Brother Rat (Warner Bros.) (1938)

ADVANCE PUBLICITY Military School Adopts New ‘Brother Rat’ Film GINGHES NOW Among the introductory titles of most motion pictures is a line to the effect that the situations and characters portrayed are entirely fictional. It’s meant, of course, to forestall possible lawsuits and slander complaints. That title isn’t needed for Warner Bros.’ “Brother Rat,” the comedy which comes to the Strand Theatre next Friday. On the contrary, there is a preface to the picture announcing that it was made with the consent and co-operation of Virginia Military Institute, famous school in the Blue Ridge Mountains. And V.M.I. alone could object to “Brother Rat.” The play joshes its discipline, pokes fun at its officers and on occasion lampoons sacred tradition. Nevertheless V.M.I. loves “Brother Rat” and has adopted it for its very own. There’s a good reason why the college which is proudly known as the West Point of the South can “take it” so gracefully, Asa stage production, “Brother Rat” proved the best press agent V.M.I. ever had. Except for the fact that the enrollment is arbitrarily limited to 750 cadets, the Institute could have one of the largest student bodies in the world today. Thousands of young fellows from all sections of the country are anxious to endure the rigors and have the fun depicted in “Brother Rat.” When Warner Bros. decided to film the play with Wayne Morris and Priscilla Lane in leading roles, V.M.I. authorities offered every aid. They allowed a location crew to shoot as many scenes as they wished on the college campus at Lexington, Virginia. They staged reviews and parades for the express benefit of the cameras and provided uniforms and regulation Uniforms Get 'Em Smart in the garb of Virginia Military Institute cadets, Wayne Morris and Ronald Reagan were rehearsing a scene of Warner Bros. newly launched comedy, “Brother Rat,” opening Friday at the Strand ‘Theatre. A number of spectators were on hand and most of them were feminine. “I knew it,” remarked Director William Keighley. “We'll have every secretary and script clerk on the lot visiting this set. Somebody must have told ’em about the uniforms.” Trained For Role When Wayne Morris was packing a rifle and doing squads right in the R.O.T.C. at Los Angeles High School and later at a Citizen’s Military Training Camp he wasn’t sure just what he was preparing himself for. Now he knows. He’s to be seen in the role of a Virginia Military Institute cadet in the Warner Bros. romantic comedy, “Brother Rat,” which comes to the Strand Theatre next Friday. equipment. for the Hollywood cast to use in the picture. Residents of Lexington are as enthusiastic about the play as the college authorities and cadets. The business men like it because it directs national attention to their beautiful little city. Others swear by it because it was written by John Monks, Jr., and Fred F. Finklehoffe, who were graduated from V.M.I. with with the class of 1982. And that proves historic Lexington can foster playwrights as well as soldiers and statesmen. Perhaps the most enthusiastic | booster of allis Slim, the Lexington taxi driver. Slim appears in the play under his true name. And just to prove that he liked it, he offered to drive his taxi all the way to Hollywood to play himself in the picture. Mat 103—15c JOHNNY ('SCAT') DAVIS—dimpled king of hi-de-ho, leaves off swingin’ long enough to play straight comedy in "Brother Rat,"' coming Friday. JOHNNY DAVIS GETS HIS LAUGHS WITHOUT CORNET For the first time in his career, Johnnie (Scat) Davis is separated from his trumpet. That almost amounts to a major Hollywood divorce, as for years Davis and his trusty horn have been considered as inseparable as Siamese twins. It was a case of wherever Johnnie goes, his trumpet was sure to blow. Warner Bros. decreed the separation, which probably will be temporary, by putting Davis into a straight comedy role in “Brother Rat,” the comedy that opens next Friday at the Strand Theatre. He’s cast as one of Wayne Morris’ Virginia Military Institute classmates and while he gets plenty of opportunity to steal scenes, he doesn’t so much as tootle a blast on a guard-room bugle. At first, Davis felt lost. About as lost as Corrigan would feel, separated from his “old crate,” or Edgar Bergen might without Charlie McCarthy. That feeling didn’t last. He realized the role gave him the best acting opportunity of his career and offered an ideal opportunity to escape being typed as a horn player. Besides, whereever there’s fun to be had and laughs to be created, Johnnie Davis couldn’t possibly feel lost long. Comedy comes as natural to Davis as trumpeting, Back in Brazil, Indiana, his home town, they still recall how he pepped up Sunday school and grade school concerts with his sunburst grin and clowning antics. It was more for his comedy talent than his trumpeting skill that Warners signed him and in his screen roles he was given a steady acting “buildup.” That campaign has reached its peak in “Brother Rat.” CLINCHES ARE Screen love is being made easier for young players in Hollywood these days. Ten years ago screen lovers had to put up with many hardships and inconveniences during their romantic sequences. Since then many of the unpleasant