Elmer, the Great

Moviecut—Elmer, the Great

source: Elmer, the Great

I admittedly don't know much about Joe E. Brown. My only reference before streaming this movie was his classic performance in Some Like It Hot. He didn't seem like the type of actor I would like and frankly, his mvies were never broadcast on TV when I was a kid. So I looked him up and it turns out he was pretty darn big int he 30's and 40's. So much so tht ometimes his name was above the title on publicity material. Not sure if this movie is indicative of his acting. It seems a bit odd. His voice is different than Some Like it Hot and his walk is an odd stride. That notwithstanding, this movie is generally pretty good. And it was probably close to his heart in that he was actually a professional baseball player early in his career. In fact, he was offered a spot on the NY Yankees but turned it down to go back to the circus! Talk about confidence. Mervyn LeRoy directed this movie and it moves very quickly. But then I's also very short - one hour and ten minutes.

Like most Joe E. Brown movies it is tipped way too far to the mildly pleasant end of the humor spectrum. I expected more from veteran director Mervin Le Roy, who started out as a gag writer and Chaplin impersonator. Especially notable is the dearth of physical comedy. You remember the one or two examples that are in the picture, like the bent spoon in the cup and the putting on of two socks on one foot, not because they are inspired but because there are no others. And for much of the movie Brown's character is such an unredeemed butthole that you tire of him. Bottom line: Read Lardner, instead. Give it a C.

I remember watching Joe E. Brown films as a kid and used to get a big kick out of that rubbery faced, siren like howl that was a trademark of his. He didn't do it in this picture, in fact he came across as rather arrogant for most of the story, and not in character with the way I remember him. Fortunately he redeems himself by the end of the story by turning the tables on the crooks betting against the Chicago Cubs in the final game of the World Series and winning his sweetheart's hand. However this has to be the most mathematically challenged flick I've ever seen. Consider no less than three examples. In the gambling house, Elmer Kane (Brown) consistently loses while betting on number six at the craps table, but one of the rolls was clearly called by the dealer as one, two, three. That still comes out to six in my book! Then in the final World Series game with the Yanks at bat and Elmer playing second, the bases are loaded and Elmer has trouble finding the ball in a huge puddle of water when it's hit toward him. You see three base runners cross home plate, but only two runs are posted on the scoreboard! The third mistake is more of a continuity error, in that Elmer started the season with the Cubs wearing Number 8 on his jersey, but had Number 4 in the Series game. Aside from those goofs, which I actually enjoy catching, it was also cool to see a couple of other era favorites in the picture - Sterling Holloway as Elmer's brother Nick, and Frank McHugh as fellow teammate Healy High-Hips. A couple of attractive gals are also on hand, Patricia Ellis as Elmer's pretty girlfriend Nellie back home in Gentryville, and Claire Dodd who was a potential rival for Nellie, but the story never really went in that direction after an initial tease. The latter part of the picture provides a couple of honest to goodness shockers for viewers watching today. I had to do a double take when I heard Elmer say "Hell, I ain't been cool since February". Then there's that whole conversation in the dugout during the final game where Elmer discusses betting on the team with his own manager! You have to wonder if Pete Rose ever saw this picture.

