Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #21462 in VHS
• Released on: 1998-09-01
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Formats: Black & White, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Number of tapes: 1
• Running time: 82 minutes

Customer Reviews

CHARMING PERFORMANCES FROM TALENTED CAST AND CREW
Van Johnson portrays a young World War II veteran who, upon joining a prominent law firm, attempts to avoid scandal stemming from his allergy to alcohol. He forms an alliance with the daughter of the firm's leader, played by Elizabeth Taylor, and their romance is light hearted and moderated with realism. Ensemble playing from the talented cast is top-drawer throughout, with excellent timing ever in evidence. A shadowy sub-plot dealing with racial prejudice (victims: Chinese) is not overdone and is necessary for developing the film's principal theme: the inherent value of performing public service. Playwright Norman Krasna, who wrote, produced and directed this understated comedic drama, keeps matters moving briskly, while allowing scenes to develop properly by emphasizing the sharp dialogue, some of which is startling with its insight. There is good acting aplenty, by the mentioned leads as well as by Leon Ames and Edgar Buchanan; but the honors must go to the veteran English stage performer, Percy Waram, whose delivery is perfection.

Van Johnson Rocks
An age old theme is explored here with surprising candor for a 1950's flick. In my book, this is one of those lawyer movies that every lawyer should see, along with that Al Pacino movie, And Justice For All. Van Johnson, who is so under-rated and oft forgotten, plays an honor student at a law school. He has a job as a clerk at a giant man-eating law firm, when ( as a bit of a sub-plot) one of the partner's daughter's, played by the ever-beautiful Elizabeth Taylor, decides he's the man for her, bashfulness and all. Van has two main problems, the first is a freaky allergic reaction to booze and the other is an ethical/moral dilemma. What impressed me the most as an Asian American and a dreaded attorney -- is this movie's portrayal of an Asian person. (And let me just say for the record, that while "things" are labeled oriental, people are not, people are referred to as Asian, thank you very much.) No thick round glasses and buckteeth-- ala Mickey Rooney as the most wretched and hideous (okay and kinda funny, I'll admit, while cringing) stereotypical white-guy-playing-Asian-guy . . . see Breakfast at Tiffany's! For the 1950's, this film is years ahead of it's time. A happy ending is manadatory for a film of this decade, but the inner workings of a big law office are contemporary and recognizable. You even get to hear an attorney start to espouse on the Commerce Clause! Who could ask for anything more? Not I!

Mildly Amusing MGM Comedy Bolstered By A Blossoming Young Elizabeth Taylor And A Fine Supporting Cast
1950's "The Big Hangover", was one of those typical program fillers that every major actor or actress back in the days of the studio system seemed to be forced to do in between their more important and prestigious projects. MGM, that studio of studios, was just as guilty of the practice as any other production company as it attempted to meet the demand for regular releases for the theatre chains. Here we have the ever popular MGM star Van Johnson teamed for the first time with the rapidly rising Elizabeth Taylor who at this time was just completing the move from child/teenage roles into portraying young adults. This property certainly was a tour of duty for both and held no real acting challenges for either in their respective roles. For Elizabeth Taylor in particular the role she plays in "The Big Hangover", while not without its charms, is light years away from the quality of her other film roles of this period in major works such as "Father of the Bride", and especially "A Place in the Sun". The best way to view "The Big Hangover", is as a pleasant time filler that nevertheless still shows all of the expertise and attention to detail one comes to expect from MGM even in its declining years.