angles of camera love have been eliminated. Summer sets on which love scenes are to be photographed, are now air cooled. Priscilla Lane and Wayne Morris spent two days during the filming of Warner Bros.’ comedy ‘Brother Rat,” in cool comfort in each other’s arms, thanks to a huge, perambulating air conditioner that was wheeled to the set during the unusually hot weather to help keep the lovers cool. The scene will be noticed when the picture opens next Friday at the Strand Theatre. Standins, used now for the featured players as well as for the stars, have taken a load off the lovers’ feet. They no longer have to “hold that clinch” while cameras are focussed and lights adjusted. Makeup departments, under the direction of the various Westmore brothers and others, have developed a lipstick that doesn’t crack off on the leading man’s face during each embrace. This is even more of a boon to the young players than it may eventually be to the tired business man. In every way studios try to smooth the road for young love and youthful lovers in pictures. Right On The Nose! Eddie Albert is threatening to turn picket and carry a sign reading: “Movies unfair to comedians.” He got kissed nine times by Jane Bryan in one of their scenes for Warner Bros.’ ‘‘Brother Rat,” now at the Strand Theatre. But being in a comedy part, he had to take the kisses on his nose, instead of his lips. Mat 214—30¢ WHEN GAL MEETS GUY AT V.M.I.—Wayne Morris and Priscilla Lane are lovers again in "Brother Rat," riotous military school comedy adapted from the Broadway stage hit. "Brother Rat’ comes to the Strand Theatre on Friday. If Lovers Are = Wayne Morris was doing just what the director ordered. He, was “going to town” in the big. love scene with Priscilla Lane in the Warner Bros. comedy “Brother Rat.” “You'll have to forget yourselves,” Director William Keighley had warned them. “This is a trouper’s job for both of you and personal inclination don’t count. You are a couple of young people in love and alone. Just act the parts and forget everything else.” So a casual visitor to the set would have been somewhat surprised, no doubt, to walk in behind the cameras and find the much publicized broken romance between this pair apparently in full bloom again. Priscilla was seated on a couch and Wayne’s long form was stretched full length there, his shoulders in her lap and his face close to hers. Occasionally he appeared to crush her with a vehement kiss and according to the damage SMUGGLING — NOT SNUGGLING! Motion pictures are as noted for establishing precedents as they are for setting fashions. One that may appeal greatly to the cadets of Virginia Military Institute but which the authorities can scarcely be expected to encourage is introduced in Warner Bros.’ ‘Brother Rat,"" the comedy opening Friday at the Strand Theatre. It involves the {13} Mat 206—30c smuggling of pretty girls into a room of the V. M. I. barracks to help the cadets prepare for a chemistry exam, believe it or not! The movie scene was filmed on a setting representing the exterior of the barracks. Wayne Morris, Ronald Reagan and Eddie Albert had to push Priscilla Lane and Jane Wyman in through the windows and the result is stand-out comedy. Kisses Must Be Real Even on the Outs 4 done to both makeups in each “take” the kiss was genuine. Everybody knows that youth * ‘takes love very seriously. It is no easy thing to be on the outs in love and have to do a love scene. Director Keighley knowing this had gone to the pains to discuss the situation freely with Wayne and Priscilla before starting the difficult scene. Both had agreed to forget themselves and to think only of the good of the picture. If Wayne was a little more willing to do this than Priscilla, no one commented about it. Priscilla was a good enough sport, at least, to play her part as though she enjoyed it. Both of them seemed to understand what was expected. Between ‘‘takes” Priscilla sat on the couch and let the hairdresser and makeup man repair the kiss and clinch damage. She didn’t look unhappy, even then. Wayne stood up each time and wiped his own face free of lipstick and unbuttoned his collar. “T told them I didn’t want them to cheat the kisses,” explained Director Keighley. “The love scenes are important and the camera is close. Any cheating would show.” “Once more,” said Keighley in a low voice and Wayne approached from the sidelines. He stepped gingerly onto the far end of the couch, collapsed easily to his knees and then snuggled comfortably into Priscilla’s arms. Intentionally or otherwise, the camera crew found it necessary to reload so that Wayne kept his position for several minutes. He talked to Priscilla in a low voice and Priscilla patted the back of his head and fumbled with the lobe of his ear. If they were playing parts—as_ both later insisted they were — they were doing a very convincing job. Audiences will be able to judge about this when they see “Brother Rat”? which comes to the Strand Theatre next Friday. Broadway In Hollywood Three members of the original stage cast of “Brother Rat” are appearing in Warner Bros. film version of the Virginia Military Institute comedy, which opens Friday at the Strand Theatre. They’re Eddie Albert, William Tracey and Robert Scott.