"Magic Town" is an interesting movie, and much more than the comedy and romance it is billed as. Clearly, it's as much drama as it is comedy. Some reviewers to date discuss William Wellman's direction versus what Frank Capra might have done. Clearly, this film isn't on the level of "Meet John Doe" or "Mr. Deeds Goes to Town." But, I think it is very good in portraying something that most people may not think about - or, be so readily aware of. That is an aspect of human nature - some might call it a flaw - in which people can easily get puffed up over some positive attention, with negative effects. The term "false pride" describes this condition, and it almost always results in a change in one's behavior.
Rip Smith is highly regarded in the big city as a genius for finding out the public pulse of America. His New York company advises American businesses and other interests. The businesses develop and market products that fit with the whims, wants and wishes of the public. In the film, this has not developed into political polling, but the ramifications of such enter the picture before the end. Rip is not only a mathematical whiz, but he must be very good at talking with people. In other words, he has good people skills. And, part of his character is a drive to find a better way, a faster way, the "perfect" way to be able to find or determine what the public pulse is at any given time on any one or number of things.
When, Rip hears from a former Army buddy with whom he served during World War II, Fred tells him that the town where he teaches school had the exact same results of a national survey that Rip's company had recently done. Voila! Rip thinks he has found the perfect town for gaging public opinions that will be right on the mark of how most Americans think. If he and his team can work the town for a year they will be able to do public surveys and projections in much less time, and do more of them. Industry, education, research groups, government and any number of interests can use and are willing to pay for such information.
There's nothing illegal or unethical about Rip's business, or how he conducts it. But, Mary Peterman is suspicious of Rip when he moves to Grandview under the guise of setting up an insurance business. As the local newspaper managing editor, she notes that others in that field aren't doing well. She and the town warm up to Rip as he volunteers to coach the high school basketball team. Rip and his two associates mix and visit with the local populace very discreetly drawing out their personal opinions on numerous things. Mary and Rip go out on dates. But when she finds Rip's real business out by snooping in his office and listening in on a phone call, she thinks what he is doing is underhanded. She sees it as a greedy and selfish enterprise to "use" the people of Grandview to make money. And, because she thinks the people have a right to know, she writes about it in her newspaper.
Rip knew how it would affect the people and the town. But Mary couldn't see that. Rip told her he would leave town and close up shop if she just wouldn't write about it. He knew something that Mary and so many others didn't think about or stop to consider. He knew that when people become aware that their opinions are being sought, the false pride that follows would change them and alter their ability to continue to give their heartfelt, honest, and unaffected views on matters
Well, Mary and the town found out all too soon what Rip knew, and the effect on them nearly ruined their town. And, even with the adverse turn of events, Mary still didn't understand fully. She says later that she and Rip had caused the problem. But Rip didn't do anything to the town. It was only Mary's self-righteous expose that affected the change in the people.
As it turns out, this story has a happy ending. And, Rip has the idea for getting the community back in line. I agree with some others who said there wasn't any chemistry between Wyman and Stewart. She was a very good actress, but I think in this part she overly played the suspicious, cautions small town newspaper woman. And even when Rip and Mary went out, there wasn't much spark evident, especially on her part. Rip's part was explained nicely by his friend, Professor Fred Hoopendecker. Rip had come from a poor city background with no family, so he didn't have that experience in his background. But, when he heard his buddies talk about home when they were in the war - all of them from small towns, he said he envied them.
This movie was inspired by the Middletown Studies of the mid-1920s and 1937, but there's no similarity with that sociological research project. Its purpose was to study "the interwoven trends that are the life of a small American city." The studies were done in Muncie, Indiana, and were never divulged to the public. The town was over 35,000 in 1920 and over 45,000 in 1930. The town in this movie was more on the level of a real small town - about 5,000 or less. Most of the town could meet in the hall with the pot-bellied heater. After the books were published on the studies, some Muncie folks suspected it was their town. In time, it came out and Muncie remains a frequent study city for polling. But since it didn't have the sudden exposé and flood of immigrants that occurs in this movie, the populace wasn't negatively affected.
Rip Smith is highly regarded in the big city as a genius for finding out the public pulse of America. His New York company advises American businesses and other interests. The businesses develop and market products that fit with the whims, wants and wishes of the public. In the film, this has not developed into political polling, but the ramifications of such enter the picture before the end. Rip is not only a mathematical whiz, but he must be very good at talking with people. In other words, he has good people skills. And, part of his character is a drive to find a better way, a faster way, the "perfect" way to be able to find or determine what the public pulse is at any given time on any one or number of things.
When, Rip hears from a former Army buddy with whom he served during World War II, Fred tells him that the town where he teaches school had the exact same results of a national survey that Rip's company had recently done. Voila! Rip thinks he has found the perfect town for gaging public opinions that will be right on the mark of how most Americans think. If he and his team can work the town for a year they will be able to do public surveys and projections in much less time, and do more of them. Industry, education, research groups, government and any number of interests can use and are willing to pay for such information.
There's nothing illegal or unethical about Rip's business, or how he conducts it. But, Mary Peterman is suspicious of Rip when he moves to Grandview under the guise of setting up an insurance business. As the local newspaper managing editor, she notes that others in that field aren't doing well. She and the town warm up to Rip as he volunteers to coach the high school basketball team. Rip and his two associates mix and visit with the local populace very discreetly drawing out their personal opinions on numerous things. Mary and Rip go out on dates. But when she finds Rip's real business out by snooping in his office and listening in on a phone call, she thinks what he is doing is underhanded. She sees it as a greedy and selfish enterprise to "use" the people of Grandview to make money. And, because she thinks the people have a right to know, she writes about it in her newspaper.
Rip knew how it would affect the people and the town. But Mary couldn't see that. Rip told her he would leave town and close up shop if she just wouldn't write about it. He knew something that Mary and so many others didn't think about or stop to consider. He knew that when people become aware that their opinions are being sought, the false pride that follows would change them and alter their ability to continue to give their heartfelt, honest, and unaffected views on matters
Well, Mary and the town found out all too soon what Rip knew, and the effect on them nearly ruined their town. And, even with the adverse turn of events, Mary still didn't understand fully. She says later that she and Rip had caused the problem. But Rip didn't do anything to the town. It was only Mary's self-righteous expose that affected the change in the people.
As it turns out, this story has a happy ending. And, Rip has the idea for getting the community back in line. I agree with some others who said there wasn't any chemistry between Wyman and Stewart. She was a very good actress, but I think in this part she overly played the suspicious, cautions small town newspaper woman. And even when Rip and Mary went out, there wasn't much spark evident, especially on her part. Rip's part was explained nicely by his friend, Professor Fred Hoopendecker. Rip had come from a poor city background with no family, so he didn't have that experience in his background. But, when he heard his buddies talk about home when they were in the war - all of them from small towns, he said he envied them.
This movie was inspired by the Middletown Studies of the mid-1920s and 1937, but there's no similarity with that sociological research project. Its purpose was to study "the interwoven trends that are the life of a small American city." The studies were done in Muncie, Indiana, and were never divulged to the public. The town was over 35,000 in 1920 and over 45,000 in 1930. The town in this movie was more on the level of a real small town - about 5,000 or less. Most of the town could meet in the hall with the pot-bellied heater. After the books were published on the studies, some Muncie folks suspected it was their town. In time, it came out and Muncie remains a frequent study city for polling. But since it didn't have the sudden exposé and flood of immigrants that occurs in this movie, the populace wasn't negatively affected.