Brother Rat

These Warner Brothers players are always fun to watch. Anyone who hasn't seen this sort-of-classic movie really should watch it.

In Ronald Reagan's first autobiography -- "Where's the Rest of Me?" -- he tells the story of a staff meeting or perhaps dinner gathering during World War II.

Lt. Reagan says to the commander, We've got something in common, sir: You attended Virginia Military Institute and I was in a movie about the school.

The commander, possibly a colonel, maybe a general, replied to the effect, That was one of the silliest damn things I ever saw.

It was. Pretty darn silly.

But fun in spots, and, as Reagan said, Eddie Albert was "discovered" and became a major star, although that doesn't explain "Green Acres."

All in all, with this collection of major stars -- although with some, stardom came later -- any movie fan, and especially any film historian, really ought to see this. At least once.

Brother Rat, a successful Broadway play about the misadventures of some cadets at Virginia Military Institute, had a two year run on Broadway of 577 performances. In bringing it to Hollywood, I only wish the brothers Warner had gotten George Abbott to come over from Broadway as well as Eddie Albert from the original cast. I think the film would have been far the better for it.

As it is it's not a bad comedy at that. Wayne Morris who Warner Brothers was trying to build up at the time plays the lead, taking over from Frank Albertson on Broadway. But I did a double take when I saw that Ronald Reagan had taken over from Jose Ferrer on Broadway, ten years before Ferrer made his screen debut. Imagine Reagan and Ferrer playing the same role, I never would have dreamed it.

Reagan isn't bad though as the voice of reason of the three cadets, having to contend with Morris's schemes and Albert's lovesickness. In fact they all aren't bad.

On the distaff side Priscilla Lane does well as the object of Morris's affection and this was the film that introduced Ronald Reagan to the woman who could have become First Lady, Jane Wyman.

William Tracy also came over from Broadway playing the ever flustered plebe who is at the beck and call of the three upper classmen. Tracy took over the part on Broadway from Ezra Stone who went on to play Henry Aldrich on radio and film. Tracy steals every scene he's in.

Brother Rat is a funny film, but something tells me that the George Abbott stage production was a whole lot better.

EDDIE ALBERT plays a hapless Virginia Military Institute cadet who gets into all kinds of scrapes because of his brash friend, WAYNE MORRIS, an actor Warner Bros. was grooming for stardom. Albert is so professional that he's a pleasure to watch as he goes from one zany situation after another accompanied by Morris and Reagan.

Way down in the cast credits are JANE WYMAN and RONALD REAGAN, still up-and-coming future stars developing a light touch for comedy. PRISCILLA LANE and JANE BRYAN play the other two gals who get entangled in all the farcical situations involving the cadets.

It's typical broad comedy material from a successful stage play with Albert repeating his Broadway stage role and showing what a fine comedian he could be, his genial personality supplying most of the laughs. WAYNE MORRIS is a bit strident as the top-billed lead, but PRISCILLA LANE does a nice job as his wholesome girl friend.

It's strictly fluff, '30s style, and passes the time without being anything you're likely to remember too fondly unless you love this type of screwball comedy directed by William Keighley.

Actress Jane Wyman, 21, was going through her second divorce when she met Ronald Reagan, 27, for the first time on the set making October 1938's "Brother Rat." Wyman, who kept her first husband's surname, later said she was "smitten" with Reagan as soon as she saw him. Less than two years later they were married, Reagan's first and Wyman's third.

Reportedly, the two became instantly attracted to each other during "Brother Rat's" pre-production publicity shots. In the movie, Wyman plays bookworm Claire Adams, who Virginia Military Institute cadet Dan Crawford (Reagan) is attracted. The pair are one of three love-pairings in the film, the others are lead actor Wayne Morris as Billy Randolph linked with Joyce Winfree (Priscilla Lane of the Lane sisters), and Bing Edwards (Eddie Albert in his film debut) with Kate Rice (Jane Bryan), the later who are secretly married. The Warner Brothers film is based on the wildly successful 1936 Broadway play of the same name which ran for 577 performances.

Eddie Albert had played the same character on Broadway and signed on as a contract actor for Warner Brothers. The Rock Island, Illinois,-born Edward Albert Heimberger dropped his last name once he became popular as a singer. As a New York City radio co-host in 1933, he also appeared in several plays. Albert was one of the earliest pioneering television actors while writing one of the first teleplays for the new experimental medium in 1936. He went on to have a lengthy film and television career, and is today known for his Oliver Wendell Douglas character in the 1965 TV series 'Green Acres.'

"Brother Rat" is a term VMI first-year cadets use to call their fellow classmates during their first six months at the Lexington, Virginia military college. They're required to be in a 'rat line,' an indoctrination the freshmen undergo designed to create a bond among classmates for life. VMI made Reagan an honorary "Brother Rat" after filming wrapped. The B-roll location shots in the opening credits were filmed on the grounds of the Virginia campus while additional footage was taken at the San Diego Military Academy.

"Brother Rat" was so successful Warner Brothers produced a sequel, 1940's 'Brother Rat and a Baby," where Reagan's character proposes to Wyman's. One account on the couple's private life had Wyman so frustrated at Ronnie's delaying tactics of putting off their wedding she overdosed on pills, sending her to the hospital while leaving behind a suicide note explaining her actions. Married on January 26, 1940, the pair was labeled the "the ideal Hollywood couple." They had a daughter Maureen a year later, and adopted a son Michael, born 1945. A still-born baby in 1947 caused a strain on their marriage, compounded by political differences: she was a Republican while he was a registered Democrat. Reagan's time immersing himself as the president of the Screen Actors Guild also made Jane feel neglected, and she divorced him in 1948. Reagan is the first President of the United States to have been divorced.

Meanwhile, Warner Brothers produced a sequel to 'Brother Rat' in its 1952 Technicolor remake, 'About Face,' with Joel Grey in his movie debut.

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!