Our Twins beat the vaunted Atlanta - psst, Braves - in the '91 Fall Classic. Boy, starting to seem a long time ago. The Atlanta nickname is of course an example of how we must show more sensitivity with such things.
I'm reminded of this whole episode when learning background with the 1942 movie "It Happened in Flatbush." I watched the whole movie recently and was not aware that "Dodgers" was never used. It was just "Brooklyn," and of course in this case we're not dealing with racial or cultural sensitivity. Hollywood had to respect a stipulation that the movie not replicate or suggest reminders of incidents through Dodgers history. Strange.
The movie opted to navigate accordingly, with many moviegoers, for sure, not even noticing. I just automatically equate Brooklyn with "Dodgers." And, how many people know the basis for the nickname? Well, nothing racial or ethnic about it, but it is tied to the Brooklyn way of life. We're talking streetcars. People had to be aware of these and be prepared to "dodge."
Doesn't seem relevant to where the team plays in Los Angeles now, just as "Lakers" isn't relative to L.A. The Lakers were in Minneapolis in Minnesota "The Land of 10,000 Lakes," before going west. A shame we lost them.
"It Happened in Flatbush" came out in 1942 when our nation had of course become preoccupied with World War II. It might be seen as a nice morale builder. It uses the theme of overcoming adversity, in this case the manager's haunting memory of making a costly error once.
The manager is played by the long-time "trooper" of an actor Lloyd Nolan. Perfect: He had a Brooklyn accent. Did you know that "Bugs Bunny" was an example of the Brooklyn accent? Perhaps the wisecracking personality was a reflection too. Contrast that with our Upper Midwest modesty and restraint.
Showcase for Carole Landis
Nolan's "squeeze" in this movie is the most glamorous Carole Landis. In '42 she toured with Martha Raye, Mitzi Mayfair and Kay Francis with a USO troupe in England and North Africa. Two years later she entertained soldiers in the South Pacific with Jack Benny. She spent more time visiting troops than any other actress.
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| Carole Landis |
The tragic end to this story comes with the actress's suicide in 1948. Her personal life was the epitome of the kind of turbulence associated with Hollywood stars. She married men like on a whim and ended up crushed by a failed overture toward Rex Harrison. The issue with Harrison was reportedly a catalyst for her self-inflicted death. Harrison did not escape suspicion in connection to the death.
Landis was a native of Fairchild WI where the library has a nice display devoted to her.
We might wonder what "Flatbush" is. I have been familiar with "It Happened in Flatbush" most of my life and couldn't have told you until recently: what the heck is Flatbush? Well, it's a neighborhood in the New York City of Brooklyn. It was founded in 1651 by Dutch colonists. It was a town before being incorporated into the City of Brooklyn.
"It Happened in Flatbush" had the alternate title "Dem Lovely Bums." The genuine Brooklyn players were in locker room scenes.
I was charmed by the matronly character actress Sara Allgood, "McAvoy," team owner at the start. She has limited time on the screen. Her character dies suddenly, opening the door for socialite character "Kathryn Baker" (Landis) to enter the picture. I thought Allgood almost stole the movie. But she gives way to Landis who one critic suggested was "too beautiful and elegant or this sort of movie." Not sure where that observation came from - the roles were all played superbly IMHO.
The authenticity of the baseball - often an issue in movies like these - is solid, as real game scenes were interspersed. The movie was a way of celebrating the 1941 pennant won by "Dem Bums." The Dodgers had a year of glory in the year that ended with the U.S. plunging into World War II. You'll remember that the Pearl Harbor bombing was in December.
The '41 summer was a time for everyone to cling to normality. "America First" died with Pearl Harbor.
Who likes the press?
Of course the movie has a newspaper writer not shown in a very good light. Wouldn't you know? The writer is "Danny Mitchell" played by Robert Armstrong, and the character exudes a "world-weary pessimism," I guess consistent with his craft. Of course this was the craft of yours truly for many years. Yes, the perch of a scribe often brings a cynical world view. The writer in the movie has a grudge.
Such rifts have been noted through baseball history. I have written a song about Rocky Colavito and in my research I learned he was a target of Joe Falls. Ted Williams in Boston had a problem with a scribe named Dave Egan. Must be something in our DNA - conflict attracts eyeballs? No comment.
