Big Hearted Herbert

Under William Keighley's direction, Aline MacMahon provides a most natural performance as the wife of a big-hearted galoot. Guy Kibbee plays the galoot and is prone to fits of endless blustering, but usually foiled by the members of their immediate clan.

The story is somewhat episodic in nature, showing situational aspects of the lives of a not-so- typical suburban family. The idea is that despite Kibbee's many forms of tyranny, they are just regular folks. The design of the family unit and its place in society seems much more thought- provoking than other run of the mill domestic comedies.

Kibbee and MacMahon appeared in ten different motion pictures together during the 1930s and early 1940s.

Alice MacMahon and Guy Kibbee made TEN films together! In this one, they are husband and wife Liz and Herbert Kalness. Daughter Alice is played by Patricia Ellis, and brings home the fiance. Sons Junior and Bob are played by Trent Durkin and Jay Ward. When Dad storms and yells, making a scene, the family decides to teach dad a lesson; when he brings home a client, they act the same way Dad did the night before, to give him a taste of his own medicine. It's a fun one! All done in 59 minutes.. a shortie from Warner Brothers. Directed by Bill Keighley... worked with some Huge stars, but never brought home the oscar. Sadly, Durkin died young at 19 in a terrible car accident; driven by Jackie Coogan's father. Patricia Ellis died at 53 of cancer.

Those who grew up hearing moralistic stories from their elders about how hard their childhoods were and how such rugged upbringings foster an appreciation for all things valuable might be surprised to watch this film from 1934--in the midst of the depression--whose main character, Herbert, is just such a person.

With a running time of about one hour, "Big Hearted Herbert" is a one-note comedy about a blowhard who loves to pontificate. Proud to be one of the common folk, he continually decries anything not status quo, including his family's wishes for higher education or changes in the home décor.

This film lampoons traditionalism for its own sake. It also suggests that it is not evil or immoral to enjoy life.

Guy Kibbee plays Herbert. His long-suffering wife Elizabeth is played by Aline MacMahon. One reviewer compared this film to "The Honeymooners". I do see a similarity between MacMahon's portrayal and Audrey Meadows' Alice Kramden.

In the end, the family finds a way to teach Herbert a lesson.

This is not the funniest comedy, but it is an interesting glimpse into depression era life.

Does Guy Kibbee, a popular 1930's character actor, have what it takes to carry the lead role in an entire movie? This film gives us the answer: No. But it's fun watching him try.

Kibbee plays the sarcastically-named Big Hearted Herbert, a blowhard who scares neither his family nor his daughter's fiancé with his incessant yelling and complaining. In most movies, Kibbee provides comic relief as a blustery background character, which is usually great. But his non-stop bellowing throughout an entire film is too much of a good thing, particularly because Kibbee's one-note acting style doesn't display at any sweet or lovable side of his personality. Only the eye-rolling and put-downs of the other cast members hint that Big Hearted Herbert is really a softy. It's kind of like watching Jackie Gleason play Ralph Kramden in The Honeymooners, except that the richer and more successful Big Hearted Herbert is a way less sympathetic character, and the more talented Gleason was able to demonstrate occasional warmth.

But despite this, the film is actually fun to watch. The cast does a great job of dragging Big Hearted Herbert into reluctantly accepting the lifestyles of his son and daughter. Apparently Herbert hates lawyers, which is a problem, because his daughter wants to marry one. (Imagine how many issues Big Hearted Herbert would have in the 21st century, when his daughter would want to become one!) And his son doesn't want to go into the family business that Herbert worked so hard to build. It's all mostly handled in a lighthearted way, except toward the end, when Big Hearted Herbert's wife has to threaten some drastic action to drag Herbert into developing a more enlightened viewpoint.

So spend an hour with this movie, have a very pleasant time, and gain a better understanding of why the talented Mr. Kibbee was relegated to minor parts for most of his career.

...except this film stars real people instead of the creations of Termite Terrace, the source of WB cartoons from the 30's to the 60's. Guy Kibbee is Herbert, but he is anything but big-hearted and is far from his usual role as a sweet older gentleman who is not necessarily the brightest bulb in the room. Here he is a cross between Scrooge and Yosemite Sam.

I say this film is practically a cartoon because the characters lack any perceivable motivation, and probably it was made that way on purpose, seeing it only has an hour's running time. The film is an enjoyable comedy in the fast-talking Warner Brothers tradition. You just have to sit back and enjoy the humor in the situations presented and try not to over analyze. Don't bother asking yourself why Herbert is always yelling at everybody, why he wants to hold on to what he has if he is always as unhappy as he seems, and why his wife would marry and stay with such a tight-fisted grouch in the first place - it will get you nowhere.

On the bright side, there is the comedy of Aline McMahon who decides to give husband Herbert what he claims he wants for a family - just plain folk - at the worst possible time, that time being a dinner Herbert is hosting for potential clients of his plumbing supply business. What she delivers is a 1930's version of the Beverly Hillbillies.

Recommended if you are in the mood to put your mind on hold and just laugh without thinking too hard.