Our Miss Brooks

This film was made immediately upon the completion of the popular four-year run of the TV series, which itself followed a successful radio show, YET for some reason, the filmmakers chose to treat the storyline as if they hadn't existed. It would have made sense had the film been made twenty years later, as in "The Brady Bunch," "Mission Impossible," "Charlie's Angels'" etc. Starting from scratch seems to be backpeddling, but I guess it didn't bother folks in 1956.

WHEN THIS THEATRICAL movie hit the local theatre screens in 1956, the CBS Network powerhouse sitcom was long over the hill and heading toward its eternal reword in Sitcom Heaven. Ignoring the old axiom of "If it ain't broke, don't fix it!", those in charge at CBS decided to revamp the series with unnecessary changes of venue (different school), setting (City & state) and cast characters.

WELL, THERE HAD certainly been enough popularity and appeal left in this now "venerable" CBS Radio/Television and someone had the brainstorm to bring its story and original characters to the big screen of our local theaters. Disdaining the changes that had been foisted on us in the waning days of the series, the theatrical version of OUR MISS BROOKS brought the story back to Connie Brooks' arrival at Madison High School and her meeting with Mr. Boynton, Mrs. Davis, Walter Denton, Mr. Conklin, Harriet Conklin, "Stretch" Snodgrass, .....etc.

ADDED TO THE original gang and story-line was a sort of subplot involving Mr. Conklin's running for office of Educational rep and the introduction of Don Porter as widower and well to do newspaper publisher (and potential suitor) Lawrence Nolan. Then Warner Brothers contract player, Nick Adams, portrayed son of the rich guy, Gary Nolan.

ALL THINGS CONSIDERED, the picture was a successful 1950's style comedy that did a great job in closing the OUR MISS BROOKS story with a "....And They Lived Happily Ever After!" fairy tale ending.

THE FILM ALSO gave us a chance to see the members of the supporting cast at their very best. These players are: Gale Gordon (Mr. Conklin), Jane Morgan (Mrs. Davis), Richard Crenna (Walter Denton),Gloria McMillan (Harriet Conklin)and Leonard Smith (Stretch Snodgrass). Robert Rockwell (Mr. Boynton) was perhaps shown to the best as he was allowed to show much of his yet unseen abilities.* Also, before we forget, cameo by lovely, statuesque and non-speaking, uncredited actress is really June Blair; formerly Playboy Magazine's "Playmate of the Year for 1957, as well as the future Mrs. David Nelson ADVENTURES OF OZZIE & HARRIET).

TAKING THE TIME to screen this theatrical film version of OUR MISS BROOKS will prove to be time not wasted by anyone.

NOTE: * The part of Mr. Phillip Boynton on the radio version was portrayed by one Ira Grossel; who would change his name to Jeff Chandler and pursue a most successful, but all too abrupt film career. But whoever was to play the very naive Biology teacher would have to be taller than average; as Miss Eve Arden was, herself, a very tall woman.

I remember the TV series "Our Miss Brooks," though it's possible I saw it in syndication. 1952 is a little early, even for me.

After the show was canceled, this film was made, completely ignoring the fact that Brooks had moved on to an elementary school. We go back to her arrival at Madison High, meeting Mr. Boynton, etc. We also have a subplot involving a student (Nick Adams) and his wealthy father (Don Porter).

I love seeing Richard Crenna playing the teen-aged Walter Denton - he went on to so much good work in TV and film. Eve Arden plays Miss Brooks the way unmarried women were played in those days -- desperate to get married. Arden always had that wry delivery that served her well in this role. Despite wanting to nab Mr. Boynton, the character of Connie Brooks is a good teacher and an independent woman, dedicated to her work and students.

Robert Rockwell, Gale Gordon, and the rest of the TV cast is on board. Few people realize that Robert Rockwell worked into the mid-'90s, and if you recall the Werther's candy commercial with the attractive white-haired man giving his grandson Werther's, that was him.

Nice trip down nostalgia lane. It was a more innocent time for sure.

I saw "Our Miss Brooks" with the incomparable Eve Arden. This comedy tickles your innermost being. I am a fanatical devotee of the TV series, and this movie disappoints me not. He who hasn't watched it or TV series has missed the finest morsels human wit has to offer. I never laughed, but my whole body chuckled. (From my diary).

Single gal Connie Brooks (Eve Arden) is the new English teacher at Madison High School. Phillip Boynton (Robert Rockwell) is the handsome biology teacher. Osgood Conklin is the by-the-book principal. Lawrence Nolan (Don Porter) is a rich newspaper owner and the father of one of the students.

Our Miss Brooks started as a radio show (1948-1957) and became a success in the early TV medium (1952-56). I'm not familiar with either. The oddity here is that the movie restarts the story after four years on TV. The students look that much older and ill-fitting. I assume the idea is that most of the public have yet to get a TV. So there's no reason to do a continuation movie since most people haven't seen the show to start. I get that idea but maybe get new younger kids.

In TV terminology, this is an extended pilot episode. I can see the appeal of this franchise. This is a simple single gal sitcom in a school. She's a fine strong character. There's a functional love triangle. Aging her up makes her a better spinster. It works somewhat as a movie. It's all fine if unspectacular.