Mr. Blandings is probably my favorite classic film. I’ve done a lot of research on the movie over the years, collecting production stills, online photos and magazine articles, etc. Several years ago, I even crafted a boxed, two pipe set replicating the pipes used in the movie, called “The Blandings Collection”. I sold several of them and Mr. Godbee purchased a set (Thanks again, Kevin). The film contains pipe smoking from virtually first frame to last, presented in a casual, matter of fact style. Three great stars at their prime. The great James Wong Howe behind the camera. The era, the fashions, the cars, the hats and of course, the pipes! The movie is a masterpiece of it’s time, with many funny, quotable lines and a snappy musical score. The subject matter hits home, as I’ve been through several construction projects, and believe me, nothing has changed over the decades. From delays to cost overruns to cranky contractors, it’s all still relevant. Even though I have the DVD, and watch it a couple times a year, I might fire up a pipe, settle in and catch it tonight.
