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6/10
Senior Film Conservator
A definitive 6/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. Elmer, the Great remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
If you like old-fashioned, fast-talking comedies from the thirties, yeah, give this a spin. If you need a movie that isn't basically a 90-minute setup for one man's wide-mouth grin, stay away. Joe E. Brown is either the funniest thing you've ever seen or he's going to drive you absolutely up the wall by the second inning. There is no middle ground here. ⚾
The whole thing hangs on Elmer Kane, a guy from the sticks who walks into the Chicago Cubs clubhouse like he owns the place. He’s got this swagger that makes you want to root for him, but he’s also a total mark. It’s painful to watch him get played by these gamblers in suits who are just counting on his ego to sink the team.
Joe E. Brown basically plays a human cartoon. His mouth is so big it looks like he’s trying to swallow the camera lens half the time. It’s a very specific kind of physical comedy that doesn't really exist anymore. You either buy into the manic energy or you just sit there waiting for the next scene to start.
The baseball scenes are clearly staged on a soundstage, and they don't even try to hide it. There’s a moment during a big game where the crowd noise sounds like it’s being played on a loop from a dusty record player in the corner of the studio. It’s charming, in a way. It feels like someone just threw a bunch of extras in the bleachers and told them to scream whenever the bat hit the ball.
I found myself watching the background players more than the actual plot. You can see guys in the dugout trying so hard not to laugh while Brown does his whole schtick. It’s that weird, unpolished vibe you get from old studio films where things were just thrown together to meet a release date.
It’s a bit like watching Sunny Side Up, in that it relies on a very specific type of star power. If the star isn't clicking for you, the movie sinks. Thankfully, there’s a bit of heart underneath the baseball gear. The way Elmer gets caught up in the gambling mess isn't actually that funny, and the movie gets surprisingly tense when he realizes he's being set up.
It’s not a masterpiece, but it’s definitely better than a lot of the forgotten fluff from that era. You can feel the studio trying to turn baseball into a grand stage play. It doesn't always work, but it’s got enough spirit to keep you watching until the final pitch.
Also, the ending is exactly what you expect. Don't go in looking for some massive twist. Just enjoy the ride and the vintage Chicago uniforms. 🌭
IMDb —
1913
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