By Frank Miller
The Great Mr. Nobody
Brief Synopsis
An accident-prone reporter stumbles into love and a big story.
Cast & Crew
Read More
Ben Stoloff
Director
Eddie Albert
[Robert] "Dreamy" Smith
Joan Leslie
Mary Clover
Alan Hale
"Skipper" Martin
William Lundigan
Richard Amesworth
John Litel
John Wade
Film Details
Also Known As
A Bashful Hero, The Stuff of Heroes
Genre
Comedy
Drama
Release Date
Feb
15,
1941
Premiere Information
not available
Production Company
Warner Bros. Pictures, Inc.
Distribution Company
Warner Bros. Pictures, Inc.
Country
United States
Screenplay Information
Based on the short story "The Stuff of Heroes" by Harold Titus in American Magazine (Aug 1924).
Technical Specs
Duration
1h 11m
Film Length
6,407ft
Synopsis
Together with his friend, "Skipper" Martin, Robert "Dreamy" Smith plans to buy a sailboat and sail around the world, but every time they are about to achieve their goal, something exhausts Dreamy's part of the stake. Although timid Dreamy fantasizes about performing a heroic deed, he also wants to marry Mary Clover, who works with him at the newspaper where he sells advertisements. One evening, when Mary and Dreamy are on the way to the movies, fire engines race by and Dreamy drags Mary after them. He sees fireman Michael O'Connor trapped in the flames and rushes in to save him, but ends up in need of rescue himself. The heroic fireman gives Dreamy an idea, however. Dreamy suggests to John Wade, his boss, that the paper honor a hero every month as a promotional gimmick. Wade takes credit for the idea and silences Dreamy's objections by giving him a promotion--but no extra pay. Then, jealous over the attention that Richard Amesworth, the son of the paper's owner, pays to Mary, Dreamy proposes marriage and Mary happily accepts. Dreamy's marriage plans infuriate Skipper, who realizes that their dream of buying a boat will be postponed. Later, when "Limpy" Barnes, the crippled newsboy, is hit by a car, Dreamy has another promotional idea, and once again, Wade takes the credit. Meanwhile, Dreamy quietly donates all his extra money toward Limpy's hospital bills. Limpy's family is evicted when they fall behind in their rent, and generous Dreamy invites them to live with him and Skipper. This is too much for Skipper, and after chastising Dreamy, Skipper moves out. Now Dreamy begins saving all his money to pay for an operation that will fix Limpy's legs. While pawning some of his possessions, Dreamy sees O'Connor pawning his award. This gives Dreamy another idea, which he tells to Wade, who takes credit for the third time. When the newspaper passes out Christmas bonuses, Dreamy does not get one, and worse, it is revealed that Dreamy kept some of the "help wanted" ads out of the paper so that his friends would be the only applicants for the jobs. Wade does not defend him, and Dreamy finally realizes he has been taken advantage of. After having a couple of drinks, Dreamy finds the courage to confront Wade. Dreamy is fired, but Mary intervenes and convinces Wade to rehire him. When she brings Wade to the bar where Dreamy is drinking with Skipper and O'Connor, Dreamy's friends push Wade into the sea. Although he cannot swim, Dreamy jumps into the water and Wade must rescue him. At the subsequent award dinner, however, a surprised Dreamy is honored with the valor award for his quiet courage and sacrifices. In his acceptance speech, Dreamy says he is only one of many heroes--people who just go on doing the best they know how. Later, Dreamy is drafted, and thus adventure will be his at last.
Director
Ben Stoloff
Director
Cast
Eddie Albert
[Robert] "Dreamy" Smith
Joan Leslie
Mary Clover
Alan Hale
"Skipper" Martin
William Lundigan
Richard Amesworth
John Litel
John Wade
Charles Trowbridge
Grover Dillon
Paul Hurst
Michael O'Connor
Dickie Moore
"Limpy" Barnes
John Ridgely
Eddie Williams
Douglas Kennedy
McGraw
George Campeau
Hanes
William Benedict
Jig
Helen Mackellar
Mrs. Barnes
Joyce Tucker
Janet Barnes
Mary Field
Miss Frane
Garrett Craig
Jackson
Don Turner
Hartley
Peggy Diggins
Judy
Charles Halton
Bixby
Jack Mower
Fire chief
Frank Mayo
Fireman
John "skins" Miller
Attendant
Ann Edmonds
Secretary
Charles Sullivan
Tough guy
Sally Sage
Screaming woman
Pat O'malley
Policeman
Max Hoffman Jr.
