The Great McGinty (Down Went McGinty) (1940)
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100% of critics liked it
(19 reviews) -
82% of users liked it
(577 ratings)
The moral of Preston Sturges' first directorial effort The Great McGinty seems to be: If you're a crook, stay a crook, because honesty will get ya every time. Brian Donlevy plays Dan McGinty, a Chicago hobo who is hired by local political bosses as a "professional voter", casting… More The moral of Preston Sturges' first directorial effort The Great McGinty seems to be: If you're a crook, stay a crook, because honesty will get ya every time. Brian Donlevy plays Dan McGinty, a Chicago hobo who is hired by local political bosses as a "professional voter", casting ballots under a variety of assumed names in various districts. McGinty chalks up $74 worth of votes, and when local ward heeler William Demarest can't pony up, McGinty takes direct action by trying to beat up The Boss (Akim Tamiroff). Though the two men can't get through an entire day without trying to kill each other, McGinty and the Boss are impressed by each other's raw abilities and become political partners. Through the Boss' patronage, McGinty works his way up to the mayor's office, with his politically expedient bride (Muriel Angelus) at his side. Though he never goes so far as to fall in love with his "arranged" wife, Donlevy is fond of both her and her children by a previous marriage, and for their sake he begins to reform--much to the dismay of the Boss. With the Governor's mansion within his grasp, McGinty makes the fatal error of fessing up to a graft-ridden bridge contract. It is this impulsive moment of honesty, rather than any of his past crimes, that gets McGinty thrown in the slammer, sharing a cell with the blood-in-his-eye Boss. Demarest separates the two combative men long enough to arrange an escape to South America, but not before McGinty has assured the financial security of his wife and family. The story is told in flashback form in a seedy South American dive, where McGinty works as a bartender and the Boss is the manager. The film ends with the two friendly enemies duking it out over a minor infraction, while bouncer Demarest looks on in disgust. Sick to death of watching other directors mangle his screenplays, Preston Sturges sold this rollicking political satire to Paramount only on the condition that he be allowed to direct (for the princely sum of $10). Paramount hedged its bets by giving Sturges a slim budget and inexpensive stars; as a result, the film made back its cost several times over, and Preston Sturges' directorial career was off and running. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Directed By
- Preston Sturges
- Written By
- Preston Sturges
- Genres
- Classics, Comedy
Unrated,
- In Theaters
- Aug 15, 1940 Wide
- Studio
- MCA Universal Home Video
Critic Reviews
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Variety Staff, Variety
Sturges displays plenty of ability in accentuating both the comedy and dramatic elements of his material, withal maintaining a consistent pace in the unreeling.
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Tom Milne, Time Out
A wonderfully dry satire.
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Bosley Crowther, New York Times
You won't make a mistake, believe us, if you stuff the ballot-box for The Great McGinty.
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Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader
Preston Sturges's first film as writer-director (1940) and one of his most cynical comedies -- a cut below his best work, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't see it.
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Don Druker, Chicago Reader
The perfect fusion of Sturges's wit and frenzy.
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Cast
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Brian Donlevy
as Dan McGinty
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Muriel Angelus
as Catherine McGinty
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Akim Tamiroff
as The Boss
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Allyn Joslyn
as George
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William Demarest
as The Politician
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Steffi Duna
as The Girl
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Louis Jean Heydt
as Thompson
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Harry Rosenthal
as Louis the Bodyguard
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Arthur Hoyt
as Mayor Tillinghast
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Libby Taylor
as Bessie the Maid
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Thurston Hall
as Mr. Maxwell
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Esther Howard
as Madame La Jolla
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Frank Moran
as The Boss' Chauffeur
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Jimmy Conlin
as The Look Out
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Dewey Robinson
as Benny Feigman
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Richard Carle
as Dr. Jarvis
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Donald Kerr
as Catherine's Children
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Mary Thomas
as Catherine's Girl Age 6
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Drew Roddy
as Catherine's Boy Age 6
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Sheila Sheldon
as Catherine's Girl Age 11
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Byron Foulger
as Secretary
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Harry Hayden
as Poll Watcher
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Charles R. Moore
as McGinty's Valet
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Emory Parnell
as Policeman
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Jean Phillips
as Manicurist
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Victor Potel
as Cook
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Lee Shumway
as Cop
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Pat West
as Pappia
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Robert Warwick
as Opposition Speaker
