Themes: Star-Crossed Lovers, Haunted By the Past, Starting Over
Main Cast: Van Johnson, Elizabeth Taylor, Percy Waram, Fay Holden, Leon Ames
Release Year: 1950
Country: US
Run Time: 82 minutes
Plot
Nobody sits on the fence so far as The Big Hangover is concerned. Leonard Maltin considers it "predictable, as well as silly and boring," while the late William K. Everson regarded it as one of Hollywood's best and most underappreciated screwball comedies. Examine the premise and judge for yourself: Van Johnson plays David Maldon, an attorney with an acute allergy to liquor. It seems that, during the war, Maldon was nearly drowned in an overstocked wine cellar; ever since that time, he can't even smell booze without becoming inebriated. The young, rich, and pretty Mary Belney (Elizabeth Taylor) does her best to save Maldon from embarrassment whenever he comes into proximity with alcohol. Typical of many postwar comedies, Norman Krasna's screenplay has a sturdy inner lining of social consciousness: Maldon must choose between becoming a partner in a high-profile firm or devoting his time to fighting for the civil rights of minorities. In addition to his scripting chores, Krasna also produced and directed The Big Hangover. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Review
Good intentions do not necessarily result in a good film, as The Big Hangover attests. Norman Krasna certainly has his heart in the right place, attempting to make a film about racial discrimination and about legal ethics; he even knows that sometimes difficult subjects are more palatable when treated with laughter and a sense of humor. Unfortunately, Krasna didn't find the appropriate mix of the serious and the humorous. Rather than finding an amusing way to approach the social issues, he creates a high-concept comedy and lays the social issues loosely and uncomfortably on top of the concept, resulting in a screenplay that satisfies no one, albeit one with a number of genuine laughs. Hangover is much more fortunate in its cast, which is filled with winners from top to bottom. Van Johnson is totally engaging, making the rather ludicrous problem the hero is saddled with believable, and a gorgeous Elizabeth Taylor is a delight. Add in Percy Waram, who handles even the most awkward moments with aplomb, and such stalwart players as Fay Holden and Leon Ames, and there's enough entertainment value to help most viewers forget the tremendous flaws in the script. ~ Craig Butler, All Movie Guide
