"Beaux James" is a biopic of the flamboyant politician, James John Walker (1881-1946), who served as mayor of New York City from 1926-1932. The film is based on a 1949 biography by Gene Fowler, "Beau James: The Life and Times of Jimmy Walker." Jimmy Walker was born of Irish immigrant father who owned a lumber yard. After a stint at writing songs and getting his law degree, Walker became active in politics. He was a liberal Democrat who served in the New York Assembly and then the Senate. In 1925 he ran for mayor of New York, and was elected to two terms. He resigned in 1932 amidst corruption investigations.
Many people in the working and upper classes liked Walker, even for his flamboyant persona. He was a snappy dresser - a fop or dandy, who was at home wherever he went in public. He relished the adulation of the people when he attended baseball games, ethnic neighborhood clambakes, or high class night spots. His favorite hangout was Central Park Casino. He helped a friend turn it into the swankiest nightclub in New York.
This movie covers the period of Walker's run for mayor in 1925, to his sailing for Europe after resigning in 1932. The film is supposed to be an accurate portrayal of Walker's flamboyant persona. It has references to the good achievements during his tenure. But, it highly romanticizes the character, and his story. It also downplays or smooths over some of the politics. One example is Walker's single meeting with Al Smith, who was then the governor of New York. But, according to history books, Smith directed Walker's mayoralty. The film also shows Walker deciding to resign, while basking on a high note during the probe of his corruption. In reality, Roosevelt and the Party forced Walker to resign to save face and hopes for an FDR presidency.
So, how well does Bob Hope play Jimmy Walker? Quite well, it seems. He may not even be as flamboyant as the real Jimmy Walker. And, I don't know if Walker himself was as quick on his feet and clever with his quips and speeches. He may very well have been, with his interest in the entertainment field. Regardless, Bob Hope plays a character who is quite likable even with his flamboyancy and character faults. The hand in his life of politics that the Democratic machine (Tammany Hall) plays, is portrayed very well by Paul Douglas as Chris Nolan. He clearly sends the message that the Party rules and everything must be for the Party. It made me think of George Orwell's warning against a future tyranny in his classic novel, "Nineteen Eight-four."
Alexis Smith and Vera Miles are very good in their roles as Allie Walker, Jimmy's wife, and Betty Compton, his girlfriend. I don't how much they are covered in Fowler's biography. Since most shortened reference accounts just list Compton as Jimmy's girlfriend and don't mention his wife at all, one can conclude that their portrayals here are mostly fictional. For instance, did Allie campaign so activity with Jimmy for his elections, and then they split? Was she solely dedicated to the Party, and his political career, as the film intimates? Walker's Catholicism is just touched upon, but there's no mention of Cardinal Patrick Hayes criticizing Walker for his corruption and immorality. After Walker resigned, he went to Europe, as the film shows. The threat of prosecution soon died, and Walker returned to the States and worked on radio and the recording industry, until his death at age 65 in 1946.
Here are some favorite lines form this film.
Charley Hand, as a newspaper reporter, "Oh, Mr. Mayor, who have you chosen for your new police commissioner? Or haven't they told you yet?"
Jimmy Walker, entering the mayor's office after his election, "I've never seen a room this size without a floor show." Charley Hand, "It's got one now."
Allie Walker, "You've had a drink." Jimmy Walker, "It's a free country." Allie, "There is such a thing as prohibition." Jimmy, "All right, so it isn't a free country. Let's drink to that, and to the republic for which it stands."
Allie Walker, "Aren't you taking a lot for granted? You didn't get enough votes to carry the bedroom - not for a while." Jimmy, "I thought once I was mayor, I'd be off probation. You holding out for the presidency?"
Chris Nolan, "And remember, you can't really run a city on brotherly love - not even Philadelphia."
Allie Walker, "Chris Nolan phoned me." Jimmy, "From my phone, no doubt." Allie, "Sometimes you have to play along to get ahead." Jimmy, "Why get ahead?" Allie, "You haven't changed, have you?" Jimmy, "No, I'm still the fun-loving rover boy."
Jimmy Walker, before his first public appearance with Betty, "You're trembling." Betty Compton, "Why, it's cold out here." Jimmy, "This is nothing. Wait'll you get inside."
Charley Hand, "You're a married man. Worse than that, you're a married mayor." Jimmy Walker, "Allie and I are only untied in the hold bonds of politics, Charley. You'll find there's nothing holier than that.":
Jimmy Walker:, "I'll match my private life with any man's." Charley Hand, "Any man's - like Henry the eighth?"
Chris Nolan, "You give the people too much truth, they'll hate you."
Jimmy Walker, after hearing about the stock market crash in 1929, "Macarthur, I've only got one rule about money. If you have to worry about it, don't have any." Arthur Julian, "Well, Jimmy, you don't have to worry about it anymore."
