Screenplay:
Charles MacArthurCinematography:
William C. MellorComposer:
Daniele AmfitheatrofCast:
William Powell, Ella Raines, Peter Lind Hayes, Arleen Whelan, Ray Collins, Allen Jenkins, Charles D. Brown, Hans Conried, Whit Bissell, Chief Thundercloud (more)Plots(1)
This broad political satire, George S. Kaufmans directorial debut, is a fine film, but it would have been a much better one had its barbs been aimed at more specific targets. Myrna Loy and William Powell make their last appearance together here, though her role is just a small cameo. Powell is a pompous boor of a senator who is too dumb to be true. After two decades of fooling his constituents, Powell thinks that he might make a fine President, so he begins a campaign for the nations highest office, with Hayes as his press agent. The political bosses of his party, led by Charles D. Brown, would like Powell to go away, but Powell has an ace up his sleeve, a diary hes kept over the years that will ruin the party if it ever gets into a journalists hands. Powell makes a slew of nonsensical campaign promises, including a three-day work week with eight days pay, Harvard educations for all Americans, and the introduction of malted milk-producing cows. When Powells hot diary suddenly disappears, politicians begin booking flights to the Antarctic, Patagonia, and anywhere else that doesnt have an extradition treaty with the US. Hayes finds the diary and cant make up his mind about what to do with it. If he gives it back to Powell, hell be doing the country a disservice. If he gives it to his sweetheart, newspaperwoman Raines, Hayes will be out of a job when the spit hits the fan. Choosing to do the decent thing, Hayes hands the diary to Raines, who prints the truth. Predictably, all the party members flee, with Powell and his wife, Loy, leading the way. (official distributor synopsis)
(more)Cast
William Powell
USA
Best movies:
Love Crazy (1941)
After the Thin Man (1936)
The Thin Man Goes Home (1945)
Ella Raines
USA
Best movies:
Brute Force (1947)
Phantom Lady (1944)
Tall in the Saddle (1944)
Peter Lind Hayes
USA
Best movies:
Lookin' to Get Out (1982)
Arleen Whelan
USA
Best movies:
Young Mr. Lincoln (1939)
The Sun Shines Bright (1953)
Ramrod (1947)
Ray Collins
USA
Best movies:
The Best Years of Our Lives (1946)
Citizen Kane (1941)
The Heiress (1949)
Allen Jenkins
USA
Best movies:
I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang (1932)
The Front Page (1974)
Ball of Fire (1941)
Charles D. Brown
USA
Best movies:
The Big Sleep (1946)
Notorious (1946)
The Grapes of Wrath (1940)
Hans Conried
USA
Best movies:
The Great Dictator (1940)
The Barkleys of Broadway (1949)
It's a Wonderful World (1939)
Whit Bissell
USA
Best movies:
The Magnificent Seven (1960)
The Defiant Ones (1958)
Birdman of Alcatraz (1962)
Chief Thundercloud
USA
Best movies:
Union Pacific (1939)
North West Mounted Police (1940)
The Plainsman (1936)
Iron Eyes Cody
USA
Best movies:
Ace in the Hole (1951)
Union Pacific (1939)
The Big Trail (1930)
William Forrest
USA
Best movies:
Miracle on 34th Street (1947)
Action in the North Atlantic (1943)
One Man Mutiny (1955)
Myrna Loy
USA
Best movies:
Love Crazy (1941)
The Best Years of Our Lives (1946)
After the Thin Man (1936)
Don Wilson
USA
Best movies:
Thank Your Lucky Stars (1943)
Niagara (1953)
Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953)
Tom Dugan
Ireland
Best movies:
The Best Years of Our Lives (1946)
To Be or Not to Be (1942)
The Thin Man Goes Home (1945)
Norma Varden
UK
Best movies:
Witness for the Prosecution (1957)
The Sound of Music (1965)
Casablanca (1942)
Jack Chefe
Russian Empire
Best movies:
Miracle of Fatima (1952)
It Started with Eve (1941)
All About Eve (1950)
Clarence Straight
USA
Best movies:
Miracle of Fatima (1952)
Spellbound (1945)
The Wrong Man (1956)
Milton Parsons
USA
Best movies:
Griffin and Phoenix: A Love Story (1976) (TV movie)
Edison, the Man (1940)
White Heat (1949)
William Newell
USA
Best movies:
The Best Years of Our Lives (1946)
Fury (1936)
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939)