The Great McGinty (1940)

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

Writer:

Preston Sturges

Stars:

Brian Donlevy, Muriel Angelus, Akim Tamiroff

Won 1 Oscar.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Brian Donlevy	...	Dan McGinty
Muriel Angelus	...	Catherine McGinty
Akim Tamiroff	...	The Boss
Allyn Joslyn	...	George
William Demarest	...	Skeeters - The Politician
Louis Jean Heydt	...	Tommy Thompson
Harry Rosenthal	...	Louie (bodyguard)
Arthur Hoyt	...	Mayor Wilfred T. Tillinghast
Libby Taylor	...	Bessy (maid)
Thurston Hall	...	Mr. Maxwell
Steffi Duna	...	The Dancing Girl
Esther Howard	...	Madame Juliette La Jolla
Frank Moran	...	The Boss' Chauffeur (as Frank C. Moran)
Jimmy Conlin	...	The Lookout
Dewey Robinson	...	Benny Felgman

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...

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Plot Keywords:

mayor | election | politics | governor | crime boss | 

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Taglines:

HE'LL TAKE YOU...and MAKE YOU LAUGH! (original poster)

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Genres:

Comedy

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English Russian

Release Date:

23 August 1940 (USA)

Also Known As:

Biograhy of a Bum

Filming Locations:

Paramount Studios - 5555 Melrose Avenue, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Paramount Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

82 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Mirrophonic Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

This film was Muriel Angelus' last screen appearance.

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Goofs

In his victory parade as governor, McGinty rides in a car and it is clear he does not have a mustache. In the next scene, which takes place the same day at the state capitol, he has a mustache.

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Quotes

Dan McGinty: [to the Politician about getting paid for multiple voting] Never mind the applesauce. How do I get the bucks?

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Connections

Referenced in The Jerk (1979)

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Soundtracks

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

User Reviews

Hilarious political satire

Preston Sturges's first film as writer-director was this hilarious political satire. Though uneven, it's still filled with remarkable insight and some incredibly apt barbs about political corruption and susceptibility. Akim Tamiroff is hysterically funny as "The Chief," especially when he's marvelling at McGinty (Brian Donlevy) because of McGinty's audacity in being so obstinate. "He thinks he's me," is Tamiroff's line. Sturges himself was acclaimed for his audacity in being a writer-director, paving the way for other Hollywood writers (including John Huston and Billy Wilder) to graduate to directing.