Words for My Enjoyment

The Brady Bunch Boardroom Briefcase

May 14th, 2007

Welcome to Day 1 of WFME’s Week ‘o Searches!

Today’s subject comes from a popular search over the last few days — “Brady Bunch Boardroom Briefcase Where Is It Today” which obviously harkens back to a classic episode of my favorite substitute parent, The Brady Bunch. You may or may not remember when Carol Brady rear-ended a crotchety old man who then took the family to court, neck encased in a neck brace. But some quick thinking on Mike Brady’s part (and a briefcase) “turned” the case on its heels.

For this post, we’ll examine where said MacGuffin/briefcase is today.

Surprisingly, it’s awfully easy to do a “where are they now” search when it comes to actors and animals. If they appeared in a show or film, you can usually track them down. But when it comes to finding out where an actual “prop” ended up, well — you can imagine how tough that’s got to be. Especially something as random as Mr. Brady’s briefcase from Episode 72’s “The Fender Benders.”

In the episode, worried that the person suing Carol in small claims court is faking his neck injury, Mike Brady tosses his briefcase on the courtroom floor — thus causing a loud CLAP that causes the neck-faker to turn his head and reveal that, indeed — he’s lying. Carol wins, evil is thwarted, and all thanks to one handy dandy briefcase.

After the show ended, according to director Allan Barron, “the props went back to the Paramount prop house, where I was under the impression they’ve stayed to this day…” But what some people don’t realize is that, just like actors, props develop their own career as well. It seems that since the briefcase’s appearance in the 1972 TV episode, it went on to star as “briefcase” in a slew of other films.

According to the Internet Movie Database, the Brady Bunch prop also appeared in:

The Conversation (1974)…. As “briefcase”
McMillan & Wife “Dark Sunrise” (1977) TV…. As “lawyer’s briefcase”
Missing (1982)…. As “FBI agent’s briefcase”
The Man With One Red Shoe (1985)…. As “Cooper’s briefcase”
Amazing Stories “You Gotta Believe Me” (1986) TV…. As “regular old briefcase”
Barton Fink (1991)…. As “worn old briefcase”
Almost Perfect (1995-1997) TV…. As “briefcase in attic” Recurring Role
Catch Me If You Can (2002)…. As “1960’s briefcase”

Sadly, since the briefcase’s last appearance in 2002 — no one has seen it. One has to wonder if the briefcase itself, having been stereotyped and worn throughout the years couldn’t find any additional “period work” as it had found in the Spielberg/DiCaprio film. There’s just a limited amount of work available for worn old briefcases from the 60’s.

Still, if common sense reigns supreme, we can probably expect that the briefcase still resides in the Paramount prop house. Waiting for the day when another 60’s briefcase, worn and wrinkled, is called up for duty once again.

Until then? Visit your local video store and relive the wonder that is…

The Brady Bunch Boardroom Briefcase.

Posted under TV, The Brady Bunch, Unsolved Mysteries, WFME's Week 'o Searches. |