Release CalendarTop 250 MoviesMost Popular MoviesBrowse Movies by GenreTop Box OfficeShowtimes & TicketsMovie NewsIndia Movie Spotlight
    What's on TV & StreamingTop 250 TV ShowsMost Popular TV ShowsBrowse TV Shows by GenreTV News
    What to WatchLatest TrailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb SpotlightIMDb Podcasts
    OscarsSXSW Film FestivalCannes Film FestivalSTARmeter AwardsAwards CentralFestival CentralAll Events
    Born TodayMost Popular CelebsCelebrity News
    Help CenterContributor ZonePolls
For Industry Professionals
  • Language
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
  • All
  • Titles
  • TV Episodes
  • Celebs
  • Companies
  • Keywords
  • Advanced Search
Watchlist
Sign In
Sign In
New Customer? Create account
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
Use app
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • FAQ
IMDbPro

Der große McGinty

Original title: The Great McGinty
  • 1940
  • Approved
  • 1h 22m
IMDb RATING
7.3/10
4.4K
YOUR RATING
Brian Donlevy, Muriel Angelus, and Akim Tamiroff in Der große McGinty (1940)
Dan McGinty has great success in his chosen field of crooked politics, but he endangers it all in one crazy moment of honesty.
Play trailer1:38
1 Video
77 Photos
Comedy

Dan McGinty has great success in his chosen field of crooked politics, but he endangers it all in one crazy moment of honesty.Dan McGinty has great success in his chosen field of crooked politics, but he endangers it all in one crazy moment of honesty.Dan McGinty has great success in his chosen field of crooked politics, but he endangers it all in one crazy moment of honesty.

  • Director
    • Preston Sturges
  • Writer
    • Preston Sturges
  • Stars
    • Brian Donlevy
    • Muriel Angelus
    • Akim Tamiroff
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    7.3/10
    4.4K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Preston Sturges
    • Writer
      • Preston Sturges
    • Stars
      • Brian Donlevy
      • Muriel Angelus
      • Akim Tamiroff
    • 46User reviews
    • 37Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Won 1 Oscar
      • 1 win total

    Videos1

    Trailer
    Trailer 1:38
    Watch Trailer

    Photos77

    Brian Donlevy, Muriel Angelus, William Demarest, and Akim Tamiroff in Der große McGinty (1940)
    Brian Donlevy and Akim Tamiroff in Der große McGinty (1940)
    Brian Donlevy in Der große McGinty (1940)
    C.L. Sherwood in Der große McGinty (1940)
    Brian Donlevy in Der große McGinty (1940)
    Akim Tamiroff in Der große McGinty (1940)
    Brian Donlevy, Muriel Angelus, and Allyn Joslyn in Der große McGinty (1940)
    Muriel Angelus in Der große McGinty (1940)
    Akim Tamiroff in Der große McGinty (1940)
    Brian Donlevy in Der große McGinty (1940)
    Robert Warwick in Der große McGinty (1940)
    William Demarest in Der große McGinty (1940)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Brian Donlevy
    Brian Donlevy
    • Dan McGinty
    Muriel Angelus
    Muriel Angelus
    • Catherine McGinty
    Akim Tamiroff
    Akim Tamiroff
    • The Boss
    Allyn Joslyn
    Allyn Joslyn
    • George
    William Demarest
    William Demarest
    • Skeeters
    Louis Jean Heydt
    Louis Jean Heydt
    • Tommy Thompson
    Harry Rosenthal
    Harry Rosenthal
    • Louie - The Bodyguard
    Arthur Hoyt
    Arthur Hoyt
    • Mayor Wilfred Tillinghast
    Libby Taylor
    Libby Taylor
    • Bessy - The Colored Maid
    Thurston Hall
    Thurston Hall
    • Mr. Maxwell
    Steffi Duna
    Steffi Duna
    • The Girl
    Esther Howard
    Esther Howard
    • Madame Juliette La Jolla
    Frank Moran
    Frank Moran
    • The Boss' Chauffeur
    • (as Frank C. Moran)
    Jimmy Conlin
    Jimmy Conlin
    • The Lookout
    Dewey Robinson
    Dewey Robinson
    • Benny Felgman
    Donnie Kerr
    • Catherine's Boy (Age 4)
    Joyce Arleen
    • Catherine's Girl (Age 6)
    • (as Mary Thomas)
    Drew Roddy
    • Catherine's Boy (Age 9)
    • Director
      • Preston Sturges
    • Writer
      • Preston Sturges
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      This is the first movie to show the credit "Written and Directed by...." followed by just one name: Preston Sturges.
    • Goofs
      In his victory parade as governor, McGinty rides in a car and it is clear he does not have a mustache. In the next scene, which takes place the same day at the state capitol, he has a mustache.
    • Quotes

