Cinema Revisited: The Mighty McGurk (1947)
Directed by John Waters. Cast: Wallace Beery, Dean Stockwell, Edward Arnold, Cameron Mitchell, Aline MacMahon, Dorothy Patrick. Released January 2, 1947. Running time: 85 minutes
By the time he starred in the title role of “The Mighty McGurk,” actor Wallace Beery was a box office star with MGM. He had long established the screen personal of a likably sloppy, ramshackle guy, whose gruffness barely masked his good intentions and big heart. His films often traded off of this image, especially this late in his career (two years before his death). Dean Stockwell was an LA born child actor who plays an effete British boy who is lost in turn-of-the-century America and ends up connecting with ramshackle former boxer Beery.
Directed by John Waters (no relation to the director of “Hairspray” and other cult favorites), it is the last of only 14 films he helmed. A curious choice for a top level star vehicle, Waters has no real style, but keeps the narrative moving. Being that this is a star vehicle that trades off Beery’s popular screen personality, “The Mighty McGurk” is merely superficial fun – simple and enjoyable with no pretentions beyond its level of entertainment.
Beery plays a boozing braggart who rests on his former glory. The tenderness beneath his gruff exterior is drawn out by his connection with the young British lad, who looks up to McGurk. While there is a thread of dramatic narrative regarding the college-educated daughter of saloon owner Edward Arnold falling for a reformer (Cameron Mitchell), the central part of the movie is Beery and Stockwell’s relationship. This is obviously inspired by “The Champ” (1932) in which Beery played an active boxer with a young son (Jackie Cooper) and for which he won his only Academy Award.
“The Mighty McGurk” is a perfect example of a post-war entertainment vehicle that was constructed for its star. For that reason it has some historical and cultural significance. Beyond that, it is relaxed fun and worth seeing.
Critics at the time were dismissive of “The Mighty McGurk,” because it was too similar to previous Beery outings and, by this time, the actor was only making one or two movies per year and trading off his popular image. Movieogers, however, loved the film, and it turned a good profit for MGM.
“The Mighty McGurk” is not on DVD or blu ray.