Mister Universe is a 1951 American comedy film directed by Joseph Lerner and starring Jack Carson, Janis Paige and Vince Edwards. It was produced independently and distributed by Eagle-Lion Films. A number of professional wrestlers of the era appeared as themselves.
| Mister Universe | |
|---|---|
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| Directed by | Joseph Lerner |
| Written by | Searle Kramer |
| Produced by | Rex Carlton Joseph Lerner |
| Starring | Jack Carson Janis Paige Vince Edwards |
| Cinematography | Gerald Hirschfeld |
| Edited by | Geraldine Lerner |
| Music by | Dimitri Tiomkin |
Production company | Laurel Films |
| Distributed by | Eagle-Lion Classics |
Release date |
|
Running time | 87 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Plot
editHonest "Mister Universe" winner Tommy Tompkins is recruited by a con-man wrestling promoter and wins match after match. However he is horrified when he is told to lose a wrestling match and proves simply unable to do so due to his natural honesty.[1]
Cast
edit- Jack Carson as Jeff Clayton
- Janis Paige as Lorraine
- Vince Edwards as Tommy Tompkins
- Bert Lahr as Joe Pulaski
- Robert Alda as Fingers Maroni
- Maxie Rosenbloom as Big Ears, the trainer
- Joyce Mathews as Maroni's Moll
- Harry Landers as Henchman
- Donald Novis as Singer
- Murray Rothenberg as Reporter
- Dennis James as Self - Announcer
- Joan Rivers as Teenage girl in audience (uncredited)[2]
Mister Universe marked the film debut of Vince Edwards.[3]
Production
editMister Universe was filmed in New York.[1]
Reception
editVariety found the dialogue "weak" but the film "quite funny" with good performances. Variety noted that the film did not treat the wrestling business "with its phoney grapplers and decisions, and crooked promoters" lightly, but that it probably took it more seriously than the press and sports communities.[1]
Picturegoer wrote "True, much of the fun springs from the mauling of stooges, but the humour is no less effective for being elementary, or rather primitive."[4]
The cast was praised by The New York Times.[5]
Comic book adaption
editA comic adaptation of the film was published by Eastern Color in the December 1950 issue of the anthology comic book Movie Love, only a month before the film's release.
References
edit- ^ a b c "Mr. Universe". Variety. 1951-01-17. p. 11. Retrieved 2019-12-24 – via Proquest Entertainment Industry Magazine Archive.
- ^ Langer, Emily (2014-09-04). "Joan Rivers, comedian who skewered everyone, including herself, dies". The Washington Post. Retrieved 2019-01-02.
- ^ Prowse, David (2011-09-28). Straight From The Force's Mouth: The Autobiography of Dave Prowse. Andrews UK Limited. ISBN 978-1-908548-18-4.
- ^ "Mr. Universe". Picturegoer. 1951-07-28. p. 16. Retrieved 2019-12-27 – via Proquest Entertainment Industry Magazine Archive.
- ^ "The Screen: Little Spoof on Wrestling". The New York Times. 1951-03-23. Archived from the original on 2008-09-20. Retrieved 2019-08-08 – via Proquest Historical Newspapers.