A powerful Washington D.C. couple (Sidney Blackmer and Rosalind Russell) are given scenes that reminded me of James Gregory and Angela Lansbury in that 1962 classic. It's a parallel United States, with a different president than FDR, yet surrounding the United States is the possibility of world war.
Arthur Byron, a forgotten character actor, plays the president in this film, seen at his inauguration telling wife Janet Beecher that he hopes to stay out of war at all costs. But manipulation by Blackmer's lobbyist has a group of wealthy powerful men (which includes Charley Grapewin of "The Wizard of Oz") pushing the public in to various acts of violence and turning them against each other.
What is a peace-loving president to do as fascism seems to be taking over the law of the land that he is supposed to be governing? Quick edits in the photography shows the violence erupting, and the group of money men secretly in power behind the president suddenly turn into a flock of flesh hungry vultures.
This is a disturbing view of the future as seen through the eyes of the depression, a variation of an Orwellian world long before that fear struck into the heart of the public. The president really is only a figurehead here, the real power held with the men who control the Congress and the Senate. "The Gray Shirts" are as vicious an extremist group that has ever ripped across the headlines, and this is only fictional. It's up to the president to take drastic action to bring about a change, and here, he's doing it for a good cause, not to just get attention.
An all-star cast of character actors each are given moments to shine, with Edward Arnold top billed as a Secretary of war. There is no real star, maybe perhaps the script and direction (William A. Wellman), and irregardless of whether or not those who see this film like it or not, it does corrupt discussions if they are watching it in a group.
Whether or not this stands the test of time is also up to the viewer as it is a film that doesn't really express a point of view but possibilities if the public doesn't get their act together and stand up to those who would destroy freedom. It is apparent why this film was written considering what was happening in the world at the time, and deserves credit for its courage in confronting those ideals that threatened to destroy humanity.
Arthur Byron, a forgotten character actor, plays the president in this film, seen at his inauguration telling wife Janet Beecher that he hopes to stay out of war at all costs. But manipulation by Blackmer's lobbyist has a group of wealthy powerful men (which includes Charley Grapewin of "The Wizard of Oz") pushing the public in to various acts of violence and turning them against each other.
What is a peace-loving president to do as fascism seems to be taking over the law of the land that he is supposed to be governing? Quick edits in the photography shows the violence erupting, and the group of money men secretly in power behind the president suddenly turn into a flock of flesh hungry vultures.
This is a disturbing view of the future as seen through the eyes of the depression, a variation of an Orwellian world long before that fear struck into the heart of the public. The president really is only a figurehead here, the real power held with the men who control the Congress and the Senate. "The Gray Shirts" are as vicious an extremist group that has ever ripped across the headlines, and this is only fictional. It's up to the president to take drastic action to bring about a change, and here, he's doing it for a good cause, not to just get attention.
An all-star cast of character actors each are given moments to shine, with Edward Arnold top billed as a Secretary of war. There is no real star, maybe perhaps the script and direction (William A. Wellman), and irregardless of whether or not those who see this film like it or not, it does corrupt discussions if they are watching it in a group.
Whether or not this stands the test of time is also up to the viewer as it is a film that doesn't really express a point of view but possibilities if the public doesn't get their act together and stand up to those who would destroy freedom. It is apparent why this film was written considering what was happening in the world at the time, and deserves credit for its courage in confronting those ideals that threatened to destroy humanity.