Slight Case of Larceny

Director: Don Weis Don Weis

Overview

"Slight" is right: this harmless comedy programmer is as inconsequential as it is enjoyable. It's the tale of two Army buddies: go-getter Geechy Cheevers (Mickey Rooney) and sedate family man Freddie Clopp (Eddie Bracken). Inveigling his way into Freddie's household, Geechy drives everyone bonkers with his get-rich-quick schemes. After convincing Freddie to quit his job and mortgage his home in order to set up a gas station, Geechy cooks up an underhanded scheme to tap the gas pipe of a rival station. Standing on the sidelines is Geechy's long-suffering girlfriend Beverly (Elaine Stewart) and Freddy's far-from-understanding wife Emily (Marilyn Erskine). An obligatory slapstick chase finale caps this exercise in lunacy.

Product Details

Release Date:	04/15/2014
UPC:	0888574029302
Original Release:	1953
Source:	Warner Brothers Publications
Presentation:	[Full Frame]
Language:	English
Sales rank:	43,940

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Mickey Rooney	Augustus 'Geechy' Cheevers
Eddie Bracken	Frederick Winthrop Clopp
Elaine Stewart	Beverly Ambridge
Marilyn Erskine	Emily Clopp
Douglas Fowley	Mr. White
Robert Burton	Police Captain
Charles Halton	Willard Maibrunn
Henry Slate	Motor Cop
Rudy Lee	Tommy Clopp
Mimi Gibson	Mary Ellen Clopp
Joseph Turkel	Holdup Man (uncredited),Actor
Russell Saunders	Actor
Harry Wilson	Youngwell, Man in Police Line-Up (uncredited)
Alex Jackson	Actor
Russ Saunders	(uncredited)
Bob Meinhart	(uncredited)
Walter Ridge	(uncredited)

Technical Credits

Jerry Davis

Henry Berman	Producer
Don Weis	Director
Jerry Davis	Screenwriter

Editorial Reviews

How much one enjoys A Slight Case of Larceny depends upon one's appreciation of or tolerance for Mickey Rooney as an adult. As a child, Rooney's usual over-the-top acting style had a certain charm that many may feel had faded by the time he became a legitimate adult. He's energetic and boisterous in Larceny as only Rooney could be, and there's a plus to that -- it may keep one from noticing how un-funny and often tedious the screenplay is. It's not just that the jokes and situations are, for the most part, lame; it's also that it's sometimes hard to laugh at a character who keeps screwing up other people's lives. Eddie Bracken is also not the greatest foil for Rooney; as is often the case, he's playing a patsy that can be easily convinced to do anything, but he's too much of a whiner. Granted, his character has good reason to complain, but it becomes annoying and also adds to the discomfort of seeing Rooney messing with his life. Don Weis' direction is adequate, and the two stars do have a few good scenes together. There's also Elaine Stewart to add some eye candy. Otherwise, there's not a lot to Larceny.

All Movie Guide - Craig Butler