Elmer, the Great (1933) User Reviews

Elmer Wins The World Serious

[bkoganbing · 7/10 · 25 September 2007]

Just as Dizzy Dean was lifting baseball braggadocio to a fine art as a pitcher, Warner Brothers came out with one of Joe E. Brown's best comedies in Elmer the Great. In real life Joe E. Brown was a very big baseball fan and this film along with his other baseball comedy, Alibi Ike, was a labor of love.

In 1933 the Chicago Cubs were not yet a national joke, going 98 years without winning a World Series and 62 years without being in one. They fielded some very good teams during the Thirties and Forties, but never quite could get to the top. In 1932 the year before Elmer the Great came out, they were in the World Series and were crushed by the selfsame New York Yankees four straight games which featured Babe Ruth's famous 'called shot' home run.

The Babe had nothing on Elmer Kane from Gentryville, Indiana who was not loath to let one and all know exactly what his contribution to the Cubs was going to be. He fulfilled his promise though, hitting 67 home runs in his rookie season, leaving Babe Ruth's mark in the dust. No one accused him of taking steroids either. In fact in real life both Jimmy Foxx and Hank Greenberg made serious runs at Ruth's record with seasons of 58 homers each during the Thirties.

But off the diamond, Joe is a real babe in the woods himself. He's caught between two girls, good girl Patricia Ellis and bad girl Claire Dodd. And the simpleton gets himself caught up in a gambling house where he drops $5000.00 to slick gambler Douglass Dumbrille. Of course with Brown's IOU in his pocket Dumbrille sees a chance for a killing in Brown not playing on the square during the World Serious as Brown calls it.

The last game of the World Serious is one of the funniest baseball sequences put on film. It was actually shot at Wrigley Field, but Wrigley Field in Los Angeles which housed the minor league team in the Pacific Coast League.

Preston Foster plays the Cubs manager and Frank McHugh Brown's best friend on the team. It's a very nice comedy for baseball fans and others and a good chance to become acquainted with the comedy of Joe E. Brown.

Guess who's sitting at the bar! Don't tell me it's Mahatma Gandhi.

[sol1218 · 7/10 · 30 July 2009]

***SPOILER*** One of Joe E. Brown's biggest hits since he had experience playing semi-pro baseball and didn't need a stand in in the action sports scenes he was in makes his appearance as Elmer Kane in the movie "Elmer the Great" that more convincing. As for Brown's acting no one could have played the part of Elmer Kane better then he did since Brown mixed his special blend of arrogance and naivety in the role making him both likable and annoying, as well as a royal pain in the butt, at the same time.

Not at all that interested in leaving his hometown of quiet little Gentryville Ind. Elmer Kane is dead set against him being signed up by the Cicago Cubs to be their star second baseman. The thing that's keeping Elmer form signing is his girl Nellie Poole, Pat Ellis, whom he works for driving a delivery wagon at her grocery store in town. Finally convinced by Nellie, who he was too embarrassed to tell that he was in love with her, to sign Elmer in no time at all-as a green rookie from the sticks-becomes the biggest hitting sensation in professional Baseball since Babe Ruth. Belting an astonishing 67 home runs during the season together with his sparkling fielding on the diamond Elmer single-handedly leads the Cubs to the National League Pennant.

With the Cubs tied three games to three with the Yankees in the World Series, or World Serious as Elmer calls it, and the winning game-the seventh and final-on the line is when things start to go very bad for Elmer. Nellie whom he hasn't seen since he left Gentryville showed up unexpectedly in Chicago and spots-at the hotel she's staying at- Elmer kissing another girl Evelyn Corey, Clair Dodd, who works for the Cubs front office and walked out on him. Elmer deeply depressed goes with his fellow Cub teammate Healy High-Hip, Frank McHugh, to a local gambling club and not realizing he's playing for real money, Elmer thought he was only playing with colored chips, loses $5,000.00!

Blackmailed by the club's manager Johnny Abbott, Charles Dalaney, to throw the final World Series game, by not showing up, a heart-broken Elmer, in having Nellie walk out on him, meekly goes along with Abbott's sleazy and underhanded plan! That's after an engaged Elmer almost clobbered Abbott, and his goons at the gambling club, for asking him to do just that! It's later when Nellie, who realized Elmer's so-called love affair with Evleyn was nothing more then a friendly kiss, came back to him that he changed his mind and decided to play ball! Not for that blackmailing shyster Abbott but the Chicago Cubs!

