Smart Politics (1948)

The growth of juvenile crime in a small town starts a movement for the building of a youth center. The project leaders discuss with the town mayor Phineas Wharton Sr.(Donald MacBride) about... See full summary »

Director:

Will Jason

Writers:

Hal Collins (screenplay), Monte Collins (original story),

Stars:

Freddie Stewart, June Preisser, Frankie Darro

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Freddie Stewart	...	Freddie Trimball
June Preisser	...	Dodie Rogers
Frankie Darro	...	Roy Donne
Warren Mills	...	Lee Watson
Noel Neill	...	Betty Rogers
Donald MacBride	...	Phineas Wharton, Sr. / Phineas Wharton, Jr.
Martha Davis	...	Singer
Candy Candido	...	Alvin, Peabody's Nephew
Harry Tyler	...	Mr. Peabody
Monte Collins	...	College-Dean McKinley (as Monte F. Collins)
Billy Snyder	...	Policeman
Tommy Mack	...	Murphy
Peggy Wynne	...	Miss Palmer
George Offerman Jr.	...	Breezie of The Harmonica Boys
George Fields	...	Eddie of The Harmonica Boys

Storyline

The growth of juvenile crime in a small town starts a movement for the building of a youth center. The project leaders discuss with the town mayor Phineas Wharton Sr.(Donald MacBride) about buying an old warehouse from the city, and rebuilding it as the Center. The mayor, however, has his own plans to buy it himself for another project which he would profit from. The Teen-Agers, now attending San Juan Junior College, Freddy Trimball (Freddie Stewart), Dodie Rogers (June Preisser), Lee Watson (Warren Mills), Betty Rogers (Noel Neill), Roy Donne (Frankie Darro) and the rest of Monogram's non-delinquent juveniles, think otherwise and, while the mayor does buy the warehouse, he is forced to donate it to the Youth Center committee. Cappa Barra's Harmonica Boys are NOT in this film. Credited are 'The Harmonica Boys'---Breezie (George Offerman Jr.), Eddie (George Fields), Joe (Don Ripps and Johnny (Dick Paxton). They steal some fireworks, get chased by the police and barge into the gymnasium...

---

Plot Keywords:

warehouse | youth center | harmonica | town mayor | committee | 

---

Taglines:

Laughs by the Score! Hit Songs Galore!

---

Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Music

---

Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

3 January 1948 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Old Gray Mayor

Company Credits

Production Co:

Monogram Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

65 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Connections

Follows Vacation Days (1947)

---

Soundtracks

"Sincerely Yours"
Written by Will Jason and Sid Robin

User Reviews

Smart Politics (1948)

Correction about Harmonica Players in this movie.

They were not The Cappy Barra Harmonica Boys but "The Harmonica Boys" with: George Offerman (stand-in) Dick Paxton (stand-in) George Fields (Chromatic Harmonica Player) Don Ripps (Bass Harmonica Player) Both Fields and Ripps were outstanding harmonica players. Fields had been with The Cappy Barras and Ripps with The Borrah Minevitch Harmonica Rascals, The Cappy Barras and The Harmonica Ripples. Ripps has passed away but Fields is living in Palm Springs. Movie comment: Average "High School movie" but the Harmonica playing is excellent on two occasions. The sound tracks were dubbed by Fields and Ripps for, the two stand-ins in order to give it a quartet sound. The dubbing by these two excellent players is of a high standard. A movie well worth having, especially for Harmonica Players!