Very well executed

Fun premise, good actors, bad writing. This film seemed to have potential at the beginning but it quickly devolves into a trite action film. Ultimately it's very boring.

The movie's neither hopeful in contrived ways, nor hopeless in different contrived ways. Somehow it manages to be wonderful

It’s sentimental, ridiculously long and only occasionally funny

Trifling romantic comedy about a pretty actress (Joan Fontaine) hired to break up the engagement of an heiress (Lilian Bond) to a loan broker's assistant (Derrick De Marney). Naturally, Fontaine and De Marney fall in love. Joan is lovely as ever but after awhile her playful coyness with De Marney wears on the nerves. Still, she's the only reason to see this otherwise forgettable comedy. She even gets to sing and dance a little. It's easy to see why she was more successful in dramas. Normally solid supporting stars Cecil Kellaway and Cecil Cunningham offer little help here. It's hard to believe this is an RKO film. Seems very much like a British film from the '30s.

London "Trafalgar Loan Co." worker Derrick DeMarney (as Michael "Mike" Ashburn) must hold pretty young Joan Fontaine (as Juliette "Julie" Evans) for collateral against her uncle's £400 loan, due to an expensive pair of diamond earrings she wears. Ms. Fontaine claims the earrings have grown into her lobes, through excessive wear. Mr. DeMarney is engaged to boss Cecil Kellaway (as Rufus Trent)'s beautiful daughter, Lilian Bond (as Roberta Trent). Naturally, Fontaine and DeMarney find themselves becoming more and more attracted to each other.Fontaine looks very beautiful, as photographed by Roy Hunt; early on, she looks especially lovely in an "magnifying glass" shot. The film is a fairly routine "programmer". But, it features some cute scenes, and gets funnier in the second half; the London setting, and British cast, help. Fontaine gets to perform the musical number "It Must Be Love". No threat to Alice Faye or Ginger Rogers, Fontaine is better with the comedy; but, she would soon find her greatest success with drama. Everything ends up as you'd expect. A livelier ending might have helped it add up to something more.**** Blond Cheat (1938) Joseph Santley ~ Joan Fontaine, Derrick De Marney, Cecil Kellaway

At a time when Fontaine's sister had reached overnight stardom in '35's A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM and CAPTAIN BLOOD, JOAN FONTAINE was in the starlet phase of her early career at RKO. She was very pretty and showed a modest amount of talent, but nobody suspected that in a few short years she would come into her own as an actress.BLOND CHEAT is a pleasant enough programmer, designed to give Fontaine a chance to shine in a light romantic comedy. She has a role requiring her to be charming and coyly flirtatious with leading man DERRICK DE MARNEY, but the silly script is a bit much for anyone to deal with in credible fashion. Even CECIL KELLAWAY looks a bit foolish.Fontaine is part of a scheme with a pair of expensive earrings, sent to break up an impending marriage by crafty millionaire CECIL KELLAWAY. Of course we know the marriage plans won't go through as soon as Fontaine and De Marney fall in love.It's forgettable nonsense like this that kept Fontaine's career in low drive until she found more rewarding roles in the '40s.

screwball comedy with stunningly beautiful and playful Joan fontaine. the movie is great on several levels. hilarious concept, Joan ends up being collateral for a loan because of the earrings shes wearing, but their is a twist! fun romance with ingénue Joan fontaine showing what a hot babe she was. kittenish and fun romp for Joan as she makes the movie.tcm is great at pulling out movies you would never get a chance to see that have real value. if you are a Joan fontaine fan this is a must see. watch her playful banter with the leading man. she exudes pure sex appeal.the writing for the movie is pleasingly fresh. it holds up well and surprises with its plot twists and turns. the leading man is a bit lightweight but the rest of the cast is solid.