***SPOILERS*** With the World Series on the line Elmer unexpectedly shows up at the Cub's ballpark, Wrigley Field, but has far more problems in him getting a chance to get in the game then getting a shot at keeping, with his bat and glove, the Yankees from winning it! The what seemed like predictable ending didn't pan out in that Elmer didn't quite come through with one of his spectacular fence clearing 500 foot home runs. Doing what he's not used to doing, in his home run hitting exploits, Elmer had to really work hard by running, not trotting, the base in beating the throw to home plate in a blinding downpour in order to win the game and World Championship for the Chicago Cubs.

Period Piece

[Dr_FIcta · 7/10 · 26 October 2019]

Sure it's cornball, and in many respects it seems hopelessly naive, and Joe E. Brown's persona is in some respects pretty insufferable, but it's clear that the makers of this picture knew all that. For some reason, Joe really resonated with American society of the 1930s, and that's what the producers gave to the public. I doubt if folks back then could have related to Johnny Depp, either. While "Elmer the Great" is certainly no masterwork, if you just take it on its own terms, the film is quite likable. It's particularly atmospheric in the earlier scenes set in Gentryville, Indiana. And there's some nice moments of pathos here, too. I would rank all three of JEB's baseball trilogy as about equally good.

Forgotten Gem

[schuylerbar20 · 10 December 2004]

Joe E. Brown is largely forgotten today and it's too bad. He made a string of fine little films for Warner Brothers in the early to mid 1930s. Ironically he has the final riotous line in the American Film Institute's no. 1 comedy, from their 100 Greatest Comedies list, "Some Like It Hot". Regarding "Elmer the Great," this film recaptures a wonderful era in baseball as well as a nostalgic feel for small town America. Its story is told with the Warner Brothers' successful no frills approach to movie making at that time. There is plenty of warm humor throughout especially from the always wonderful Joe E. Brown as the cantankerous, egoist Elmer Kane, still likable in spite of these character flaws. I wish Joe E. Brown's WB movies were available on DVD. A single packaged trilogy release could be made of his 3 baseball films: "Fireman Save My Child" (WB 1932), "Elmer the Great" (WB 1933) and "Alibi Ike" (WB 1935).

"Imagine a cross-roads apple knocker high hattin' the Chicago Cubs!"

[classicsoncall · 6/10 · 1 April 2012]

I remember watching Joe E. Brown films as a kid and used to get a big kick out of that rubbery faced, siren like howl that was a trademark of his. He didn't do it in this picture, in fact he came across as rather arrogant for most of the story, and not in character with the way I remember him. Fortunately he redeems himself by the end of the story by turning the tables on the crooks betting against the Chicago Cubs in the final game of the World Series and winning his sweetheart's hand.

However this has to be the most mathematically challenged flick I've ever seen. Consider no less than three examples. In the gambling house, Elmer Kane (Brown) consistently loses while betting on number six at the craps table, but one of the rolls was clearly called by the dealer as one, two, three. That still comes out to six in my book! Then in the final World Series game with the Yanks at bat and Elmer playing second, the bases are loaded and Elmer has trouble finding the ball in a huge puddle of water when it's hit toward him. You see three base runners cross home plate, but only two runs are posted on the scoreboard! The third mistake is more of a continuity error, in that Elmer started the season with the Cubs wearing Number 8 on his jersey, but had Number 4 in the Series game.

Aside from those goofs, which I actually enjoy catching, it was also cool to see a couple of other era favorites in the picture - Sterling Holloway as Elmer's brother Nick, and Frank McHugh as fellow teammate Healy High-Hips. A couple of attractive gals are also on hand, Patricia Ellis as Elmer's pretty girlfriend Nellie back home in Gentryville, and Claire Dodd who was a potential rival for Nellie, but the story never really went in that direction after an initial tease.

The latter part of the picture provides a couple of honest to goodness shockers for viewers watching today. I had to do a double take when I heard Elmer say "Hell, I ain't been cool since February". Then there's that whole conversation in the dugout during the final game where Elmer discusses betting on the team with his own manager! You have to wonder if Pete Rose ever saw this picture.

Disappointment

[vincentlynch-moonoi · 6/10 · 18 April 2012]

If you want to see a really good baseball pic with Joe E. Brown...don't watch this one! Today I watched this film and "Alibi Ike", and Ike has it all over Elmer.

There are few funny moments in this film. Perhaps they were doing a drama. Failed again. This film just goes nowhere, except into clichés and predictability. The first loooooong segment is with Elmer in his home town...in love...boooooring. There's just not much of a story here other than boy loves girl, girl dumps boy, boy plays for the Cubs but gets involved with a gambling ring...but comes through in the end. Gee, when I read it like that, it sounds like it had a lot of potential...well, it did...have a lot of potential.

