, otherwise it'd be all over the place. He's given the tough job of trying to make a strong-arm, old school politician likeable - and does. The supporting cast is all from the John Ford school, perhaps too much so as "Oh, there's ___" may interfere with the viewing.
Mayor Skellington is running for a 5th term of Boston (never stated) and shows how he's won four, but ward healing, back slapping, baby kissing, race baiting, and blackmailing. Somehow we're to admire him for it, since it's "all for the public good" - and Skellington's.
However, as another review put it, what is this film? Ford's attempts at comedy particularly the ridiculous sons of Skellington and Basil Rathbone's bankers are beyond caricatures. So too is Skellington's young war hero opponent who comes off so badly in a TV spot that there's no way he could win. And yet, he does. Skellington walking off alone then is hard to swallow, as is the extended sentimental ending when he has a stroke.
Engrossing, with Ford's film-making prowess covering much of what otherwise might even be a farce.
Mayor Skellington is running for a 5th term of Boston (never stated) and shows how he's won four, but ward healing, back slapping, baby kissing, race baiting, and blackmailing. Somehow we're to admire him for it, since it's "all for the public good" - and Skellington's.
However, as another review put it, what is this film? Ford's attempts at comedy particularly the ridiculous sons of Skellington and Basil Rathbone's bankers are beyond caricatures. So too is Skellington's young war hero opponent who comes off so badly in a TV spot that there's no way he could win. And yet, he does. Skellington walking off alone then is hard to swallow, as is the extended sentimental ending when he has a stroke.
Engrossing, with Ford's film-making prowess covering much of what otherwise might even be a farce.