***SPOILER*** One of Joe E. Brown's biggest hits since he had experience playing semi-pro baseball and didn't need a stand in in the action sports scenes he was in makes his appearance as Elmer Kane in the movie "Elmer the Great" that more convincing. As for Brown's acting no one could have played the part of Elmer Kane better then he did since Brown mixed his special blend of arrogance and naivety in the role making him both likable and annoying, as well as a royal pain in the butt, at the same time. Not at all that interested in leaving his hometown of quiet little Gentryville Ind. Elmer Kane is dead set against him being signed up by the Cicago Cubs to be their star second baseman. The thing that's keeping Elmer form signing is his girl Nellie Poole, Pat Ellis, whom he works for driving a delivery wagon at her grocery store in town. Finally convinced by Nellie, who he was too embarrassed to tell that he was in love with her, to sign Elmer in no time at all-as a green rookie from the sticks-becomes the biggest hitting sensation in professional Baseball since Babe Ruth. Belting an astonishing 67 home runs during the season together with his sparkling fielding on the diamond Elmer single-handedly leads the Cubs to the National League Pennant. With the Cubs tied three games to three with the Yankees in the World Series, or World Serious as Elmer calls it, and the winning game-the seventh and final-on the line is when things start to go very bad for Elmer. Nellie whom he hasn't seen since he left Gentryville showed up unexpectedly in Chicago and spots-at the hotel she's staying at- Elmer kissing another girl Evelyn Corey, Clair Dodd, who works for the Cubs front office and walked out on him. Elmer deeply depressed goes with his fellow Cub teammate Healy High-Hip, Frank McHugh, to a local gambling club and not realizing he's playing for real money, Elmer thought he was only playing with colored chips, loses $5,000.00! Blackmailed by the club's manager Johnny Abbott, Charles Dalaney, to throw the final World Series game, by not showing up, a heart-broken Elmer, in having Nellie walk out on him, meekly goes along with Abbott's sleazy and underhanded plan! That's after an engaged Elmer almost clobbered Abbott, and his goons at the gambling club, for asking him to do just that! It's later when Nellie, who realized Elmer's so-called love affair with Evleyn was nothing more then a friendly kiss, came back to him that he changed his mind and decided to play ball! Not for that blackmailing shyster Abbott but the Chicago Cubs! ***SPOILERS*** With the World Series on the line Elmer unexpectedly shows up at the Cub's ballpark, Wrigley Field, but has far more problems in him getting a chance to get in the game then getting a shot at keeping, with his bat and glove, the Yankees from winning it! The what seemed like predictable ending didn't pan out in that Elmer didn't quite come through with one of his spectacular fence clearing 500 foot home runs. Doing what he's not used to doing, in his home run hitting exploits, Elmer had to really work hard by running, not trotting, the base in beating the throw to home plate in a blinding downpour in order to win the game and World Championship for the Chicago Cubs.

If you want to see a really good baseball pic with Joe E. Brown...don't watch this one! Today I watched this film and "Alibi Ike", and Ike has it all over Elmer. There are few funny moments in this film. Perhaps they were doing a drama. Failed again. This film just goes nowhere, except into clichés and predictability. The first loooooong segment is with Elmer in his home town...in love...boooooring. There's just not much of a story here other than boy loves girl, girl dumps boy, boy plays for the Cubs but gets involved with a gambling ring...but comes through in the end. Gee, when I read it like that, it sounds like it had a lot of potential...well, it did...have a lot of potential. To be honest, I give the highest grade here to an actor I usually don't like -- Sterling Holloway. He plays the brother, and is quite likable here. Nope. Don't bother. Head straight for "Alibi Ike"...it's superior in every way.

Elmer the Great (1933) *** (out of 4) Second film in Joe E Brown's trilogy has him playing a slugger living in a small town in Indiana. When the Chicago Cubs come to sign him at first he does want to go but he eventually does a gets the team in the World Series but being the idiot he is, gets in trouble with gamblers. This is a step up from the first film but I'd still say the third one is the best of the trilogy. Brown is in top form here and adds a lot of laughs but the serious side with the gamblers is handled very well. I guess there's an added bonus in the fact that Chicago's other team had their own gambling scandal a decade earlier. It was also nice seeing Wrigley Field way back when even though it doesn't look too much different today.

Often you look back at a decade and wonder how some of the stars of the day became popular--especially since they didn't age very well. While there are countless examples over the last few decades, when it comes to the 1930s, a name that comes to mind for me is Joe E. Brown. While several of his movies were pleasant time-passers, his rather obnoxious and rubber-faced characters are often difficult to like and remind me of a pushy 6 year-old that insists on entertaining all the visitors to his parents' home. Try as I might, I just cannot find Brown to be anything more than adequate (at best)--yet in the 30s his films were huge money makers for Warner Brothers. Take this film, ELMER THE GREAT. Brown plays a difficult to like doofus who is basically very selfish, dumb and conceited. Additionally, his "funny" attributes are that he loves to sleep and eat. This sounds like my Uncle Tom--and no one in my family would consider him funny or charming!! Yet, the audience is expected to pull for him and care about his fate. Sorry, but I just couldn't. Now apart from Brown's rather unlikable character, the rest of the film is fine. The supporting cast and baseball scenes are pretty interesting and worth a peek. But that's really about it. By the way, the surprise ending finds Elmer saving the day by betting on his team to win the world series instead of accepting money from gamblers to throw the World Series. Isn't this sort of like what got Pete Rose in trouble?!?!

Nothing much to say. A lot like Adam Sandler's The Waterboy. To tell the truth, Sandler is the latter-day Brown. If you love Sandler, you'll like beown. I've a suspiscion his fans were kids and junior high school kids because his films play to that level of humor. You may call them family films. Movie is about a small-town boy who joins the Cubs and helps them win the penant. There are gangsters, bribes and bets that go awry. It has a very good and realistic baseball finale.