Brian Aherne is David Garrick, the famed English stage actor, in this fictional film and accidentally offends the Comedy Francaise, who has invited him to come and perform there. He tells his British people and fans he has to go and show them how a true actor acts. When word of this gets back to them, they concoct a plan to embarrass him. By way of playing the parts of an innkeeper and the staff, they initiate their plans. But Olivia de Havilland, an unexpected guest, shows up needing a room in the inn and of course you know what develops. Aherne seems to be too hammy or showy an actor for me. Either that or he doesn't seem to emote much charm or personality. Melville Cooper, in his own sly way, really steals the film from both the leads as the supposed innkeeper and the brains of the group; and Luis Alberni has a memorable bit going mad amongst the band of actors. On one hand, the film's whimsicality is the whole appeal of it, but, on the other hand, it doesn't seem to have enough substance to it and is TOO frothy. But you can spot a young Lana Turner and a young Marie Wilson (Martin and Lewis's friend Irma) as part of the troupe. All in all, if you like the leads, you'll probably like "The Great Garrick," but a more charismatic actor would have made the film a more satisfying experience for me.

If anyone is expecting the story of the real David Garrick than this is not the film for you. According to Wikipedia, the real Garrick was rather short, but his talent added several inches in stage height and happily married to a German dancer for many years. Though I'm sure then as now the celebrated actor attracted his share of groupies. I also doubt that Garrick ever made an appearance at the Comedy Francaise as a guest artist. Mainly because Great Britain and France were at war a whole lot during the 18th century. Just as I doubt Moliere saw much of his work playing at London's Drury Lane Theater where Garrick was the managing director as well as star attraction.However The Great Garrick is a charming comedy of manners about a quick witted actor who is given an unforgettable night at a roadside inn by the Comedy Francaise. Garrick played with effortless ease by Brian Aherne and when he announces that he will be off the London stage for a while because he's going to be a guest artist at the Comedy Francaise, the crowd reacts bad. With a quick wit Garrick gets the audience on his side when he appeals to their nationalism by implying he will be giving them acting lessons. He leaves with the ringing cry of "teach the French".Of course the company of The Comedy Francaise reacts real bad when they hear that news. They resolve under managing director Melville Cooper to teach Garrick a lesson. They rent out an inn where Garrick is supposed to stop overnight and prepare a bit of theatrics for him.Aherne is tipped to it and he and valet Edward Everett Horton just act oblivious to some madcap behavior. A young woman played by Olivia DeHavilland arrives at the inn and she's running away from a proposed marriage. Aherne just thinks she's one of the players though he offers her accommodations in his suite.I think you get the idea how this is going. Though The Great Garrick has no relation at all with the real David Garrick it's not a bad film with several good comic spots. This was another costume film where Olivia got cast in and got rooted in at Warner Brothers. She's pretty and classy, but the laughs all belong to the guys. And Aherne became family for a while, soon marrying Olivia's sister Joan Fontaine shortly after The Great Garrick came out.

This was never intended as a high-status, big-budget film. Instead, it's a little film about an actor whose ego is even larger than the stage on which her performs! The Great Garrick is the sort of person who would have given himself the title "The Great" and this fictionalized movie portrays this real-life actor as a great big old fathead! He IS an excellent actor, but his arrogance puts off those around him. This movie concerns their trying to bring him down a peg or two and thereby teaching him a little humility. The acting, writing and pacing are excellent and for a little film it delivers quite a punch--with a really terrific conclusion.

I anticipated getting a lot of enjoyment from THE GREAT GARRICK based on previously read reviews and the great cast involved. I was sorely disappointed. James Whale may have been a master at directing horror films but stylized comedy was not his forte. Worst offender of all is Brian Aherne (hamming it up considerably as the great actor) and Luis Alberni, obnoxious as a thespian anxious to do a "mad scene".Some of the humor is painstakingly obvious with everyone determined to see who could outdo the other in shouting their lines and mugging to the nth degree. Edward Everett Horton is best with the comic lines and Melville Cooper is reasonably restrained in a good supporting role.As for the stars, Brian Aherne looks attractive as the gentleman actor but forgets that he is supposed to be a "great" actor, not a "ham" actor and overdoes his role with painful results. Olivia de Havilland is pretty as the leading lady in an ingenue role that gives her little to do but look admiringly at Aherne, which she does dutifully. If you look hard enough, you can spot Lana Turner and Marie Wilson in supporting roles as giggling players in the French company. Wilson seems to be getting in the foreground whenever possible if only to get some notice from the hapless shenanigans going on in the country inn.Disappointing, to say the least, and watchable only to see Brian Aherne and Olivia de Havilland co-starring in the same film. (Aherne later married de Havilland's sister, Joan Fontaine).