The Great Man Votes (1939)

Director:

Garson Kanin

Writers:

Gordon Malherbe Hillman (story)
John Twist (screenplay)

Release Date:

13 January 1939 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

OUT OF HOLLYWOOD has come something so fresh, so joyful, so gloriously human and sincere that it cuts a new pattern for the screen. We believe it will sweep to success over-night!

Plot:

In 1923, Gregory Vance, a widower with two children, is a former scholar who has turned from book-to-bottle...

Plot Keywords:

Scholars | Night Watchman | Relative | Widower | Lawyer

Cast

John Barrymore	...	Gregory Vance
Peter Holden	...	Donald Ainslee Vance
Virginia Weidler	...	Joan Vance
Katharine Alexander	...	Miss Agnes Billow
Donald MacBride	...	Iron Hat McCarthy
Benny Bartlett	...	Davy McCarthy (as Bennie Bartlett)
Brandon Tynan	...	Chester Ainslee
Elisabeth Risdon	...	Phoebe Ainslee
Granville Bates	...	The Mayor
Luis Alberni	...	Manos
J.M. Kerrigan	...	Hot Shot Gillings
William Demarest	...	Charles Dale
Roy Gordon	...	Mr. Byrne

Runtime:

72 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Victor System)

Certification:

USA:TV-G | USA:Passed (National Board of Review) | Australia:G | USA:Approved (PCA #4794)

Company:

RKO Radio Pictures

Trivia:

Garson Kanin wrote that he insisted that everyone working on the film call John Barrymore "Mr. Barrymore" in a attempt to perk up the actor's sagging self-image, including people who had known Barrymore for years. Several members of the crew quit the film instead of following Kanin's edict.

Quotes:

Miss Billow: I never thought a meringue pie could make so lovely a speech.

Soundtrack:

The Battle Cry of Freedom

John Barrymore at His Best

"Great Man Votes" is simple, unpretentious, thoroughly charming slice of Americana, made for RKO in 1939, expertly directed by Garson Kanin. Its simplistic view of small-town politics in a by-gone era may be outdated by now, but it passes by pleasantly in its short running time.

I wanted to see it because of the legendary John Barrymore, who here gives one of his most honest and satisfying performances as Gregory Vance, an eccentric, once-famous Harvard professor who turned to alcohol after the death of his wife. Vance lives with his two charming kids (Peter Holden and Virginia Wiedler). One day, he has been chosen to cast the deciding vote in the city's mayoral election.

Though it is at first a portrait of community in an idealistic American city set sometime in the 1920s, "Great Man Votes" is mostly a character study. Barrymore excels in his incarnation of Vance. And he does it well while being drunk most of the time. He is at once funny yet sad, innocent yet scrupulous, sardonic yet charming.

This was one of Barrymore's last memorable performances as a leading man and another reminder of what an extraordinary actor he was.