Donlevy Was An Underrated Actor
Added 2/14/2009
Once again, Brian Donlevy ("Dan McGinty") provides pretty good entertainment. He isn't one of the more famous actors of the classic era but he did his share of good films and good performances. This certainly ranks among his best.
Donlevy, fellow actor Akim Tamiroff and director Preston Sturges all combine for a good movie All of that makes it a surprise there are so reviews of this film on this website.
The story of McGinty and his wife "Catherine" (Murel Angelus) also turns out to be nice with a unique twist to the relationship.
To be fair, however, I have to admit I liked this far more on the first viewing. When I looked it at 6 years later after watching thousands of other classic films, this just didn't come across as that strong. The first thirty 30 minutes was good with some snappy dialog but then it bogged down with that marriage-for-convenience angle and the politics got really sappy. So beware: you might really enjoy this, or you might find it really stupid. It could go either way, but if you are classic movie fan, you should consider checking this film out.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
|
Sturges at the beginning of his great career as writer/director
Added 1/9/2006
Preston Sturges's first film as writer AND director (he sold the script to the studio for $10 for the privilege to direct it), and although the script won the Academy Award, it's a tribute to just how great Sturges's movies are that this one is not up to the wackiness of his later ones, though for anybody else it would be a gem.
A poor young tough guy, Dan McGinty (played by Brian Donlevy) gets himself noticed by some mob bosses after he votes 37 times in an election for two bucks a pop. He begins working for the boss (Akim Tamiroff) as a collector of payoff money, and is then pushed into politics. Eventually he gets himself elected mayor and then governor; but then he has a turn of heart and decides to cut out the graft and go straight. Of course, this doesn't wash and he is forced to flee the country for South America (where he tells his story in flashbacks) or face jail time in the States. It would take Sturges a couple of pictures to really hit his stride - he seems restrained here where later he would let it all hang out - but it's a terrific comedy anyway. Well worth a watch.
2 out of 2 people found this helpful.
|
We need more Preston Sturges on DVD!
Added 11/2/2004
Preston Sturges was one of the great directors. This movie is not his best but gives such a taste of things to come. It's so good to see Brian Donlevy play something besides a heavy; he's wonderful playing a complicated man. Akim Tamiroff is so funny. What a great political film. I vote for this and all Preston Sturges to be on DVD and I hope it's soon!
7 out of 7 people found this helpful.
|
Saw this after Hail the Conquering Hero & immediately
Added 6/30/2004
saw where the pattern of Sturges movies began. Take a good solid concept, in this case, political corruption, write a good script around it & satirizes. This formula can work for a long time if you don't take it too seriously & become preachy. Stuges doesn't, he makes it entertaining & funny in the style of its time. Briefly, in this case a bum, literally, thru cunning, intrique, shady dealings, & the help of stupid politicians rises to the heights of political power. It's your rags to riches to rags story. Some of the slapstick shtick is just silly, so I give it 31/2 stars instead of four.
4 out of 4 people found this helpful.
|
As fine an opening 30 minutes as you are ever going to see.
Added 4/27/2003
But after that I think that 'McGinty' is a nice film, well done, but certainly not as richly written as 'Hail the Conquering Hero' and others. The lead female character is lacking in chrisma and spark, and the film feels that it is groping along to a nice, funny little ending. But, I do love two shots in this movie, one is where McGinty is calling on a 'Interior Decorator' (a lug) to get him to pay some protection money, he rings the bell and Sturges cuts to him as seen from the inside of the glass door, its just a cool little shot. The second is the shot from the interior of a moving call as McGinty exchanges punches with the Boss in the backseat as the car rolls up to a Hotel. A interior shot from the insider of a real moving car was very rare in those days. You can see that Sturgis was just full of little ideas of camera placement in this film.
1 out of 2 people found this helpful.
|
