The Big Hangover (1950)
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60% of critics liked it
(5 reviews) -
9% want to see it
(61 ratings)
Nobody sits on the fence so far as The Big Hangover is concerned. Leonard Maltin considers it "predictable, as well as silly and boring," while the late William K. Everson regarded it as one of Hollywood's best and most underappreciated screwball comedies. Examine the premise and judge… More Nobody sits on the fence so far as The Big Hangover is concerned. Leonard Maltin considers it "predictable, as well as silly and boring," while the late William K. Everson regarded it as one of Hollywood's best and most underappreciated screwball comedies. Examine the premise and judge for yourself: Van Johnson plays David Maldon, an attorney with an acute allergy to liquor. It seems that, during the war, Maldon was nearly drowned in an overstocked wine cellar; ever since that time, he can't even smell booze without becoming inebriated. The young, rich, and pretty Mary Belney (Elizabeth Taylor) does her best to save Maldon from embarrassment whenever he comes into proximity with alcohol. Typical of many postwar comedies, Norman Krasna's screenplay has a sturdy inner lining of social consciousness: Maldon must choose between becoming a partner in a high-profile firm or devoting his time to fighting for the civil rights of minorities. In addition to his scripting chores, Krasna also produced and directed The Big Hangover. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Directed By
- Norman Krasna
- Genres
- Comedy, Romance
PG,
- Studio
- WARNER BROTHERS PICTURES
Critic Reviews
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, TIME Magazine
The result makes an odd layer cake composed of alternate slabs of slapstick and preachment, none of it very digestible.
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Variety Staff, Variety
Elizabeth Taylor is warm and appealing as the amateur psychiatrist. Van Johnson, too, is rather subdued and serious here, to just as warming effect.
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, New York Times
The Big Hangover, although it runs an uneven course; still is good for some laughs and is deserving of attention.
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, TV Guide's Movie Guide
[An] odd film about a man who gets dizzy at the mere sniff of any alcohol.
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Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
The cast is so endearing that they do wonders with the silly premise.
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)
No Featured Audience Ratings Found…
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Cast
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Van Johnson
as David Maldon
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Elizabeth Taylor
as Mary Belney
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Percy Waram
as John Belney
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Fay Holden
as Martha Belney
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Leon Ames
as Carl Bellcap
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Edgar Buchanan
as Uncle Fred Mahoney
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Selena Royle
as Kate Mahoney
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Gene Lockhart
as Charles Parkford
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Rosemary De Camp
as Claire Bellcap
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Philip Ahn
as Dr. Lee
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Gordon Richards
as Williams
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Matt Moore
as Mr. Rumlie
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Pierre Watkin
as Samuel C. Lang
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Russell Hicks
as Steve Hughes
