"The Phantom President" is the only sound movie still in existence that has George M. Cohan in the lead. If the name isn't familiar to many people today, that's understandable. Well into the 21st century there are likely not many living or who were old enough to have seen Cohan on stage or in this film. It's sure no one living would have seen the one other sound film that came two years after this - "Gambling." Apparently, it was so bad that Cohan wanted all prints of it destroyed right after it was made. It did have a premier and brief release and then disappeared. The Fox Film producers must have agreed that it was that bad.
Interestingly though, there is a review posted on the IMDb Web site for that film. It's by a long-time reviewer and movie buff who read the screenplay for the film, which survives, and the stage play script. From that reviewer's description of the plot, it sounds quite awful. It's also very interesting that two of the three silent films Cohan starred in also are lost. So, that leaves just two films in which one might see George M. Cohan. This one, and the 1917 silent film, "Seven Keys to Baldpate." Cohan wrote a play by that name, based on a novel by Earl Derr Biggers, of the same title. And, he then wrote the screenplay for the 1917 film in which he also starred. I have that novel, and the 1917 silent film as well as the three best of several sound picture remakes of the story.
While few people in the 21st century would know much, if anything, about the actor, George M. Cohan, people on Broadway and actors and those studying acting will know the name. But many outside of the stage may know his name associated with music. If for no other reason, some of his biggest hit songs and familiar tunes will ensure that the name Cohan will live on for ages.
Cohan was such a presence on the Broadway stage in the first three decade of the 20th century, that he was known then as "Mr. Broadway." He was a superb writer who also produced and starred in many of his works. He was the consummate entertainer - a musician and composer who could sing and dance as well. Cohan wrote, composed, staged, and starred in more than 30 Broadway musicals. He wrote more than 50 stage shows and 300 songs. Among the most memorable of his songs is the iconic, "Give My Regards to Broadway;" and his patriotic songs associated with World War I - "Over There," "The Yankee Doodle Boy," and "You're a Grand Old Flag."
In the 1917 silent film of "Baldpate," Cohan is particularly hammy. Actors in the silent films exaggerated a great deal for facial expressions and body gestures to better impart the unspoken words of the story. But stage actors were often even much more exaggerated so that those in the distance in the audiences could better make out everything that was going on. Well, Cohan's role as George Washington Magee in "Seven Keys to Baldpate" must be one of the hammiest performances on film - certainly of any that I have ever seen.
But now, these 15 years later, in his only surviving sound picture role, Cohan's ham is almost all gone. Here he plays dual roles. Theodore K. Blair is seeking his party's nomination to be president, which apparently would be a shoo into the White House. But, however intelligent, educated and right he may be for his party bigwigs, Blair has the personality of a wet noodle. Stumbling into the picture is a medicine show promoter, Peter Varney, Blair's exact look-alike.
Well, one can guess where this story will go, and it does. Along the way there's some mayhem, good comedy, and a little romance. The latter is courtesy of Claudette Colbert as Felicia Hammond. She wasn't interested at all in Blair, who carried a restrained torch for her. But, when the new Blair - ala, Peter Varney, emerges, her wall crumbles. There's a little fun and pun in that. Adding to the comedy and music of this comedy musical satire is Jimmy Durante in a very good role as Curly Cooney. And, among the supporting cast, Sidney Toler (known, for the very early series of Charlie Chan movies) is very good - and funny. Alan Mowbray is another in the supporting cast who will be familiar to many movie buffs.
The quality of this film is not very good. The outdoor shooting, especially has light problems. The screenplay had holes and is quite choppy. There's a huge continuity problem that is glaring to all. The acting is generally fair all around. It's not a real good movie, but a fair one. It is the only film in which to see George M. Cohan acting and singing.
Here are my favorite lines from this film.
Professor Aikenhead (Sidney Toler), "Blair lacks political charm. Blair has no flair for savoir faire."
Prof. Aikenhead, "Chivalry is all right, but a little Chevalier wouldn't hurt."
Felicia Hammond, "You see, I want love. I've heard very good reports about it.
Boss Jim Ronkton (George Barbier), "How does it look to you, Varney?" Peter Varney (Cohan), "I'm just trying to figure... which one of us looks the most alike."