"It Happened in Flatbush" has in its cast William Frawley! He loved being in baseball movies. His chief claim to fame of course was through TV with Lucille Ball/Desi Arnaz. Perhaps he's equally well-known for being in "Miracle on 34th Street" where he plays the politically savvy and street smart consultant to the (elected) judge. He knows the unions!
Lloyd Nolan plays "Frank Maguire" who returns to Brooklyn to manage the team - don't say "Dodgers" - seven years after he made the costly error at shortstop. Frawley plays the crusty (of course) right-hand man to the Landis character.
The error story reflects a real-life episode from the 1941 World Series: catcher Mickey Owen committed a passed ball in Game 4 on what would have been the last out of the game. The Dodgers could have evened the Series at 2-2. Yankee Tommy Henrich ran to first safely. The Yanks mounted more success after that. They won and ultimately won the Series. Perhaps the Maguire/Owen incidents reflect what might be called the "Bill Buckner syndrome." Tough to shake that, impossible.
But Nolan exudes resolve and optimism through adversity to get his Brooklyn team - ahem, don't say "Dodgers" - the pennant. He kisses Landis along the way. Wow!
Frawley plays "Sam Sloan" who influences Baker (Landis) to support Maguire (Nolan). Baker was the niece of "McAvoy." The Dodgers' real manager at the time was Leo Durocher. BTW Durocher's third wife was actress Laraine Day.
Nolan "punches out" his adversary writer at one point. That reminds me of Paul Douglas in "Angels in the Outfield" and his exasperation with a radio guy.
"It Happened in Flatbush" has a tone typical of several "light" baseball movies of the time, "Angels" being one (and a favorite of mine, and of "Ike" Eisenhower's). Other examples are "It Happens Every Spring" and "The Kid From Left Field." Delightful as these movies are, it is abundantly sad they present a racial separation world. Movies made before Jackie Robinson are probably unforgivable. Should they be blackballed? Sent to the dumpster? Probably.
However, this fate would scrub "It Happened in Flatbush." The many fine creative people with this movie deserve better. Movies could not escape the prevailing societal templates.
The Yankees and Dodgers met seven times in the World Series from 1941-56 with the Dodgers winning only once, in 1955. Despite the '55 top-of-the-world success, the Dodgers were not long for Brooklyn. In fact they drew a meager crowd for their last game in "Flatbush" in 1957. A little bewildering. They played at Ebbets Field.
The real-life 1941 Dodgers had as a slugger Dolph Camilli who slugged 34 homers and drove in 120 runs. He was the National League MVP. Top pitchers were Kirby Higbe and Whitlow Wyatt.
Impressive in many roles
Critics liked Lloyd Nolan but he was relegated to 'B' movies. He was the title character in the "Michael Shayne" detective series. Most of his films were light entertainment with an emphasis on action. I remember him well from the 1957 movie "Peyton Place" in which he played the good guy doctor, taking questions from an adversarial Lorne Greene. Yes, hard to believe but Greene as a "heavy." He would endear us in TV's "Bonanza."
Nolan's doctor character used the delicate terminology "inducing a miscarriage" rather than say "abortion." He performed this with a girl who had been raped by a relative. The courtroom turnout became sympathetic to him and the girl. My generation still remembers Nolan from the TV series "Julia" from 1968 to '71, a significant series as it had a black woman in the lead role.
Nolan was a long-time cigar and pipe smoker who died of lung cancer in 1985. He was 83. Surely he charmed us in "It Happened In Flatbush."
William Frawley's final film appearance was in the 1962 baseball movie "Safe at Home." Did he ever have to vary his acting technique?
At the same time I am posting this, I have a post about the problem of old baseball movies from the racial segregation days. You may click on the permalink and thanks:
http://morrisofcourse.blogspot.com/2020/08/can-old-baseball-movies-still-pass.html
Visit my podcast from Morris MN
My podcast is called "Morris Mojo" and today I share about the world champion Brooklyn Dodgers of 1955, the year I was born! Strange how it was only two years later they completed play in Brooklyn and moved west. Please click on permalink:
https://anchor.fm/brian-williams596/episodes/1955-Brooklyn-Dodgers-ei809o
- Brian Williams - morris mn minnesota - bwilly73@yahoo.com
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| Why do these things happen? |
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