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IMDb > Brother Rat (1938)

Brother Rat (1938) More at IMDbPro »

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Overview

User Rating:
6.5/10   193 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Up 92% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Writers:
Richard Macaulay (screenplay) and
Jerry Wald (screenplay) ...
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Contact:
View company contact information for Brother Rat on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
29 October 1938 (USA) more
Genre:
Plot:
Story of three buddies at the Virginia Military Institute. Cadet Bing Edwards is secretly married and soon to be a father. | add synopsis
NewsDesk:
Jane Bryan
 (From Alt Film Guide. 11 April 2009, 7:12 PM, PDT)

User Reviews:
fun fluff that hasn't aged especially well more (7 total)

Cast

  (Complete credited cast)
Priscilla Lane ... Joyce Winfree
Wayne Morris ... Billy Randolph
Johnnie Davis ... A. Furman Towsend, Jr.
Jane Bryan ... Kate Rice
Eddie Albert ... 'Bing' Edwards

Ronald Reagan ... Dan Crawford

Jane Wyman ... Claire Adams
Henry O'Neill ... Colonel Ramm
Gordon Oliver ... Capt 'Lacedrawers' Rogers
Larry Williams ... Harley Harrington
William Tracy ... Misto Bottome (as William Tracey)
Jessie Busley ... Mrs. Brooks
Olin Howland ... Slim
Louise Beavers ... Jenny
Isabel Withers ... Nurse
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Additional Details

Runtime:
89 min (Turner library print)
Country:
Language:
Aspect Ratio:
1.37 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Certification:
USA:Approved (PCA #4403) | USA:TV-G (TV rating) | Finland:S

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
Followed by a sequel, Brother Rat and a Baby (1940). more
Movie Connections:
Followed by Brother Rat and a Baby (1940) more
Soundtrack:
We're Working Our Way Through College more

FAQ

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5 out of 9 people found the following review useful.
fun fluff that hasn't aged especially well, 2 March 2006
4/10
Author: planktonrules from Bradenton, Florida

While this is far from a must-see film, it is a lot of fun. This is due to the intense energy in the movie and the cute chemistry between the cadets. Wayne Morris, Eddie Albert, Ronald Reagan, Priscilla Lane, Jane Wyman and the rest really try hard! While it is entertaining, I also must admit that this is a pretty insignificant film--fun to watch but not one to change your life. It's sort of like a really really good B-movie with a lot of up and coming actors. Plus, if you think about it, considering how young and inexperience these mostly future stars were, this is sort of like a YOUNG GUNS movie of the late 1930s. A cute time-passer.

UPDATE--I saw this film again recently and have a rather different reaction. Instead of enjoying it, I now saw the film as more ponderous and limp. In particular, Wayne Morris' character was so obnoxious and totally unlikable I wonder why I didn't hate the film the first time I saw it. Perhaps I am more of a grouch these days, but I really hated him and think his character was not a 'lovable rogue' but an irresponsible idiot!! And why would Reagan and Albert listen to such a sociopath?! And, more importantly, why would VMI allow such a jerk to graduate from the school? Heck, I'm a little surprised that VMI didn't sue because of this film!

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I saw it on TCM recently and it is a good movie. wtl471629
1938 Brother Rat Promotional Pin FRANKIET2
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