To be honest, I give the highest grade here to an actor I usually don't like -- Sterling Holloway. He plays the brother, and is quite likable here.

Nope. Don't bother. Head straight for "Alibi Ike"...it's superior in every way.

borderline comedy

[SnoopyStyle · 6/10 · 1 August 2023]

Elmer Kane (Joe E. Brown) is a simple small town ballplayer with small town girl Nellie Poole. He is recruited by the Chicago Cubs, but he hates the big city. Nellie convinces him to go. His teammates hate him even though he hits loads of homers. He loses Nellie and gets entangled by criminal gamblers.

The character is frustratingly dumb. He's not actually dumb. His idiocy comes from arrogance. It's a particular character and I struggle to like him all the time. I don't buy the teammates especially after they are winning. Winning solves all problems in the clubhouse. This movie is oscillating between pass fail and ultimately wins me over.

Elmer The Goofball

[sambase-38773 · 7/10 · 29 July 2023]

I'm a big fan of baseball, comedy, and 1930's movies so I'm the perfect audience for a movie like this. And I did enjoy it. It's a fun movie, if not a great movie. But it was made to make people laugh during The Great Depression. And I'm sure it did.

I'm not going to recite the plot, everybody has already done that. But it's kind of an oddball sports story in that the main character has no desire to be a sports star. That's the exact opposite of the usual sports movie. He walks to his own drummer and doesn't care what anybody else thinks. His main goal in life seems to be sleeping and eating. Well, I can't blame him for that. In today's modern noisy world we could all probably use a little more sleep. And a few more pancakes.

Lots of good character actors in this movie just like in most 1930's movies. It's a fun one. And Joe E. Brown is very good also. He has his own very distinct style that can take a little getting used to, but if you just kind of go with it then it's just fine.

Warm up? Hell, I ain't been cool since February!

[jbacks3 · 4/10 · 25 April 2003]

Let's see, a near-insufferable Joe. E. Brown bets $5,000 on his Cubbies and doublecrosses some gamblers. Hmmm... sounds familiar. One of the amazing things about this movie and Brown's own ALIBI IKE (1935) is that they have basically identical plot elements (an obnoxiously likable player vs. gamblers) AND focus on the Chicago Cubs (prominently featured against the NY Yankees). You can never fault Warner's for any inability to squeeze the last buffalo nickel out of plot formula. The final game-in-the-rain sequence is ingeniously edited and if you think about it, you can sense the director's frustration at intercutting his scenes with an actual big-league ball game. Patricia Ellis looks terrific and it's hard to believe she's barely 17 here. Joe E. Brown can be an acquired taste--- a face of a bulldog crossed with a catcher's mit, he can overplay the obnoxious bit to the hilt or act unbelievably dumb, often simultaneously. But also keep in mind that he was over 40 when this movie was shot and the guy kept himself in incredible shape. He's ripped. It's too bad that Brown would ultimately shoot himself in the professional foot by leaving Warner's for the cheapskate producer David L. Lowe's RKO deal and his career would nose dive... a move that he would later call the greatest mistake of his life. Watch this and count all the modern day suspensions Elmer racks up... He's a 1933 Pete Rose.

Joe E. Browm Makes it

[arfdawg-1 · 6/10 · 8 March 2023]

I admittedly don't know much about Joe E. Brown. My only reference before streaming this movie was his classic performance in Some Like It Hot.

He didn't seem like the type of actor I would like and frankly, his mvies were never broadcast on TV when I was a kid.

So I looked him up and it turns out he was pretty darn big int he 30's and 40's. So much so tht ometimes his name was above the title on publicity material.

Not sure if this movie is indicative of his acting. It seems a bit odd. His voice is different than Some Like it Hot and his walk is an odd stride.

That notwithstanding, this movie is generally pretty good. And it was probably close to his heart in that he was actually a professional baseball player early in his career. In fact, he was offered a spot on the NY Yankees but turned it down to go back to the circus! Talk about confidence.

Mervyn LeRoy directed this movie and it moves very quickly. But then I's also very short - one hour and ten minutes.

Pleasant enough but certainly NOT unique and you may just hate Joe E. Brown!

