The McGuerins from Brooklyn (1942)

User Rating:

6.5/10   

Director:

Kurt Neumann

Writers:

Clarence Marks (writer)
Earle Snell (writer)

Release Date:

31 December 1942 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Plot Keywords:

Brooklyn | Taxicab | Place Name In Title | Beautiful Woman | Character Name In Title

US TV Schedule:

Fri. July 17

11:45 AM

TCM

Cast

William Bendix	...	Timothy 'Tim' McGuerin
Grace Bradley	...	Sadie McGuerin
Arline Judge	...	Marcia Marsden
Max Baer	...	Professor Samson
Marjorie Woodworth	...	Lucy Gibbs
Joe Sawyer	...	Eddie Corbett (as Joseph Sawyer)
Marion Martin	...	Myrtle, Marcia's friend
Rex Evans	...	Sterling, McGuerin's Butler
J. Farrell MacDonald	...	Cop
Pat Flaherty	...	Pat, gym attendant
Alan Hale Jr.	...	Alan, gym attendant

Also Known As:

Two Mugs from Brooklyn (USA) (new title)

Runtime:

45 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Filming Locations:

Uplifters Club, Santa Monica, California, USA

Company:

Hal Roach Studios

Movie Connections:

Follows Brooklyn Orchid (1942)

all William Bendix

This is one of a total of three 'streamliners' made by Bendix and Sawyer, about two Brooklyn mugs who strike it rich by building a successful cab company in New York. Stream liners were short (50 - 60 minutes) and to the point. While funny, this movie belongs strictly to Bendix. He is as he is in most of his later movies; a lovable bumbler, getting himself in and out of improbable but sometimes hilarious situations. This one concerns mix-ups and misunderstandings among McGuerin (Bendix), his wife (Bradley), his partner (Sawyer) and his fiancé, and their secretary, deliciously played by Woodward. Only Bradley seems a little out of sync, stiff and uncomfortable with her role, but beautiful none the less. Even Max Baer, as a fitness trainer, does well with his role (catch the bit with him as he turns around a picture of Joe Louis to face the wall. He was one of Louis's boxing ring victims). Perhaps it's the length of the movie, or the bit of miscasting, but the film seems just a bit out of kilter. But not enough so as to make it less than enjoyable.