MAGNIFICENT DOLL

US, 1946, 95 minutes, Black and white.
Ginger Rogers, David Niven, Burgess Meredith, Stephen Mc Nally, Peggy Wood, Robert Barratt.
Directed by Frank Borzage.

Magnificent Doll is about Dolly Madison, wife of American president James Madison. The screenplay was written by Irving Stone, the novelist who wrote The Agony and the Ecstasy, Lust for Life and many other historical novels.

The film has a prologue about Madison's crises in government, especially with the attack on Washington by the British. However, the film goes back to Dolly's background, the arranged marriage with Paine, her becoming a widow, her encounters with Aaron Burr and her marriage to James Madison. It follows on with her becoming the official hostess for widower president Thomas Jefferson and focuses on the premature rebellion by Aaron Burr.

Ginger Rogers brings vitality to the role of Dolly Madison. David Niven is a strange choice for the role of Aaron Burr and is not quite persuasive. Burgess Meredith, on the other hand, is a genial Madison. The film was directed by Frank Borzage, director of many romantic dramas especially in the '30s.

1.Entertaining slice of American history? Portrait of Dolly Madison and her times?

2.Black and white photography, re-creation of the period? The stars? The treatment by the director?

3.The title and its tone, the focus on Dolly, her place in American history and society?

4.The prologue and the portrait of Dolly Madison, Ginger Rogers' voice-over, Ginger Rogers' vivacity and style? The memories of the attack on Washington by the British, having to flee - and taking the portrait of George Washington? Her not wanting to talk about such historical events? Going back to her own origins?

5.Her background, the war of revolution, her father's return, the party, his Quaker promises and his sternness? The arranged marriage and her reaction? Going through the ceremony with Paine but not promising to love him? The sequences in the home, Paine's love for his wife, her inability to respond? Her pregnancy, the birth of the child? Her coming to like Paine? His absence and the news of his death? The widow?

6.The encounter with Aaron Burr, attracted to him, their going out together, the possibility of marrying him? Her meeting with James Madison, listening to him and his ideals, the atmosphere of the revolution, of law and freedom? Her being entranced? His speeches and his proposal? The happy marriage? The campaigning for Jefferson, her role in supporting her husband? The offer of the role of hostess in Washington? Her success in transforming the White House, in hosting parties?

7.Her breaking with Aaron Burr, telling him about her marriage? The political stalemate and her going to plead with Burr to withdraw? His following her advice? His anger at the party at her success? Her going to visit him in prison? His madness and ambition? The lynch party, her strong speeches about freedom and turning the crowd against Burr? Their turning their back on him and preserving freedom? The symbol of American freedom for the rest of the world?

8.Madison, background of the revolution, the Constitution, freedom, his wisdom, supporting Jefferson? His speeches, marrying Dolly? The household, Secretary of State? His deferring to her judgment in her going to visit Burr? His coming to support her at the end? Their future as President and First Lady?

9.The historical background of Aaron Burr, his fighting for the revolution, his ambitions, the clash with Alexander Hamilton and the duel? His ambitions, vice-presidential candidate to Thomas Jefferson, not getting on well with Jefferson? His building up his own army, his planned revolution, his totalitarian ideas? The possibility for a revolution and his supporters going away from him, the troops leaving? His arrest, trial, his being declared innocent? His wanting to discredit the American legal system by his innocence? His further ambitions? His being ignored by the people in Richmond? His attraction to Dolly, their going out, his hoping to marry her? Her going to visit him and his agreeing to go along with Jefferson as president? His reaction to her in the jail?

10.The background of the period, the portrait of the revolutionary era, Dolly's father and his escape from death and his Quaker promise, the sternness of arranged marriages? The glimpse of her mother and her support of her daughter?

11.The lynch mob, the speeches against Burr, taking justice into their own hands, their listening to Dolly Madison, her persuading them?

12.A popular glimpse of American revolutionary and early republic history?