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The Great McGinty (1940)

APPROVED 82 min  -  Comedy  -   23 August 1940 (USA)
7.5
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Ratings: 7.5/10 from 1,456 users  
Reviews: 26 user | 20 critic

Dan McGinty has great success in his chosen field of crooked politics. But endangers it all in one crazy moment of honesty...

Director:

Preston Sturges
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Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Brian Donlevy ...
Muriel Angelus Muriel Angelus ...
Catherine McGinty
Akim Tamiroff Akim Tamiroff ...
The Boss
Allyn Joslyn Allyn Joslyn ...
George
William Demarest William Demarest ...
Skeeters - The Politician
Louis Jean Heydt Louis Jean Heydt ...
Tommy Thompson
Harry Rosenthal Harry Rosenthal ...
Louie (bodyguard)
Arthur Hoyt Arthur Hoyt ...
Libby Taylor Libby Taylor ...
Bessy (maid)
Thurston Hall Thurston Hall ...
Mr. Maxwell
Steffi Duna Steffi Duna ...
The Dancing Girl
Esther Howard Esther Howard ...
Madame Juliette La Jolla
Frank Moran Frank Moran ...
The Boss' Chauffeur (as Frank C. Moran)
Jimmy Conlin Jimmy Conlin ...
The Lookout
Dewey Robinson Dewey Robinson ...
Benny Felgman
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Storyline

Told in flashback, Depression-era bum Dan McGinty is recruited by the city's political machine to help with vote fraud. His great aptitude for this brings rapid promotion from "the boss," who finally decides he'd be ideal as a new, nominally "reform" mayor; but this candidacy requires marriage. His in-name-only marriage to honest Catherine proves the beginning of the end for dishonest Dan... Written by Rod Crawford <puffinus@u.washington.edu>  

Plot Summary | Add Synopsis

Plot Keywords:

Mayor | Dachshund | Parade | Writer Director | Jail  | See more »

Taglines:

It's Two-Fisted FUN! A fightin' fool gives you laughter of a lifetime..! (original ad) See more »

Genres:

Comedy

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Russian (only a few words)

Release Date:

(USA) See more »

Also Known As:

Down Went McGinty See more »

Company Credits

Production Co:

Paramount Pictures See more »
Show detailed company contact information on IMDbPro »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Mirrophonic Recording)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1
See full technical specs »
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Did You Know?

Trivia

"Academy Award Theater" broadcast a 30 minute radio adaptation of the movie on April 20, 1946 with Brian Donlevy reprising his film role. See more »

Quotes

Prologue: "This is the story of two men who met in a banana republic. One of them never did anything dishonest in his life except for one crazy minute. The other never did anything honest in his life except for one crazy minute. They both had to get out of the country."
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Connections

Referenced in Preston Sturges and 'The Miracle of Morgan's Creek' (2005) See more »

Soundtracks

"Louise"
Written by Richard A. Whiting and Leo Robin
Played on piano See more »