noirs did an impressive job with this RKO B-picture that paired Frances Langford with Russell Wade, the latter typically a bit player for the studio. Wade plays Captain Patrick Ransom Jr., who gets mixed up with gorgeous blonde lounge singer, Louise Anderson (Langford). When she ends up becoming the bombshell symbol of his celebrated B-29 bomber by getting painted on the plane’s nose, Patrick and Louise find themselves in an unintended and public romance. The film wisely made use of Langford’s real-life popularity with soldiers as she frequently toured with Bob Hope on his USO tours. As for Mann, while he wouldn’t return to the rom-com genre, his work here still highlights how his journeyman approach belied his skilled direction. 

d. Anthony Mann, 68m, 35mm

35mm print courtesy of the BFI National Archive.