- Nominated for 1 BAFTA Film Award. Another 3 wins.
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Photos and Videos
Cast verified as complete
Spencer Tracy | ... |
Frank Skeffington
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Jeffrey Hunter | ... |
Adam Caulfield
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Dianne Foster | ... |
Maeve Caulfield
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Pat O'Brien | ... |
John Gorman
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Basil Rathbone | ... |
Norman Cass, Sr.
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Donald Crisp | ... |
Cardinal Martin Burke
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James Gleason | ... |
'Cuke' Gillen
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Edward Brophy | ... |
'Ditto' Boland
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John Carradine | ... |
Amos Force
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Willis Bouchey | ... |
Roger Sugrue
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Basil Ruysdael | ... |
Bishop Gardner
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Ricardo Cortez | ... |
Sam Weinberg
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Wallace Ford | ... |
Charles J. Hennessey
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Frank McHugh | ... |
Festus Garvey
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Carleton Young | ... |
Winslow
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Frank Albertson | ... |
Jack Mangan
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Bob Sweeney | ... |
Johnny Degnan
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William Leslie | ... |
Dan Herlihy
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Anna Lee | ... |
Gert Minihan
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Ken Curtis | ... |
Monsignor Killian
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Jane Darwell | ... |
Delia Boylan
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O.Z. Whitehead | ... |
Norman Cass, Jr.
(as O. Z. Whitehead)
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Arthur Walsh | ... |
Frank Skeffington, Jr.
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Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
Phil Adams | ... |
(uncredited)
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Alex Akimoff | ... |
(uncredited)
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Fred Aldrich | ... |
Man at Campaign HQ (uncredited)
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Richard Alexander | ... |
Mourner Given Cigar at Wake (uncredited)
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Leon Alton | ... |
Banquet Guest (uncredited)
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Don Anderson | ... |
Cop at Wake (uncredited)
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Walter Bacon | ... |
Man at Campaign HQ (uncredited)
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Frank Baker | ... |
Banker at Plymouth Club (uncredited)
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Bobette Bentley | ... |
1st Blonde (uncredited)
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Steve Benton | ... |
(uncredited)
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Gail Bonney | ... |
Woman (uncredited)
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Danny Borzage | ... |
Pete (uncredited)
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Paul Bradley | ... |
Banquet Guest (uncredited)
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Chet Brandenburg | ... |
Mourner at Wake (uncredited)
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Rand Brooks | ... |
Votes Tallyman (uncredited)
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George Bruggeman | ... |
Mourner at Burial (uncredited)
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John Bryant | ... |
Man at Campaign HQ (uncredited)
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Gordon Carveth | ... |
Man at campaign HQ (uncredited)
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James J. Casino | ... |
Political Rally Marcher (uncredited)
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Jack Chefe | ... |
Crowd Member (uncredited)
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Dick Cherney | ... |
Reporter (uncredited)
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George Chester | ... |
Mourner at Wake (uncredited)
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Noble 'Kid' Chissell | ... |
Political Rally Marcher (uncredited)
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Charles Cirillo | ... |
(uncredited)
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Richard Dale Clark | ... |
(uncredited)
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Ruth Clifford | ... |
Nurse (uncredited)
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Edmund Cobb | ... |
Man (uncredited)
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Bud Cokes | ... |
Cop at Wake (uncredited)
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Russell Custer | ... |
Man at Campaign HQ (uncredited)
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Hal K. Dawson | ... |
Managing Editor (uncredited)
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Richard Deacon | ... |
Graves (uncredited)
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John Deauville | ... |
(uncredited)
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Jack Deery | ... |
Man at Campaign HQ (uncredited)
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George DeNormand | ... |
Banker (uncredited)
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Joe Devlin | ... |
Man (uncredited)
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Jimmy Dime | ... |
Man at Campaign HQ (uncredited)
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Mike Donovan | ... |
Mourner at Wake (uncredited)
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Clint Dorrington | ... |
(uncredited)
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Mimi Doyle | ... |
