Customer Reviews

Brother Rat [VHS]

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

As an alumnus of the Virginia Military Institute , I enjoyed watching this film. It takes a look inside the life of a cadet and the obstacles he must overcome with the help of his closest friends - BROTHER RATS. Although the film takes place in the 1930's, so much seems to have remained the same and endured the test of time. The Barracks termanology, open wall lockers that are all inspectoin ready, mattresses rolled and stacked to make room for the cadets in their rooms to study and move about. The only real changes in Barracks since 1839 can be the addition of running water and electricity!

My spouse also enjoyed watching the film - once she was able to keep me quiet with all of my input and "inside knowledge"! I would recommend it to anyone because with a good basic storyline and a happy ending, what's not t oenjoy!

Wayne Morris, Ronald Reagan, and Eddie Albert star as three senior cadets in their final year at the Virginia Military Academy. The question that hangs over them is whether they will graduate, since they have a talent for getting themselves into trouble. Morris drags Reagan into many of his schemes, including chasing girls, while Albert has caught his girl, marrying her (which is against the rules). To top it off, she's also pregnant. The cast is up for the various shenanigans, playing their parts with a lot of energy. Albert is particularly memorable as the cadet trying to concentrate on graduating while his personal life is upside down. The girls are played by Priscilla Lane, Jane Bryan, and Jane Wyman. Only Wyman really makes an impression. It's fun to see life in the Academy and to see Reagan and Wyman before they were big stars. Some of the humour wears thin and there are certain lapses in logic, but everyone is so likeable it's easy to overlook.

The further he recedes into history, the more I seem to appreciate Ronald Reagan. As an actor. He was really pretty good. He put it to good use in politics I might add. An early effort when he was a contract player was Brother Rat. He co-stars behind his fellow VMI cadets, played by Eddie Albert & Wayne Morris. They're ready to graduate if they can stay out of trouble & away from the girls. Unlikely. They are played by Priscilla Davis (the star) Jane Bryant (the pregnant one) & Jane Wyman (Ronnie's girl). They are uniformly cute, perky & smart but incredibly naive. This is 1938 after all. High energy comedy. This is where Reagan met his first wife, Ms Wyman. They became a couple. What publicity. In fact by the time the sequel came along, Brother Rat & a Kid, they were either engaged or married. Lots of clean hi-jinks as they use to say. A fun movie.

My son is in fact a "rat" at VMI. The family really enjoyed seeing VMI as it was in the late 1930s. The movie certainly goes to show that tradition is a big part of VMI as much of the terminology used by the characters was familiar to my son. I would highly recommend the movie, especially if you have any relationship with VMI.

We enjoyed this although it is not a fine film. With VMI so close by it was fun to hear area places mentioned.

Excellent quality; delivered promptly. Enjoyed by two families and will be for years. This was purchased by the grandparents of a VMI RAT.