Brother Rat

Military schools are not exactly known for madcap antics. Here there's a great deal of fun and delight in breaking the many rules in whirlwind fashion. I suspect those shenanigans came across much funnier in 1938 than they do now. The comedy antics revolve around Wayne Morris's cadet Randolph. The trouble is that Morris and/or director Keighley seem to think that there's something automatically funny about being loud and obnoxious, such that one particularly lengthy scene is almost exhausting in pretended hilarity. William Tracy's sadsack new cadet is funnier, but then Tracy is a comedian by nature.

Unfortunately, this is not a movie that takes advantage of Ronald Reagan's natural charm and easy smile. His cadet Crawford is something of a sober-sides and is clearly a secondary role to Morris. Actually, it's Jane Wyman who I think comes across best. Her Claire Adams may be a plain-jane bookworm, but when she takes off her glasses the screen really does light up— no wonder Reagan married her. On the other hand, Eddie Albert is really good at looking confused or perplexed. The trouble is that his dour cadet appears to be in a more serious movie than the one here. I expect one reason the film has lost impact is a shift in public mores over a 70-year period. I doubt that audiences find the various boy-girl situations as scandalously funny now as they did then. Anyway, regardless of comedic skills, the real-life Wayne Morris was a distinguished military man and authentic war hero, making his role here rather ironical. Too bad that today he's almost totally forgotten.

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.

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.

The misadventures of three VMI roommates during the latter part of their final year in school forms the backdrop for a round of typical 1930's type problems, most caused by the devil-may-care attitude of the cadet played by Wayne Morris. The other two roomies are played by Ronald Reagan, who tries very hard to be the voice of reason and Eddie Albert, having problems throughout the entire film. It's kind of fun watching these three get in and out of jams with their superiors. But, one word of caution: If whining annoys you (as it does me)you may have a little problem with Eddie Albert because, except for the very first scenes, his dialog for the remainder of the movie consists of whining that would do a 5 or 6 year old child proud. However, overall, if you want a few laughs and like happy endings, this film is for you....

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.