Le chevalier de Bacchus

Van Johnson portrays a young World War II veteran who, upon joining a prominent law firm, attempts to avoid scandal stemming from his allergy to alcohol. He forms an alliance with the daughter of the firm's leader, played by Elizabeth Taylor, and their romance is light hearted and moderated with realism. Ensemble playing from the talented cast is top-drawer throughout, with excellent timing ever in evidence. A shadowy sub-plot dealing with racial prejudice (victims: Chinese) is not overdone and is necessary for developing the film's principal theme: the inherent value of performing public service. Playwright Norman Krasna, who wrote, produced and directed this understated comedic drama, keeps matters moving briskly, while allowing scenes to develop properly by emphasizing the sharp dialogue, some of which is startling with its insight. There is good acting aplenty, by the mentioned leads as well as by Leon Ames and Edgar Buchanan; but the honors must go to the veteran English stage performer, Percy Waram, whose delivery is perfection.

Van Johnson and Elizabeth Taylor did two films together during their tenure at MGM and The Big Hangover is the first of them. He's a young law school graduate, top of his particular class, who is applying for an opening in a very prestigious white shoe law firm. She's the daughter of the firm's senior partner Percy Waram and she's crushing out big time on Van.

Van's got one unusual case of shell shock during the war. Two things happened to him, he had a close friend die in his arms in a plane being shot at with anti-aircraft guns and he nearly drowned in a cellar of a monastery that was being used as a hospital. The monks in the place made wine and after spending a good deal of time up to his neck in the stuff, the slightest taste or smell of liquor gets him cockeyed drunk.

It's an amusing bit for parties, but not at all social or business occasions. Liz turns amateur psychologist to discover what's ailing Van.

The Big Hangover is an amusing comedy from MGM, not hardly in the top ten of films for either of its leads. It does have an interesting subplot involving discrimination and the enforcement of anti-discrimination laws that were being passed by a lot of states at this time, New York among them where the story takes place. A Chinese doctor, Philip Ahn, is being thrown out of an apartment the owner is represented by Percy Waram's firm.

Which leads to the highlight of the film and the best performance in the film by Leon Ames who plays the city attorney who is charged with enforcement of the non-discrimination statute. After Johnson chastises him, Ames gives an eloquent statement about how money and success are the gods we cherish.

The Big Hangover is amusing in spots, is serious in spots, has a bit of trouble making its mind up whether it's a comedy or a drama of social significance. Still it is entertaining and fans of the two stars should like it.

Mary Belney (Elizabeth Taylor) is the daughter of top lawyer John Belney (Percy Waram). David Muldon (Van Johnson) is a top law student being recruited by Belney's firm. He's hiding the fact that he's highly allergic to alcohol. Mary notices his strange behavior after barely a sip. He tells her about the incident during the war. He tries to acclimatize to alcohol by taking sips at home which results in him hallucinating and talking to his dog. Amateur psychiatrist Mary tries to treat him.

This is an oddball convoluted premise. They should go all-out with a silly Dr. Dolittle character. He should have full conversations with the animals. There is potential to do something truly outrageous and memorable. Instead, it goes for the least interesting and boring path. Mary is actually trying to cure him and he's not that funny as a drunk. There isn't much chemistry more than a semi-professional basis and a singing one. None of it is that funny.

This movie is based on a very contrived plot device. Van Johnson plays a man who has a peculiar sort of reaction to alcohol--the type you'll only see in movies and I doubt if anyone on this planet does what his character did. While the IMDb summary says he passes out when he drinks, this is NOT the case. Instead, even the smallest taste of alcohol sends him into a fit where he behaves roaring drunk for several minutes--afterwords, he has no clear recollection of his behaviors. As I said, it's contrived--but also odd because the film really isn't exactly a comedy--in fact, much of it is VERY serious. In fact, with a subplot involving racism, the mix is uncomfortable and bizarre to say the least.

On the plus side, the film has very good acting. Van Johnson, despite the material, is excellent and he's given tons of support from the likes of Liz Taylor (who is at her radiant best), Leon Ames (whose speech at the end is terrific), Gene Lockhart (June's father) and Edgar Buchanan--among others. It is clearly filled with quality actors. It's just too bad that the script itself isn't high quality. In fact, it could clearly have used a re-write. It's a B-movie script with A-list actors and production values. Not a bad film but not at all a good one either.

"The Big Hangover" is a rather unpleasant film that seen today doesn't play well. Acting-wise, the cast is very attractive: a gorgeous Elizabeth Taylor, then 18 years old, Van Johnson, Leon Ames, Rosemary DeCamp, Percy Waram, and Edgar Buchanan. Johnson plays a law student on the GI bill who's about to graduate. He has an embarrassing problem with alcohol: one taste and he's plastered. He talks to lamps; he thinks his dog is talking to him; he sings loudly at a formal alumni dinner. His boss' daughter, Taylor, who once worked for a psychiatrist, wants to cure him.

All of this has the makings of a comedy, except the film takes a turn with the introduction of a subplot where a Chinese man and his wife are denied an apartment. Johnson believes the matter to be resolved in the man's favor, and then learns that the law firm he works with has lied to him. This has the makings of a good drama, with Johnson having to face some cold facts of life and decide what he wants to stand for in his career.

But as neither comedy nor drama, the film ends up as not much. There's an aggravating scene where one of the good old boy attorneys spikes Johnson's food at the alumni dinner to watch him get plotzed. It's mean-spirited, and it makes you wonder why the other people at the table are laughing.

Despite its excellent cast and good performances, The Big Hangover is more of The Big Waste.