This movie was A major break out hit for William Haines at MGM, and is probably his most famous film? Haines had been coming along rapidly for a couple of years by this time. Previously having won over many fans opposite Mary Pickford, with his role of the brash "Joe Kelly" in the memorable United Artists feature LITTLE ANNIE ROONEY (1925). Haines on screen characters are all pretty much the same in his films. He generally plays an arrogant, conceited youth, who could legitimately stand a good kick in the pants! Here He is cast as Tom Brown, who is just entering his Freshman year at Harvard. Now Brown is a real ladies man, so when He finally meets a girl who is able to resist his charm's, He naturally falls for her like a ton of bricks! She is Mary Abbott a University professor's daughter, portrayed here by the delightful Mary Brian.
Two years earlier in 1924, Miss Brian with her long flowing tresses and dollish face, was almost indescribably beautiful as WENDY in Herbert Brenon's production of PETER PAN (1924). Here She looks almost completely different, with her smartly bobbed hair! I pratically had to do a double take, just to make sure that this was indeed the very same young lady?
Well, back to the story. Haines usually runs into a rival in all his pictures who automatically hates his guts! Tom Brown is no different! He makes a very poor impression right off the bat on his intended roommate Bob MacAndrews, played by the stoically handsome Francis X. Bushman Jr. The younger Bushman appears every bit as imposing a figure as his famous father. These two don't get along from the get go, and thus Tom is forced to locate other quarters. He is generously invited to room with the sickly undersized Jed Doolittle (Jack Pickford).
I say generously since on the train to the college Tom had treated this sappy naive kid quite badly! Forgetting what has gone before, Tom and Jed become fast pals. Jed is in-fact the only person that is let in on the truth. Believe it or no, much of Tom's bravado is a facade! He isn't quite so rotten as most everyone thinks He is! Surprisingly enough, He has a soft side, and can even admit though not publicly, when He was in the wrong!
Now when it comes to Women Tom is used to getting what He wants, and what He wants is Mary Abbott! Trouble is She is Bob MacAndrews girl! Nevertheless, He makes a play for her at a dance, and the two heated rivals get into some fisticuffs! Later still not speaking the two boys end up right next to each other in practice on the same rowing team for Harvard!
After still another miss-cue with Mary, Bob's distain for Tom Brown intensifies! Mary is tired of Tom taking liberties whenever He feels the itch and gives him the brush off! Never suspecting for a moment that He has legitimately become very serious about her! Now the big Regatta is coming up against arch rival Yale. MacAndrews is expecting to anchor the team, but He injuries his wrist. Tom is Bob's backup, but He has no idea He is needed for the boat race at all!
Oh, no, wouldn't you know it the very night before-hand He gets soused to the Gilroy's! Frantic Jed does his best to keep the coach in the dark, but though Tom has sobered up by morning, He collapses under the pressure as the race is coming to a close! Giving the victory to Yale! As Summer vacation beckons, the truth comes out about Tom's intoxicated state during the race, and He is disgraced! Tom reflects and vows not to return to Harvard!
When his father learns that his son has fallen in love with Mary Abbott, He encourages Tom to go back and to fight for her! So he does. Fortunately, He has matured somewhat and is no longer the unbearable prankster of his Frosh year. As Sophomore's Tom and Bob each make the football squad.
Tom is a swift half-back who displays considerable skill at running the pig, while the muscular MacAndrews is a little used full-back in this ground oriented attack. There is much friction as Tom refuses to concede the victory to Bob over Mary! He is convinced that She is actually in love with Him, even though she stubbornly remains with Bob!
Jed who is always ill, is on the verge of walking pneumonia, when the school newspaper reports for some reason that Tom has been kicked off the team! This is on the eve of a big ball game too, Tom is shocked when he hears the news, he knows that his parents are coming in for the game, and feels that he has let his folks down! He decides to head home for the weekend and try to explain.
Just after Tom departs, the head coach calls up the dorm looking for him, and demands to know from Jed why Tom has failed to report! The team is about to leave and the head man knows nothing of the erroneous reporting in the school paper! He tells Jed that He is giving Brown just 25 minutes to show up, or that He will be dropped from the squad for real!
The weather is mighty fearsome outside, and Jed in his weakened state ventures out into a torrential downpour determined to get the word to Tom! He spies Tom boarding a trolley car and races It down! Clinging for dear life outside to the bottom rung of the door! In the midst of the storm no one notices, until poor Jed is drug for several blocks!
In serious condition Tom gets the news, but He puts Jed's health above all other concerns and manages to get him to an infirmary! The next day is the big game, and things happen mighty quick. I guess that I don't want to give the rest of the film away. I will say that there is both triumph and tragedy that lies ahead in this pictures final 20 minutes!
The TCM version of BROWN OF HARVARD is a nice sharp, clear Monochrome print. Although a portion of the film, where Jed first becomes so sick appears to be missing? This was among the vast wave of College Sports movies that swept Hollywood after the tremendous success of Harold Lloyd's THE FRESHMAN in the fall of 1925. Some others of note would be, Richard Barthelmass in THE DROP KICKER (1927), Buster Keaton's COLLEGE (1927), and William Haines yet again this time opposite Joan Crawford, in a very similar picture called WEST POINT from late 1927. In this one Billy's obnoxious character now called Brice Wayne, found himself back on the collegiate gridiron once more as a Hotshot Running-back for the Army!
In all honesty WEST POINT though certainly not as well known, is probably the better movie? Both of them are still well worth seeking out however. For a brief time Haines was considered the biggest Male star in Hollywood, and many of his films have not been widely seen in decades! By and large William Haines movies are well made, and are still quite entertaining even after all these years. Has anyone else here seen either of these two films before?