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IMDb > The Magnificent Dope (1942)

The Magnificent Dope (1942) More at IMDbPro »


Overview

User Rating:
6.8/10   152 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Down 16% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Writers:
Joseph Schrank (story)
George Seaton (writer)
Contact:
View company contact information for The Magnificent Dope on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
22 February 1943 (Sweden) more
Genre:
Tagline:
Meet the All-American Jerk...Ladies' Man De Luxe!
Plot:
Dwight Dawson, who runs an unsuccessful success school, stages a contest to find the biggest failure in the USA... more | add synopsis
Plot Keywords:
User Reviews:
Delightful Henry Fonda with a new philosophy more (5 total)

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Henry Fonda ... Thadeus Winship 'Tad' Page
Lynn Bari ... Claire Harris

Don Ameche ... Dwight Dawson

Edward Everett Horton ... Horace Hunter
George Barbier ... James Roger Barker
Frank Orth ... Messenger
Roseanne Murray ... Dawson's Secretary
Marietta Canty ... Jennie, Claire's Maid
Hobart Cavanaugh ... Albert Gowdy
Hal K. Dawson ... Charlie
Josephine Whittell ... Mrs. Hunter
Arthur Loft ... Mr. Morton, Fire Engine Salesman
Paul Stanton ... Peters
Claire Du Brey ... Peter's Secretary
William B. Davidson ... Mr. J. D. Reindel
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Additional Details

Runtime:
83 min
Country:
Language:
Aspect Ratio:
1.37 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Mono (Western Electric Mirrophonic Recording)
Certification:

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
Don Ameche's character says, "None but the brave," and attributes the quote to Benjamin Franklin. Actually it's from the first stanza of John Dryden's Alexander's Feast, "None but the brave, deserve the fair." more
Quotes:
Dwight Dawson: That kiss took five years off my life... ...hey, careful, I'll be too young to vote! more
Soundtrack:
Oh, the Pity of It All more

FAQ

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5 out of 5 people found the following review useful.
Delightful Henry Fonda with a new philosophy, 7 August 2005
8/10
Author: blanche-2 from United States

A refreshing, funny film about a different kind of American dream - laziness.

Dwight Dawson (Don Ameche), peddling his success classes, launches a contest to find the laziest man in America. The plan is to turn the winner into an aggressive, driven success through his class and draw thousands of enrollees. The winner is Tad Page, beautifully portrayed by Henry Fonda. He's a happy man who feels that, though he's not rich, he has everything - he just wants the prize money to buy a fire engine for his town. He has no interest in taking Dawson's class. Then he falls in love - with Dawson's girlfriend (Lynn Bari).

This is a delightful movie about a man who has the true secret of life and is able to impart it to many he meets. As the original post indicated, it's a great life lesson and something to think about.

The cast - Fonda, Ameche, Bari, Edward Everett Horton, are just great. The birthday party, during which Ameche and Horton try to keep Tad from realizing that Bari is Ameche's girlfriend - was especially funny. Highly recommended.

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