Betty Compton, "Now is the time for all good girls to come to the aid of the Party." Christ Nolan, "That's right." Betty, singing sadly, "Happy days are here again."
Jimmy Walker, "There's three things a man has to do by himself - be born, die, and testify. One down and two to go."
Jimmy Walker, "This town would corrupt the angels."
Many people in the working and upper classes liked Walker, even for his flamboyant persona. He was a snappy dresser - a fop or dandy, who was at home wherever he went in public. He relished the adulation of the people when he attended baseball games, ethnic neighborhood clambakes, or high class night spots. His favorite hangout was Central Park Casino. He helped a friend turn it into the swankiest nightclub in New York.
This movie covers the period of Walker's run for mayor in 1925, to his sailing for Europe after resigning in 1932. The film is supposed to be an accurate portrayal of Walker's flamboyant persona. It has references to the good achievements during his tenure. But, it highly romanticizes the character, and his story. It also downplays or smooths over some of the politics. One example is Walker's single meeting with Al Smith, who was then the governor of New York. But, according to history books, Smith directed Walker's mayoralty. The film also shows Walker deciding to resign, while basking on a high note during the probe of his corruption. In reality, Roosevelt and the Party forced Walker to resign to save face and hopes for an FDR presidency.
So, how well does Bob Hope play Jimmy Walker? Quite well, it seems. He may not even be as flamboyant as the real Jimmy Walker. And, I don't know if Walker himself was as quick on his feet and clever with his quips and speeches. He may very well have been, with his interest in the entertainment field. Regardless, Bob Hope plays a character who is quite likable even with his flamboyancy and character faults. The hand in his life of politics that the Democratic machine (Tammany Hall) plays, is portrayed very well by Paul Douglas as Chris Nolan. He clearly sends the message that the Party rules and everything must be for the Party. It made me think of George Orwell's warning against a future tyranny in his classic novel, "Nineteen Eight-four."
Alexis Smith and Vera Miles are very good in their roles as Allie Walker, Jimmy's wife, and Betty Compton, his girlfriend. I don't how much they are covered in Fowler's biography. Since most shortened reference accounts just list Compton as Jimmy's girlfriend and don't mention his wife at all, one can conclude that their portrayals here are mostly fictional. For instance, did Allie campaign so activity with Jimmy for his elections, and then they split? Was she solely dedicated to the Party, and his political career, as the film intimates? Walker's Catholicism is just touched upon, but there's no mention of Cardinal Patrick Hayes criticizing Walker for his corruption and immorality. After Walker resigned, he went to Europe, as the film shows. The threat of prosecution soon died, and Walker returned to the States and worked on radio and the recording industry, until his death at age 65 in 1946.
Here are some favorite lines form this film.
Charley Hand, as a newspaper reporter, "Oh, Mr. Mayor, who have you chosen for your new police commissioner? Or haven't they told you yet?"
Jimmy Walker, entering the mayor's office after his election, "I've never seen a room this size without a floor show." Charley Hand, "It's got one now."
Allie Walker, "You've had a drink." Jimmy Walker, "It's a free country." Allie, "There is such a thing as prohibition." Jimmy, "All right, so it isn't a free country. Let's drink to that, and to the republic for which it stands."
Allie Walker, "Aren't you taking a lot for granted? You didn't get enough votes to carry the bedroom - not for a while." Jimmy, "I thought once I was mayor, I'd be off probation. You holding out for the presidency?"
Chris Nolan, "And remember, you can't really run a city on brotherly love - not even Philadelphia."
Allie Walker, "Chris Nolan phoned me." Jimmy, "From my phone, no doubt." Allie, "Sometimes you have to play along to get ahead." Jimmy, "Why get ahead?" Allie, "You haven't changed, have you?" Jimmy, "No, I'm still the fun-loving rover boy."
Jimmy Walker, before his first public appearance with Betty, "You're trembling." Betty Compton, "Why, it's cold out here." Jimmy, "This is nothing. Wait'll you get inside."
Charley Hand, "You're a married man. Worse than that, you're a married mayor." Jimmy Walker, "Allie and I are only untied in the hold bonds of politics, Charley. You'll find there's nothing holier than that.":
Jimmy Walker:, "I'll match my private life with any man's." Charley Hand, "Any man's - like Henry the eighth?"
Chris Nolan, "You give the people too much truth, they'll hate you."
Jimmy Walker, after hearing about the stock market crash in 1929, "Macarthur, I've only got one rule about money. If you have to worry about it, don't have any." Arthur Julian, "Well, Jimmy, you don't have to worry about it anymore."
Betty Compton, "Now is the time for all good girls to come to the aid of the Party." Christ Nolan, "That's right." Betty, singing sadly, "Happy days are here again."
Jimmy Walker, "There's three things a man has to do by himself - be born, die, and testify. One down and two to go."
Jimmy Walker, "This town would corrupt the angels."