The Phantom President (1932)

Director:

Norman Taurog

Writers:

Walter DeLeon (writer)
Harlan Thompson (writer)

Release Date:

23 September 1932 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Musical

Tagline:

It's nonsense and - I love it!

Plot:

Too bad for presidential hopes of banker T.K. Blair; his party feels he has too little flair for savoir faire...

Plot Keywords:

Election | Beautiful Woman | Political | U.S. President | Based On Novel

Cast

George M. Cohan	...	Theodore K. Blair / Peeter J. 'Doc' Varney
Claudette Colbert	...	Felicia Hammond
Jimmy Durante	...	Curly Cooney
George Barbier	...	Boss Jim Ronkton
Sidney Toler	...	Prof. Aikenhead
Louise Mackintosh	...	Sen. Sarah Scranton
Jameson Thomas	...	Jerrido
Julius McVicker	...	Sen. Melrose

Runtime:

78 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Noiseless Recording)

Company:

Paramount Pictures

Trivia:

According to Richard Rodgers, George M. Cohan deeply resented having to work with Rodgers and lyricist Lorenz Hart on the film. Cohan was bitter that the type of musical theatre that he had created was now out of fashion, and that it was being supplanted by the more literate and musically sophisticated shows of Rodgers and Hart, among others. During the filming Cohan would sarcastically refer to Rodgers and Hart as "Gilbert and Sullivan".

Quotes:

Prof. Aikenhead: Blair lacks political charm. Blair has no flair for savoir faire.

Soundtrack:

ROLY BOLY EYES

Same as DAVE

This is the movie that DAVE was based on. Cohan is a song & dance man who is a double for the President - brought in to run for a second term, as the real President has no charisma. Durante is his sidekick.

This film used to be shown a lot on TV, but has been AWOL the last 10 years as far as I can determine.

Cohan's only film.