[planktonrules · 5/10 · 16 October 2007]

Often you look back at a decade and wonder how some of the stars of the day became popular--especially since they didn't age very well. While there are countless examples over the last few decades, when it comes to the 1930s, a name that comes to mind for me is Joe E. Brown. While several of his movies were pleasant time-passers, his rather obnoxious and rubber-faced characters are often difficult to like and remind me of a pushy 6 year-old that insists on entertaining all the visitors to his parents' home. Try as I might, I just cannot find Brown to be anything more than adequate (at best)--yet in the 30s his films were huge money makers for Warner Brothers.

Take this film, ELMER THE GREAT. Brown plays a difficult to like doofus who is basically very selfish, dumb and conceited. Additionally, his "funny" attributes are that he loves to sleep and eat. This sounds like my Uncle Tom--and no one in my family would consider him funny or charming!! Yet, the audience is expected to pull for him and care about his fate. Sorry, but I just couldn't.

Now apart from Brown's rather unlikable character, the rest of the film is fine. The supporting cast and baseball scenes are pretty interesting and worth a peek. But that's really about it.

By the way, the surprise ending finds Elmer saving the day by betting on his team to win the world series instead of accepting money from gamblers to throw the World Series. Isn't this sort of like what got Pete Rose in trouble?!?!

All Runners Batted In

[Ron Oliver · 10/10 · 2 August 2003]

ELMER, THE GREAT home run hitter doesn't want to leave his pretty boss in Gentryville, Indiana, to play ball for the Chicago Cubs.

Rubber-limbed comic Joe E. Brown scores big in this fine little comedy. Without even trying, the fellow could be funny - his huge grin and mischievous eyes a sure catalyst for laughter. In his first scenes, the mere act of his putting on his socks or eating his breakfast is a riot. The film also gives him a chance to suffer from unrequited love and face the abuse heaped on him for his yokel ways as he tries to deal with professional ballplayers and dangerous gamblers. Brown carries it all off with natural aplomb.

A sturdy cast lends fine support: pretty Patricia Ellis as Brown's conflicted boss; sweet Emma Dunn as his loving mother; goofy Sterling Holloway, perfectly cast, as Brown's baseball-mad younger brother (notice that Holloway's name is spelled incorrectly in the credits). Blustery Berton Churchill plays the owner of the Cubs, Preston Foster is the manager. Genial Frank McHugh plays the Cubs catcher. Claire Dodd has a mysterious role; she seems to be a chum of the ballplayers and little else - but at least she's easy on the eyes and the plot doesn't try to set up a silly romance between her and Brown. Casino hoodlum J. Carrol Naish plays the film's villain.

Movie mavens will recognize an uncredited Jessie Ralph as Brown's plain speaking, softhearted housekeeper.

The early scenes in Gentryville have a delightfully homespun, nostalgic charm which the later Chicago sequences can't match. Notice the fine use the minimal soundtrack makes of just two songs: ‘Take Me Out To The Ball Game' & ‘On The Banks Of The Wabash.'

Brown's use of a four-letter word near the film's climax underscores the film's pre-Code status. Also of interest, in the last inning of the final World Series game, the plot has the catcher & pitcher of the New York Yankees deliberately and maliciously cheat in an attempt to win. One wonders what Babe Ruth & Lou Gehrig must have thought of that...

ELMER, THE GREAT was the second of Brown's ‘baseball trilogy,' the other films being FIREMAN, SAVE MY CHILD (1932) & ALIBI IKE (1935).

Our hero, Elmer the obnoxious

[Paularoc · 5/10 · 26 April 2012]

It had been some years since I had seen a Joe E. Brown movie until recently seeing Fireman Save My Child. I liked that film both because of Brown and the baseball setting. Brown was a genuine comedic talent – his manner of talking, his walk, his rubbery face – his seeming warmth and good nature. However, in this film his character is basically unlikable despite all the familiar mannerisms. The film starts out well with a nifty routine of Brown (Elmer) waking up, drowsy he puts both socks on the same foot and then goes downstairs where he has a huge breakfast. The Chicago Cubs have an option on Elmer and want him to sign a contract, which he eventually does. He becomes a big star and continues to brag incessantly to the understandable annoyance of his teammates. He soon in his hick naivety is taken advantage of by gamblers who want him to throw a game in the pennant with the Yankees. He tells the Cubs owner and the coach that he wouldn't do this – he bet on the Cubs to win! What? He goes out and makes the play (diving into home plate) in spite of some earlier skulduggery by the Yankee pitcher and catcher (the Yankees must loved being portrayed as cheats). At any rate, even after all his experiences with the gamblers, he has learned nothing. Oh, yes – he wins the girl's hand and he is a baseball hero, as he will endlessly tell everyone. Elmer is insufferable, not an endearing, lovable braggart as evidently those who dreamed up and produced this film thought he was. To be fair, Brown almost pulls it off but who would want to be around a guy who only wants to talk about himself and how great he is?

