“Brother Rat,” a Rollicking Comedy

Northern Advocate, 10 February 1940, Page 8

“Brother Rat,” a Rollicking Comedy

A gay, blithsome comedy is “Brother Rat.” A “behind-the-scenes” revelation of life in one of America’s oldest military schools, “Brother Rat” combines the spirit of youth and romance with the colour and dash of the Virginia Military Institute’s Cadet Corps, and emerges as one of the screen’s best of the year. Winsome Wayne Morris and. Priscilla Lane, fresh from her success in “Four Daughters,” carry off the lead roles as a young romantic pair, while Johnnie “Scat” Davis, Jane Wyman, Ronald Reagan, Jane Bryan and Eddie Albert all combine to make the film version every bit the success the original stage play, which ran two years on Broadway, was. “Brother Rat” is concerned with the antics of three roommates who get themselves into a neat little fix. Eddie Albert, who appeared in the original stage play, has violated all rules by contracting a secret marriage with Jane Bryan. He will be dismissed from school if this is ever found out. He has to keep his secret, by hook or crook, until he gets his diploma, and this is none too easy, because the young bride is going to have a baby. Here’s where the “Brother Rats” come in. It should be explained that a “Rat” at Virginia Military Institute is a freshman. And “Brother Rats” are classmates who go through the four-year course together. They’re as closely bound as fraternity brothers and are pledged to do everything in their power for each other. Wayne Morris as a Brother Rat, and others of the clan, including Johnnie “Scat” Davis, Ronald Reagan, Larry Williams, Olin Howland and William Tracey, manage to get Eddie Albert out of his fix, but not until after he and they have gone through a hundred thrilling and laugh-bringing situations. But all’s well; he gets his diploma—and the baby is a boy! Others in the cast include Henry O’Neil, Gordon Oliver, Jane Wyman, Jessie Busley,> Louise Beavers and Isabel Withers. William Keighley does a fine job of directing. The screen play, by Richard Macauley and Jerry Wald, was adapted from the original stage play by John Monks, junr.y and Fred F. Finglehoffe, ;;