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IMDbPro

Politics

  • 19311931
  • PassedPassed
  • 1h 13m
IMDb RATING
6.3/10
286
YOUR RATING
Marie Dressler and Polly Moran in Politics (1931)
ComedyRomance
Middle-aged widow Hattie Burns becomes fed up when local small-town politicians ignore corruption and decides to run for mayor herself.Middle-aged widow Hattie Burns becomes fed up when local small-town politicians ignore corruption and decides to run for mayor herself.Middle-aged widow Hattie Burns becomes fed up when local small-town politicians ignore corruption and decides to run for mayor herself.
IMDb RATING
6.3/10
286
YOUR RATING
    • Charles Reisner
  • Writers
    • Zelda Sears(story)
    • Malcolm Stuart Boylan(story)
    • Wells Root(adaptation)
  • Stars
    • Marie Dressler
    • Polly Moran
    • Roscoe Ates
    • Charles Reisner
  • Writers
    • Zelda Sears(story)
    • Malcolm Stuart Boylan(story)
    • Wells Root(adaptation)
  • Stars
    • Marie Dressler
    • Polly Moran
    • Roscoe Ates
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 10User reviews
    • 4Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Photos14

    Marie Dressler and Polly Moran in Politics (1931)
    Politics (1931)
    Politics (1931)
    Tom McGuire in Politics (1931)
    Kewpie Morgan in Politics (1931)
    Roscoe Ates in Politics (1931)
    Kewpie Morgan in Politics (1931)
    Marie Dressler and Polly Moran in Politics (1931)
    Mary Alden, Marie Dressler, Claire Du Brey, Ann Dvorak, Polly Moran, and Dorothy Vernon in Politics (1931)
    Mary Alden, Marie Dressler, Claire Du Brey, Ann Dvorak, Joan Marsh, Polly Moran, Karen Morley, and Dorothy Vernon in Politics (1931)
    Marie Dressler and Polly Moran in Politics (1931)
    Marie Dressler and Polly Moran in Politics (1931)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Marie Dressler
    Marie Dressler
    • Hattie Burns
    Polly Moran
    Polly Moran
    • Ivy Higgins
    Roscoe Ates
    Roscoe Ates
    • Peter Higgins
    • (as Rosco Ates)
    Karen Morley
    Karen Morley
    • Myrtle Burns
    William Bakewell
    William Bakewell
    • Benny Emerson
    John Miljan
    John Miljan
    • Jim Curango
    Joan Marsh
    Joan Marsh
    • Daisy Evans
    Tom McGuire
    Tom McGuire
    • Mayor Tom Collins
    Kane Richmond
    Kane Richmond
    • Nifty Morgan
    Mary Alden
    Mary Alden
    • Mrs. Mary Evans
    Frankie Bailey
    • Extra
    • (uncredited)
    Nick Copeland
    • Henchman
    • (uncredited)
    Claire Du Brey
    Claire Du Brey
    • Rally Leader
    • (uncredited)
    Robert Dudley
    Robert Dudley
    • Husband Getting Haircut
    • (uncredited)
    Ann Dvorak
    Ann Dvorak
    • Rally Audience Extra
    • (uncredited)
    Dorothy Granger
    Dorothy Granger
    • Newlywed
    • (uncredited)
    Henry Hall
    Henry Hall
    • Police Sergeant
    • (uncredited)
    DeWitt Jennings
    DeWitt Jennings
    • Police Chief
    • (uncredited)
      • Charles Reisner
    • Writers
      • Zelda Sears(story)
      • Malcolm Stuart Boylan(story)
      • Wells Root(adaptation)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      It is probably no coincidence that when Prohibition is still in force, the man running for mayor is named "Tom Collins" - also the name of a popular cocktail made with gin, lemon juice and club soda.
    • Quotes

      Hattie Burns: You must be pretty proud of yourself, breaking up our meeting like that.

      Peter Higgins: After that, you couldn't run for a streetcar!

    • Crazy credits
      This story is dedicated to women - who have been fighting for their rights ever since Adam and Eve started the loose-leaf system.
    • Connections
      References The Stolen Jools (1931)
    • Soundtracks
      A Bird in a Gilded Cage
      (1900) (uncredited)

      Music by Harry von Tilzer

      Lyrics by Arthur J. Lamb

      Sung a cappella by Marie Dressler as she plucks a chicken

    User reviews10

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    6/10
    Dressler and Moran are out to clean up the city
    "Politics" is a good comedy and drama that stars Marie Dressler and Polly Moran. They are friends, Hattie Burns and Ivy Higgins, the latter having moved in to share lodging in Hattie's home. A fine supporting cast include Roscoe Ates as Ivy's husband, Peter; Karen Morley as Hattie's daughter, Myrtle; and William Bakewell as Myrtle's boyfriend, Benny Emerson.

    Ivy and Peter go at one another all the time, and Hattie's a good-hearted soul who tries to keep peace among them. Ivy is active in the women's league and thinks she'll be a bigwig in politics one day. But, after a shooting at a speakeasy that kills the daughter of a friend, Hattie goes to a political rally for Mayor Tom Collins. He's a consummate glad-hander and pleasing talker who says all the right things. But when Hattie asks a question that leads to the connection between the mayor and the speakeasy owner, Hattie speaks her peace.

    Another woman jumps on the opportunity to declare Hattie their candidate for mayor. Well, there's a little more to the story, including balking by the men and then the women turning the tables on them. But the new candidate for mayor promises to clean up the corruption in the city. The humor is mostly light, but it's a decent film that comes out with a good ending for all but the crooks and speakeasy

    In the end, Hattie makes good on her promise and makes Ivy the new commissioner of garbage. Here are some favorite lines from this film.

    Ivy Higgins, "Oh, put that foot where it belongs." Peter Higgins, "If I did, you wouldn't be able to sit down for a month."

    Ivy Higgins, "It's those foreigners that come over here and ruin our city." Hattie Burns, "Is it?" Ivy, "Mm hmm." Hattie, "Well if it hadn't been for a foreigner named Columbus you'd never of met Peter." Ivy, "Well, I'd be better off if Columbus had stayed at home."

    Ivy Higgins, "That the kind of a mayor we want - somebody who won't take anything."

    Ivy Higgins, "Oh, Hattie, stop that. Do you wanna sit in the mayor's seat with red eyes?" Hattie Burns, "Can't I blubber if I'm happy?"
    helpful•0
    0
    • SimonJack
    • Feb 19, 2022

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • July 25, 1931 (United States)
      • United States
      • WB Shop / Warner Archive
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios - 10202 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, California, USA
    • Production company
      • Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • 1 hour 13 minutes
      • Black and White

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    Marie Dressler and Polly Moran in Politics (1931)
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