Joe E.

[Michael_Elliott · 27 February 2008]

Elmer the Great (1933)

*** (out of 4)

Second film in Joe E Brown's trilogy has him playing a slugger living in a small town in Indiana. When the Chicago Cubs come to sign him at first he does want to go but he eventually does a gets the team in the World Series but being the idiot he is, gets in trouble with gamblers. This is a step up from the first film but I'd still say the third one is the best of the trilogy. Brown is in top form here and adds a lot of laughs but the serious side with the gamblers is handled very well. I guess there's an added bonus in the fact that Chicago's other team had their own gambling scandal a decade earlier. It was also nice seeing Wrigley Field way back when even though it doesn't look too much different today.

Silly sports comedy cliche

[raskimono · 5/10 · 26 July 2002]

Nothing much to say. A lot like Adam Sandler's The Waterboy. To tell the truth, Sandler is the latter-day Brown. If you love Sandler, you'll like beown. I've a suspiscion his fans were kids and junior high school kids because his films play to that level of humor. You may call them family films. Movie is about a small-town boy who joins the Cubs and helps them win the penant. There are gangsters, bribes and bets that go awry. It has a very good and realistic baseball finale.

Say it ain't so, Joe!

[Dick-42 · 1/10 · 29 July 2002]

I'm quite sure I didn't see this movie when it was first released. A pity. I might have enjoyed it when I was 9 years old. Joe E. Brown was one of my favorites.

Now I wonder how he could do such a thing to me. Such an embarrassment! I didn't find a laugh in the whole thing, even if the script hadn't depicted one stupid situation after another -- far beyond the realm of fantasy. Naive is one thing; idiotic is quite another.

I think Joe owes me -- his public -- an apology.

Elmer is Great!

[rosem1991 · 8/10 · 31 July 2005]

First of all, I'm a huge Joe E. Brown fan. I have loved him and his movies since I was about 12, and now I'm 17. Anyways, I think this is a fun movie, but of course not as hilarious and fantastic as Alibi Ike. Like the previous user said, those two movies (Alibi Ike and Elmer the Great) are very much similar, but different at the same time. And if you notice, you can see that Joe E. Brown's brother in the movie is Sterling Holloway, who also plays the Stork in some Disney cartoons, Winnie the Pooh, and he is also in "Meet John Doe". Frank McHugh is also a familiar face! He is in another movie with Joe E. Brown called "Son of a Sailor", where Joe plays the character named Handsome and Frank plays his side-kick. To all Joe E. Brown fans or anyone who enjoys that type of fun humor: This is a must see!! Thanks to Turner Classic Movies for showing many, many of his movies on his birthday (July 28).

elmer the great

[mossgrymk · 5/10 · 21 February 2023]

Like most Joe E. Brown movies it is tipped way too far to the mildly pleasant part of the humor spectrum. I expected more from veteran director Mervin Le Roy, who started out as a gag writer and Chaplin impersonator. Especially notable is the dearth of physical comedy. You remember the one or two examples that are in the picture, like the bent spoon in the cup and the putting on of two socks on one foot, not because they are inspired but because there are no others. And for much of the movie Brown's character is such an unredeemed butthole that you tire of him.

Bottom line: Read Lardner, instead. Give it a C.

Joe E. Brown As Good As He Thinks He Is

[boblipton · 9/10 · 29 January 2023]

Joe E. Brown is the greatest baseball player in the world, but he doesn't want to leave his small town in Indiana because he's in love with Patricia Ellis. When he admits to it, she tells him no, so off he goes to play for the Chicago Cubs, where his swell-headedness annoys everyone, but his batting and fielding wins him fans. Then he gets in debt to gambler J. Carrol Naish, who offers to tear up his IOU in return for throwing the World Series.

Given the long drought in Cubbies World Series victories, it sounds like money for nothing, but when this movie came out, it had been going on for only a quarter of a century. Given Brown's well-deserved reputation as a baseball enthusiast, this movie, based on a play by Ring Lardner, was a certain crowd-pleaser, and fit right in with Brown's star character of a hayseed whose head was as large as his talent. Although this movie plays fast and loose with the rules of baseball, it's certainly entertaining, with Mervyn Leroy directing a typically fine Warner Brothers cast that includes Frank McHugh, Claire Dodd, Preston Foster, Sterling Holloway, and Berton Churchill.