Mamie Burns (uncredited)
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Tommy Earwood | ... |
Gregory McClusky (uncredited)
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Richard Elmore | ... |
Mourner at Wake (uncredited)
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Eddie Fetherston | ... |
(uncredited)
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Duke Fishman | ... |
Campaign Worker (uncredited)
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Millie Fitzgerald | ... |
Carmichael Sister (uncredited)
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Charles B. Fitzsimons | ... |
Kevin McCluskey (uncredited)
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James Flavin | ... |
Police Capt. Michael J. Shanahan (uncredited)
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George Ford | ... |
(uncredited)
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William Forrest | ... |
Dr. Tom (uncredited)
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Joseph Forte | ... |
Managing Editor (uncredited)
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Raoul Freeman | ... |
Banker at Plymouth Club (uncredited)
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Helen Gereghty | ... |
Carmichael Sister (uncredited)
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Kenneth Gibson | ... |
Banquet Guest (uncredited)
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James Gonzalez | ... |
Reporter (uncredited)
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Sam Harris | ... |
Plymouth Club Member on Stairs (uncredited)
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Ed Haskett | ... |
Banker at Plymouth Club (uncredited)
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Jack Henderson | ... |
Minor Role (uncredited)
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William Henry | ... |
Votes Tallyman (uncredited)
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Chuck Hicks | ... |
Fighter (uncredited)
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Stuart Holmes | ... |
(uncredited)
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Shep Houghton | ... |
Man at Campaign HQ (uncredited)
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Chuck Howard | ... |
(uncredited)
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William Hudson | ... |
Votes Tallyman (uncredited)
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Charles Anthony Hughes | ... |
Man (uncredited)
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Thomas E. Jackson | ... |
(uncredited)
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William Janssen | ... |
(uncredited)
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Michael Jeffers | ... |
Campaign Worker (uncredited)
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Roy Jenson | ... |
Fighter (uncredited)
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Rolan Jones | ... |
(uncredited)
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Richard Keene | ... |
(uncredited)
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Fred Kennedy | ... |
(uncredited)
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Colin Kenny | ... |
Plymouth Club Member (uncredited)
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June Kirby | ... |
2nd Blonde (uncredited)
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Anne Kunde | ... |
Mourner at Wake (uncredited)
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Joseph La Cava | ... |
Man at Campaign HQ (uncredited)
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Webster Lagrange | ... |
(uncredited)
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Harry Lauter | ... |
Votes Tallyman (uncredited)
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Johnny Leone | ... |
(uncredited)
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Robert Levin | ... |
Jules Kowalsky (uncredited)
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Robert Locke Lorraine | ... |
Political Rally Marcher (uncredited)
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Edmund Lowe | ... |
Johnny Byrne (uncredited)
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Wilbur Mack | ... |
Banquet Guest (uncredited)
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Hank Mann | ... |
(uncredited)
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Eve March | ... |
Neighbor (uncredited)
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Frank Marlowe | ... |
(uncredited)
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Mae Marsh | ... |
Mourner at Wake (uncredited)
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Philo McCullough | ... |
Politician (uncredited)
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Joe McGuinn | ... |
2nd Man (uncredited)
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Frank McLure | ... |
Mourner at Wake (uncredited)
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Edward McNally | ... |
Ward Heeler (uncredited)
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Paul McVey | ... |
Banker (uncredited)
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Harold Miller | ... |
Banquet Guest (uncredited)
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Ernesto Molinari | ... |
Banquet Guest (uncredited)
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Charles Morton | ... |
Reporter (uncredited)
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Sol Murgi | ... |
Political Rally Marcher (uncredited)
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Jimmy Murphy | ... |
Office Boy (uncredited)
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Forbes Murray | ... |
Banker at Plymouth Club (uncredited)
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George Nardelli | ... |
Banquet Guest (uncredited)
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Bill Neff | ... |
Man at Campaign HQ (uncredited)
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William H. O'Brien | ... |
(uncredited)
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Brian O'Hara | ... |
