If I was to rely on the two summaries of this film, the first by Sin Jack and the second by Rod Crawford, saying that a presidential candidate is said to have a dull personality with a charismatic medicine salesman and huckster whom looks alike is hired to take his place to win the election, even fooling the girlfriend of this man, and that this hucksters has difficult decisions of his own on the eve of the election, I would think that is all the movie is about. Similarly, if I was to rely on Wikipedia I'd think this film is fictional political satire, based on George F. Worts' novel, where a stiff and colorless presidential candidate is replaced in public appearances by a charismatic and energetic pitchman for a medicine show. While those descriptions aren't wrong, there is a lot more going on. Theodore K. Blair is the stiff candidate whom doesn't have political gravitas, disliked by political bosses like Jim Ronkton (played by George Barbier), Prof. Aikenhead (played by Sidney Toller), and Senator Melrose (played by Julius McVicker), especially after Felicia Hammond (played by Claudette Colbert) rejects his marriage proposal. But when Peeter J. 'Doc' Varney, assisted by Curly Cooney (played by Jimmy Durante) the political bosses are the resemblance between Varney and Blair, whom are hilariously played by the same actor, George M. Cohan. Not surprisingly this temporarily fools Jerrido (played by Jameson Thomas) Blair's butler and Felicia. As the film goes on, Varney gets all the glory as he plays as Blair while the actual Blair eventually becomes tired of this charade and takes action. After Felicia makes a bold move to disrupt Blair's plans, Varney has a crisis of confidence and says he is a huckster on air, but is still elected regardless. As the film ends, Varney becomes president with Curly as his right-hand man while Blair is somewhere in the Arctic circle eating blubber.
There is much more to this film however. As anyone should I grimaced at the blackface worn by Cohen in this film, just as I grimaced at the yellowface worn by Nils Asther, playing General Yen in Frank Capra's The Bitter Tea of General Yen, which came out one year later. While that undoubtedly marks the film down and I thought the part with the singing presidents, like Teddy Roosevelt, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln (played by Charles Middleton), and George Washington (played by Alan Mowbray), along with other "founders," was a bit silly, the film was still a strong drama. At one point Barney admits they are selling musical comedy to the masses which is funny because the film is a musical comedy. I also enjoyed the comic relief coming from Curly and the name of Prof. Aikenhead obviously being reminiscent of "egghead."
The film was also, obviously, a political satire. Perhaps it is saying the people of the U$ can be sold on anything for president which is troubling. It is hard to discern what political party Varney/Blair is part of, as I would say it is Republican because of the invocation of Lincoln but they also sound a bit like the view of the Democratic Party. Looking at the party platforms for each respective party in 1932 does not clear this up at all. In this plotline, what does the election of Varney mean? Is he really honest or will be be like a snake-oil-salesman? It's hard to say, to be honest.
At the end of the film, other than what I have previously outlined, I'm not sure what the full takeaway is. However I would say that Cohan (one of the few films he acted in) and Colbert engage in commendable performances. While I only know Colbert from It Happened One Night (1934), she did a wonderful job here too. I liked Durante's performance as well. Taking this all into account I think it is only right to rate this film as an 8 out of 10, with this review being the 13th one on IMDB of this film.
There is much more to this film however. As anyone should I grimaced at the blackface worn by Cohen in this film, just as I grimaced at the yellowface worn by Nils Asther, playing General Yen in Frank Capra's The Bitter Tea of General Yen, which came out one year later. While that undoubtedly marks the film down and I thought the part with the singing presidents, like Teddy Roosevelt, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln (played by Charles Middleton), and George Washington (played by Alan Mowbray), along with other "founders," was a bit silly, the film was still a strong drama. At one point Barney admits they are selling musical comedy to the masses which is funny because the film is a musical comedy. I also enjoyed the comic relief coming from Curly and the name of Prof. Aikenhead obviously being reminiscent of "egghead."
The film was also, obviously, a political satire. Perhaps it is saying the people of the U$ can be sold on anything for president which is troubling. It is hard to discern what political party Varney/Blair is part of, as I would say it is Republican because of the invocation of Lincoln but they also sound a bit like the view of the Democratic Party. Looking at the party platforms for each respective party in 1932 does not clear this up at all. In this plotline, what does the election of Varney mean? Is he really honest or will be be like a snake-oil-salesman? It's hard to say, to be honest.
At the end of the film, other than what I have previously outlined, I'm not sure what the full takeaway is. However I would say that Cohan (one of the few films he acted in) and Colbert engage in commendable performances. While I only know Colbert from It Happened One Night (1934), she did a wonderful job here too. I liked Durante's performance as well. Taking this all into account I think it is only right to rate this film as an 8 out of 10, with this review being the 13th one on IMDB of this film.