A SLIGHT CASE OF LARCENY

US, 1953, 71 minutes, Black and white.
Mickey Rooney, Eddie Bracken, Marilyn Erskine, Elaine Stewart.
Directed by Don Weis.

A Slight Case of Larceny is a brief supporting feature from MGM. It was directed by Don Weis, director of many similar films at MGM at this time, Just for You, I Love Melvin, The Affairs of Dobie Gillis.
The film is a star vehicle for Mickey Rooney who plays quite an obnoxious, self-centered character with dreams about making millions, and imposing on his good friend, Freddie, played by comedian Eddie Bracken (Hail the Conquering Hero, The Miracle of Morgan’s Creek). The two work well together, Rooney and his being articulate and having brain waves, Bracken as the loyal but gullible friend.
Elaine Stewart worked at MGM and in such films as Brigadoon and Meet Me in Las Vegas. Marilyn Erskine, whose career was mainly and television, plays Bracken’s wife.
The film is interesting decades later because of its focus on the famous American money barons and the methods that they used to make money, exploitation, fortunes, and this being part of the American dream. It is a presentation, fifties style in a comedy, that greed is good. It is a presentation of ugly exploitative capitalism. The Eddie Bracken character gets caught up in this dream, but has an innate sense of honesty. Actually, Mickey Rooney’s dialogue is well written, exemplifying this selfish and exploitative capitalist type.

1. A comedy of the 1950s? Star vehicle for Mickey Rooney, for Eddie Bracken?
2. The background of World War II, service and the Pacific, the comic touch with each, his ideas for the attack against the Japanese, making Freddy do all the work, getting the medal?
3. The Texas town, their garages, streets and shops, homes? The musical score?
4. The opening, working in the diner, Geech and his experiment, failing? Geech and his laziness, Freddie and his hard work?
5. The flashback, Freddie and the voiceover, his own feelings, yet his praising Geech at every moment? A good friend, but something of a sucker?
6. After the war, Geech turning up, taking the car, persuading Freddie to have coffee, arguing with the boss, Freddy being fired? Telling Emily, her being upset? Her not liking Geech?
7. Geech, praise of the capitalists and the money barons, his admiration for the money makers, the American dream, his own dreams, schemes? After the war, cleaner and the casino, the dancer, his limitless self-confidence?
8. Persuading Freddy to mortgage the house, build the garage, open it? No customers? The cranky man and his asking the way? The old ladies wanting to use the restroom? The return of the old man, comments on the gas, his bad driving? The irony of his turning up in court, his identity, actually saving Geech and Freddie from a tougher sentence?
9. The rivals, setting up the garage, discount sales? The price war? Threats from the owner? Bev and her working, her rivalry with each?
10. Bev, in the office, Geech and his approach, her disdaining him, threats, glad that he was losing? The closure, asking her to work for the group, her liking Geech, discovering the truth?
11. The discussion about the pipeline, Geech and his brainwave, digging down, the connection, transferring the gas, the baker’s truck, the towing sequence and the stunt work on the road, the officer and the ticket, his smoking?
12. The decision to stop taking the oil? The stick-up? The cigarette, the explosion? On the run? The decision to give themselves up? The policeman and his obtuseness? In court? The ruling of the judge, pay back the money, the short time in jail?
13. Emily, devoted wife, mother, Uncle Geech and his storytelling, taking over the house? The scene at the beach? Geech and the trampoline? Freddie being saved from the ants?
14. Bev and Emily setting up the diner, the men working for them, the final glass of beer?