Blu-ray Review – The Beautiful Blonde from Bashful Bend

The penultimate feature for the master filmmaker Preston Sturges ("Sullivan's Travels," "Hail the Conquering Hero"), 1949's "The Beautiful Blonde from Bashful Bend" is a curious trifle from the helmer. Toying with western traditions and musical enhancements, Sturges (who also scripts) tries to make a farce out of gunslinger antics and concealed identities, embracing longstanding career interests. However, size tends to get in the production's way, with Sturges juggling a wild tonality that moves the picture from broad slapstick to more intimate concerns. "Bashful Bend" has the saving grace of being short (76 minutes in length), which helps to digest its intermittent oddity and lack of focus. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com