Man (uncredited)
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Joe Palma | ... |
Cop at Campaign HQ (uncredited)
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Emma Palmese | ... |
Woman at Enterance (uncredited)
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Harvey Parry | ... |
(uncredited)
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Jack Pennick | ... |
Police Sgt. Rafferty (uncredited)
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Bob Perry | ... |
(uncredited)
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Murray Pollack | ... |
Mourner at Burial (uncredited)
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Paul Power | ... |
Banker at Plymouth Club (uncredited)
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Fred Rapport | ... |
Man on Dais (uncredited)
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Edward Rickard | ... |
Cop at Wake (uncredited)
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Clete Roberts | ... |
Reporter (uncredited)
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Molly Roden | ... |
Neighbor (uncredited)
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Victor Romito | ... |
Man at Campaign HQ (uncredited)
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John Roy | ... |
Mourner at Wake (uncredited)
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Buck Russell | ... |
(uncredited)
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Dick Ryan | ... |
Man (uncredited)
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Cosmo Sardo | ... |
Mourner at Wake (uncredited)
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Frank J. Scannell | ... |
Man (uncredited)
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Bernard Sell | ... |
Man at Campaign HQ (uncredited)
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Jordan Shelley | ... |
(uncredited)
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Charles Sherlock | ... |
Rally Marcher (uncredited)
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Carl Sklover | ... |
Political Rally Marcher (uncredited)
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Stephen Soldi | ... |
Man at Campaign HQ (uncredited)
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Earl Spainard | ... |
Mourner at wake (uncredited)
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George Spaulding | ... |
Man (uncredited)
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Bert Spencer | ... |
Mourner at Wake (uncredited)
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Ted Stanhope | ... |
1st Man (uncredited)
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Anna Stein | ... |
(uncredited)
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Bert Stevens | ... |
Political Rally Marcher / Man at Campaign HQ (uncredited)
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Harry Strang | ... |
Harry (uncredited)
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Brick Sullivan | ... |
Ward Heeler (uncredited)
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Charles Sullivan | ... |
Charlie (uncredited)
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Frank Sully | ... |
Fire Lieutenant (uncredited)
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Julius Tannen | ... |
Mr. Kowalsky (uncredited)
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Harry Tenbrook | ... |
Caterer at Wake (uncredited)
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Jack Tornek | ... |
Man at Campaign HQ (uncredited)
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Charles Trowbridge | ... |
Plymouth Club Member at Front Door (uncredited)
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Phil Tully | ... |
Man (uncredited)
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Harry Tyler | ... |
Robert (uncredited)
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Ruth Warren | ... |
Ellen Davin (uncredited)
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James Waters | ... |
Young Politician (uncredited)
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Helen Westcott | ... |
Mrs. McCluskey (uncredited)
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Chalky Williams | ... |
Mourner at Wake (uncredited)
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Directed by
John Ford |
Written by
Frank S. Nugent | ... | (screen play) (as Frank Nugent) |
Edwin O'Connor | ... | (based upon the novel by) |
Produced by
John Ford | ... | producer |
Cinematography by
Charles Lawton Jr. | ... | director of photography |
Editing by
Jack Murray |
Production Design by
Robert Peterson | ... | (uncredited) |
Art Direction by
Robert Peterson |
Set Decoration by
William Kiernan |
Costume Design by
Jean Louis | ... | (uncredited) (gowns) |
Makeup Department
Helen Hunt | ... | hair stylist |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Sam Nelson | ... | assistant director |
Wingate Smith | ... | assistant director |
Art Department
Charles Granucci | ... | master prop (uncredited) |
Sound Department
John P. Livadary | ... | recording supervisor (as John Livadary) |
Harry D. Mills | ... | sound (as Harry Mills) |
Stunts
Harvey Parry | ... | stunts (uncredited) |
Camera and Electrical Department
Arnold L. Rich | ... | assistant camera |
Richard H. Kline | ... | camera operator (uncredited) |
Emil Oster | ... | camera operator (uncredited) |
Music Department
Mischa Bakaleinikoff | ... | composer: stock music (uncredited) |
George Duning | ... | composer: stock music (uncredited) |
Bernard Mayers | ... | composer: stock music (uncredited) |
Cyril J. Mockridge | ... | composer: stock music (uncredited) |
Arthur Morton | ... | composer: stock music (uncredited) |
Paul Sawtell | ... | composer: stock music (uncredited) |
Production Companies
Distributors
- Columbia Pictures (1958) (United States) (theatrical)
- Columbia Pictures Corporation (1959) (United Kingdom) (theatrical)
- Columbia Film-Verleih (1959) (West Germany) (theatrical)
- Columbia Films (1959) (Belgium) (theatrical) (as Columbia Films S.A.B.)
