. . . THE BIG NOISE teaches the war-weary American public four main lessons. First, ANYONE can come up with an idea for a super weapon which will win the war. While "Alva P. Hartley" as the eccentric bomb inventor here is not as singular as Albert Einstein, his real-life counterpart, they BOTH come up with the same idea--one bomb that can destroy a major world city (well, technically, Alva beats Albert to this notion by a year). Second, ANYONE can be a mercenary traitor at a time when loose lips sink ships. The characters "Jim Hartman" and "Dutchy Glassman" seem like the most average Americans here, but they're the ones plotting against the United States. Third, men need to focus on Homeland Security in war time, while leaving all the less essential jobs to women, who keep the home fires burning. In THE BIG NOISE, it's the men who design the munitions, guard military secrets, patrol vital highways, and man anti-aircraft guns. Women deliver telegrams, keep colleges going, and drive cabs. Fourth, ANY American can be in the right spot in the right time to score a major victory against the Axis, if they have proper situational awareness. Laurel and Hardy brave intense "friendly fire" in THE BIG NOISE to scuttle an enemy submarine on the verge of destroying Hollywood. Bottoms up, boys!
Review of The Big Noise