Policeman
Raymond Bailey
Driver
Sidney Bracy
Beggar
William Gould
Garner
John Dilson
Pawnbroker
Joe Devlin
Used car dealer
George Irving
Dr. Carlisle
Carl Harbaugh
Bartender
Lottie Williams
On-looker
Leo White
On-looker
Paul Panzer
On-looker
Creighton Hale
On-looker
Jack Richardson
Lucia Carroll
Alexis Smith
Crew
Milo Anderson
Gowns
G. W. Berntsen
Props
Bert Clark
Gaffer
Benny Cohan
Assistant Camera
Chuck Davis
Grip
Adolph Deutsch
Music
Rudi Fehr
Film Editor
Leo F. Forbstein
Music Director
Robert Foulk
Dialogue Director
Kenneth Gamet
Screenwriter
Martha Giddings
Wardrobe
Ivan Goff
Contract Writer
Ethel Hogan
Hair
William Jacobs
Associate Producer
Lee Katz
Assistant Director
Charles Lang
Sound
Ben Markson
Screenwriter
Al Martin
Contract Writer
Fred Morgan
Stills
George Nogle
2nd Camera
Hugh Reticker
Art Director
Casey Roberts
Set dresser
Jim Sandifer
Best boy
Eric Stacey
Unit Manager
Arthur Todd
Director of Photography
Vic Vallejo
Wardrobe
Johnny Wallace
Makeup
Perc Westmore
Makeup Artist
Film Details
Also Known As
A Bashful Hero, The Stuff of Heroes
Genre
Comedy
Drama
Release Date
Feb
15,
1941
Premiere Information
not available
Production Company
Warner Bros. Pictures, Inc.
Distribution Company
Warner Bros. Pictures, Inc.
Country
United States
Screenplay Information
Based on the short story "The Stuff of Heroes" by Harold Titus in American Magazine (Aug 1924).
Technical Specs
Duration
1h 11m
Film Length
6,407ft
Articles
The Great Mr. Nobody
Eddie Albert pours on the charm as a lowly newspaper clerk, nicknamed "Dreamy," who's the living embodiment of altruism. Although he dreams of sailing the seas with his roommate, Skipper (Alan Hale), he keeps losing his stake, mostly because he goes out of his way to help other people. When he sees a fireman collapse in a burning building, he rushes in to save him. When a newsboy friend (Dickie Moore) is hit by a car, he pays his hospital bills and even lets his evicted family move into his home. Before long, however, his generosity is threatening his job (he keeps diverting want ads so his friends can be the only ones applying for the jobs) and his girl (Joan Leslie). The film was adapted from Harold Titus' story "The Stuff of Heroes," which had appeared in American Magazine in 1924. Warner's had filmed it in 1925 as the silent comedy How Baxter Butted In, starring Matt Moore and Dorothy Devore under William Beaudine's direction. That picture is now considered lost, but the remake captures all of Titus' original whimsy.
By Frank Miller
By Frank Miller
The Great Mr. Nobody
Eddie Albert pours on the charm as a lowly newspaper clerk, nicknamed "Dreamy," who's the living embodiment of altruism. Although he dreams of sailing the seas with his roommate, Skipper (Alan Hale), he keeps losing his stake, mostly because he goes out of his way to help other people. When he sees a fireman collapse in a burning building, he rushes in to save him. When a newsboy friend (Dickie Moore) is hit by a car, he pays his hospital bills and even lets his evicted family move into his home. Before long, however, his generosity is threatening his job (he keeps diverting want ads so his friends can be the only ones applying for the jobs) and his girl (Joan Leslie). The film was adapted from Harold Titus' story "The Stuff of Heroes," which had appeared in American Magazine in 1924. Warner's had filmed it in 1925 as the silent comedy How Baxter Butted In, starring Matt Moore and Dorothy Devore under William Beaudine's direction. That picture is now considered lost, but the remake captures all of Titus' original whimsy.
By Frank Miller
Quotes
Trivia
Notes
The film begins with the following written foreword: "In each of us is a bit of the dreamer...for in dreams we seek to escape from the commonplace routine of daily life.....This is the story of a boy who dreamed of owning a boat and sailing the seven seas..." The film's working titles were The Stuff of Heroes and A Bashful Hero. According to a May 14, 1940 Hollywood Reporter news item, John Garfield was considered for a part in the film. On November 20, 1940 Hollywood Reporter noted that Joan Leslie replaced Mildred Coles in the role of "Mary" when Coles was assigned to Here Comes Happiness. Harold Titus' story was also the basis for the 1925 Warner Bros. film How Baxter Butted In, starring Dorothy Devore and Matt Moore and directed by William Beaudine (see AFI Catalog of Feature Films, 1921-30; F2.2611).