- Columbia International Films (1959) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
- Kamera (1959) (Norway) (theatrical)
- RCA/Columbia Pictures Home Video (1991) (United States) (VHS) (pan and scan)
- Columbia TriStar Home Video (1999) (United States) (DVD)
- Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2007) (United States) (DVD)
- ServusTV Deutschland (2011) (Germany) (tv)
- ServusTV (2011) (Austria) (tv)
- ServusTV Deutschland (2013) (Germany) (tv)
- ServusTV (2013) (Austria) (tv)
- Twilight Time (2018) (United States) (Blu-ray)
- Powerhouse Films (2020) (United Kingdom) (video)
- ARTE (2022) (Germany) (tv)
- ARTE (2022) (France) (tv)
- Columbia Films (1959) (Belgium) (theatrical)
- Columbia TriStar Home Video (Brazil) (DVD)
Special Effects
Other Companies
- RCA Recording Studios (sound recording)
Storyline
Plot Summary |
In a New England town, aging Frank Skeffington, descended from poor Irish immigrants, is conducting his fifth and last political campaign for Mayor - he thus far being undefeated - before he serves his last term leading into retirement from politics, he surrounded by his longtime campaign team. Despite his success rate largely from support of the Irish immigrant population in seeing one of their own doing good, Frank does have his detractors, not only the blue bloods of the town, but those that see him operating under an old boys network of doing favors for friends and every one of his actions having a self-serving political motivation. And there are others, including Frank's son, Frank Skeffington, Jr., who couldn't care less about politics, Jr. absorbed with his own fun-loving existence. A microcosm of the political division can be seen by the Caulfield household: non-political Adam Caulfield, a sportswriter for the Morning News newspaper and Frank's nephew, supports his uncle in liking him both as a man and uncle, while Adam's wife, Maeve Caulfield, has the same impression of Frank as her wealthy father, Roger Sugrue, who grew up in the same working class neighborhood as Frank and who sees Frank working on graft. Adam's boss, the Morning News Publisher and Editor-in-Chief Amos Force, has always opposed Frank, and mounts a concerted campaign for those in the anti-Frank camp to rally around his strongest opponent, political neophyte Kevin McCluskey, despite McCluskey's inexperience showing at every turn. As he can see the times changing in terms of the way political campaigns are run and covered with the onset of more electronic media such as television and radio playing a bigger part, Frank brings in Adam as an observer journalist of his campaign to witness the changing times, what Frank sees as his last hurrah before his means of operation to win elections will no longer suffice. Written by Huggo |
Plot Keywords | |
Taglines | Ford's Finest! See more » |
Genres | |
Parents Guide | View content advisory » |
Certification |
Additional Details
Also Known As |
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Box Office
Budget | $2,300,000 (estimated) |
Did You Know?
Trivia | Early in the film one of Skeffington's advisors says of another candidate 'an Arab would have a better chance of becoming Mayor of Tel Aviv', and Skeffington says 'remember the recent Lord Mayor of Dublin'. This is a reference to the 1956 election of Robert Briscoe, the first Jewish Lord Mayor of Dublin. He was the son of Lithuanian-Jewish immigrants and after the second World War acted as a special advisor to Menachem Begin in the transformation of Irgun from a paramilitary group into a political movement and later into the Likud party. See more » |
Goofs | Like many films made in the L.A. area, the trees don't match the season. In the scene where the crowd has gathered outside Skeffington's home the morning after his election night heart attack, the tree on his front lawn is full of green leaves. In early November in New England the leaves should have changed color and even fallen off the tree. See more » |
Movie Connections | Featured in Directed by John Ford (1971). See more » |
Soundtracks | My Pony Boy See more » |
Quotes |
Roger Sugrue:
[standing by Skeffington's bed]
Well, at least he made his peace with God. There's one thing we all can be sure of - if he had it to do over again, there's no doubt in the world he would do it very, very differently. Mayor Frank Skeffington: [opening his eyes] Like hell I would. See more » |