As the story opens we find David Maldon (Van Johnson), a valedictorian of his law class joining a stuffy but highly successful law firm. While a highly gifted young man David has an unfortunate affliction in that during his service during the war he almost drowned in a cellar of a bombed monastery that had been filled with brandy bottles. Ever since then the slightest whiff of alcohol sends him right off which happens on his first day on the job when during congratulatory drinks he suddenly becomes woozy and begins talking to the lamp next to him. The daughter of law firm President John Belney (Percy Waram), Mary (Elizabeth Taylor) is present and having an interest in psycology she sets out to cure him of his affliction while also proceeding to fall in love with him. David finds it hard going as he imagines that his dog is talking back to him and he has to contend also with his Uncle Fred Mahoney (Edgar Buchanan), who has discovered David's souvenired bottle of Brandy from the war which he wants to continually sample. David however finds more dilemmas to handle than just his alcohol affliction when his firm runs into trouble over the racist and unlawful eviction of a young Chinese doctor (Phillip Ahn), and his wife from an apartment which the stress of results in her losing their expectant baby. David sees the wrong in what has been done however he begins to learn that the law works in many strange ways and he discovers that rather than being the champions of the doctor and his family, his firm is actually responsible for the eviction. David's disillusionment comes to a climax during the annual law firm's banquet where he becomes the victim of one of the firm's partners Charles Parkford (Gene Lockhart) who spikes David's soup sending him off again on a round of merry singing and shouting that ends with him crashing down on the dance floor. However with Mary's assistance David overcomes his affliction and after finding out for sure that his firm evicted the doctor and his wife from the apartment, lets the partners know exactly what he thinks of them and resigns to go and join the public service oriented Carl Bellcap (Leon Ames), in public practice. Admiring his spunk in standing up to her father and the other partners Mary then announces to her father at the annual graduation ceremony that she and David are to be married.

While hardly a memorable comedy by any means "The Big Hangover', does take some interesting turns in telling its story. While at first it could be seen as simply a frivolous little comedy; which at times of course it is, it does take a fairly untraditional course a little way into its running time in exploring an issue of blatant racial predudice which was unusual for the time. The result at the end of this storyline also doesn't come out as totally happy either and simply stresses the importance of public service without being preachy which is also quite unusual for the early 50's. Performances by the two leads, Van Johnson and Elizabeth Taylor are capable and polished without being exceptional however it is very noticeable how much Elizabeth Taylor was blossoming at this time as both a beauty and as a very capable actress radiating both great charm and warmth. At the time of filming "The Big Hangover",she had recently completed the classic but still unreleased George Stevens film "A Place in the Sun", which had challenged her as an actress like no other previous role and which helped give her future acting more of a mature tone. She and Van Johnson would be reunited on screen again in four years time in "The Last Time I Saw Paris", which would see Taylor taking first billing over her costar which indicates how much she was devloping through these years as a important adult actress. The great joy of "The Big Hangover", however is its superb supporting cast with Leon Ames, Rosemary De-Camp, and in his not so nice role Gene Lockhart, really showing what great character acting was all about. Phillip Ahn as the evicted Chinese doctor also delivers sterling work in a role full of dignity and without the usual misconceptions of how asian characters were "supposed" to behave on screen at this time. My favourite performer however was the wonderful Edgar Buchanan as David's brandy loving uncle who most people would probably know best from his immortal long running role as the conniving but loveable Uncle Joe on the classic 60's comedy series "Petticoat Junction". His repeated efforts to avoid his wife's disapproving gaze while enjoying some of David's stored brandy is a delight and clearly shows why he was such a popular character actor over countless years in both movies and television. While essentially a "B", level film "The Big Hangover", has that trademark prestigious look always associated with products of MGM studios and with production staff like Cedric Gibbons on art direction, Helen Rose on costumes, and veteran Oscar winning writer/director Norman Krasna at the helm creating an interesting mix of comedy, slapstick and social commentary, the film has wonderful credentials all round.

When looking at the memorable lists of films in the biographies of both Van Johnson and Elizabeth Taylor, "The Big Hangover', would certainly never be listed in either performers top ten. When viewing this effort and judging its overall merits that point needs to be kept in mind for one to have an enjoyable viewing experience. Certainly in any interviews I have read given by either performer when reflecting on their work at MGM, "The Big Hangover", never rates a mention which does tell you alot about its perceived importance. I find it an enjoyable and indeed quite well made little comedy that, while having a few slow spots, does manage to at least say something of significance about how the law is often manipulated and how some races are still more equal than others. For a glimpse of a young and incredibly beautiful Elizabeth Taylor prior to her real megastar years as a world celebrity, "The Big Hangover", is an entertaining trifle to spend some time with.