Bunker Bean

This 1936 programmer starring Owen Davis, Jr. as Bunker Bean shows signs of having been a Douglas Fairbanks Sr. sort of show when it was originally produced for the New York stage in the mid Teens. Bunker Bean, a downtrodden clerk, finds his nerve and self confidence at the hands of some spiritualist swindlers. It is a cute idea and there are several lovely moments, but Davis' performance at the beginning of the movie is so low-key and depressing that it stops the movie from rising much above average. Later on, he seems to turn into Rudy Vallee. The bravura performance that Fairbanks would have given it hangs over the entire story.

Happily, Davis is not the whole show. Robert McWade gives a good turn as his irascible, predatory boss, Hedda Hopper is fine as McWade's annoying wife and, for completists, Lucille Ball has a credited role as a gum-chewing receptionist. But her performance -- indeed the performances of all the employees shown in this movie seem completely indifferent to their jobs and all the bosses seem to think that every good deal must involve a large measure of cheating. This limited range of character types threaten to sink the movie, but some good writing manages to make the entire thing, if not outstanding, amusing.

Bunker Bean is a meek office clerk. He asks his boss for a raise and is rudely rejected. He's a push-over. He visits a fortune teller who tells him that he is the reincarnation of Napoleon. He gains a fresh sense of power and uses it in his life, even with the daughter of the boss. He inherits a patent from a dead uncle which his work company needs and a large amount of cash. The fortune teller is a crook and starts working another scam on him.

Lucille Ball has a minor role. She has sass but doesn't get to do much. The lead is a little too good at being meek. He's not the most leading of leading men. I really love the Napoleon premise but they could have taken it much further. I don't condone the spanking but it's hilarious. There is a lot of fun potential and it is able to do some of it. The uncle inheritance is way too convenient. It's cheating the story construction. I would be more impressed if the story doesn't need to pull something out of the blue to make it work. This needs some rewriting and a better lead but the overall premise holds real comedic promise.

Bunker Bean is a comedy in which an introvert is portrayed, probably for the first time on film. Owen Davis, Jr. does a masterful job of acting the part. We watch as his belief in spiritualism (a widespread, common "religion" of the 20s and 30s) leads him to charlatans who convince him he is the reincarnation of Napoleon and an Egyptian pharaoh. This gives him confidence, and Davis becomes animated and determined, his acting skills on full display. This film entertains, is believable for the time, and shows a very common metamorphosis from introvert to confident man. All the actors do a good job and the plot is funny. RKO came out with some excellent movies that have been overlooked because they were a minor studio -- and this was one of them.

I found this charming and lightweight comedy with a fun cast. The lead was great esp when he got a little spine.

I watched this because Lucille Ball was listed high in the cast list. Well, she plays a secretary. She has five or six lines.

With the exception of performers in small roles, I don't recognize the names of the people who do star. In small roles are Hedda Hopper and Jessie Ralph.

It reminds me a little of the "Merton of the Movies" story: It's about a meek young man who toes the straight and narrow. He keeps trying and -- well, I won't tell what happens.

There must be a reason for the odd title. Was Bunker a popular name -- ever? Today it seems off-putting. What IS a bunker bean? It's a who, not a what. And it's fine if one has nothing better to watch.