      Skeeters: If it wasn't for graft, you'd get a very low type of people in politics. Men without ambition. Jellyfish.

      Catherine: Especially since you can't rob the people anyway.

      Skeeters: Sure. How was that?

      Catherine: What you rob, you spend, and what you spend goes back to the people. So, where's the robbery? I read that in one of my father's books.

      Skeeters: That book should be in every home.

    • Connections
      Featured in American Masters: Preston Sturges: The Rise and Fall of an American Dreamer (1990)
    • Soundtracks
      Louise
      Written by Richard A. Whiting and Leo Robin

      Played on piano

    User reviews46

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    8/10
    Preston Sturges makes his mark
    Government corruption may not be a laughing matter, but writer director Preston Sturges made some of his funniest comedies from the most unlikely material, and he smartly lampooned the political process in his big screen directing debut. Brian Donlevy is the title character, a less than scrupulous bum elected to the State Governor's office under the patronage of underworld boss Akim Tamiroff and, in a clever reversal of the usual formula, reformed by the responsibilities of public office. But the Governor's newfound honesty spells the end of his fledgling political career because, as McGinty himself so eloquently says, "you can't make a silk purse out of a pig's ear". The film lacks the madcap pace and eccentric characters of later Sturges classics, but compensates with plenty of rich satire (says big boss Tamiroff: "if it weren't for graft you'd get a very low type of person in government…") and an unusual romantic subplot decades ahead of its time. After more than half a century Sturges' wit and originality is still invigorating, not unlike a bracing slap in the face.
    helpful•6
    0
    • mjneu59
    • Nov 24, 2010

    Top picks

    Sign in to rate and Watchlist for personalized recommendations
    Sign in

    FAQ19

    • How long is The Great McGinty?Powered by Alexa
    • A NOTE ABOUT SPOILERS

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • August 23, 1940 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Languages
      • English
      • Russian
    • Also known as
      • Down Went McGinty
    • Filming locations
      • Paramount Studios - 5555 Melrose Avenue, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA(Studio)
    • Production company
      • Paramount Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $350,000 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 22 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

    Related news

    Contribute to this page

    Suggest an edit or add missing content
    Brian Donlevy, Muriel Angelus, and Akim Tamiroff in Der große McGinty (1940)
    Top Gap
    By what name was Der große McGinty (1940) officially released in India in English?
    Answer
    • See more gaps
    • Learn more about contributing
    Edit page

    More to explore

    Production art
    Photos
    Actors in Their Early Roles
    See the gallery
    Production art
    Photos
    Stunning New Posters
    See the gallery
    Production art
    List
    What We're Watching: Time Travel and Anime
    See the full list

    Recently viewed

    Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
    Get the IMDb app
    Sign in for more accessSign in for more access
    Follow IMDb on social
    Get the IMDb app
    For Android and iOS
    Get the IMDb app
    • Help
    • Site Index
    • IMDbPro
    • Box Office Mojo
    • License IMDb Data
    • Press Room
    • Advertising
    • Jobs
    • Conditions of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Your Ads Privacy Choices
    IMDb, an Amazon company

    © 1990-2024 by IMDb.com, Inc.