THE GREAT MAN VOTES

US, 1939, 72 minutes, Black and white.
John Barrymore, Virginia Weidler, Peter Holden, William Demarest, Donald Mac Bride.
Directed by Garson Kanin.

The Great Man Votes is considered a small classic. Written by John Twist and directed by playwright-novelist Garson Kanin (who directed Tom, Dick and Harry and Bachelor Mother at this time), it is also a star vehicle for an ageing John Barrymore whose performance ranges from marked idiosyncratic in his old style to plain with feeling. He is supported well by Peter Holden and Virginia Weidler as the children. William Demarest, Elizabeth Risdon appear in the supporting cast.

It is any American city 1923, the focus on a brilliant but alcoholic father and his neglect of his children who are devoted to him. He is taken up by the corrupt politicians in order to get the party re-elected. The film shows the crisis of conscience for the Barrymore character - the great man.

1. Entertaining comedy drama? Piece of Americana?

2. Black and white photography, the American city of the '20s? Poverty, wealth? Political background of the city? Musical score?

3. The title, Gregory Vance as a great man? The significance of his voting and the local politics? His being used? His own crisis of conscience and self-assertion?

4. John Barrymore as Gregory Vance, style of acting, part ham, part genuine performance? Drinking? Orating? With the workers, with his children, their devotion to him, his concern about them? The threat of the Children's Foundation to take them away? The discussions with the teacher, clashes, friendship - and her admiration? The children with his in-laws? The clash with them? The memory of their mother? The local politicians, Mc Carthy and his pressure, promises to Vance? His using his new positions as a vantage point to keep his children? The realisation of the truth? His speech to the people? His own integrity?

5. The sketch of the children, young, loving their father, memories of their mother, with their grandparents? Self-reliance? Not wanting to go away? Joan and her adult sense of management? Knowing the truth about their father and dealing with it?

6. The in-laws, their dismissal of Vance, wanting to look after the children? The confrontation and his victory over them?

7. The Children's Foundation Society and the representative, admiration for Vance, turning in support of him?

8. The political situation, big business, the party machine, elections, districts, votes? The decision to sack Vance, reinstate him, give him significant positions? Use him? The characters of the politicians, the numbers men? The wheeler-dealers? Vance seeing through it, the people supporting him, his speech and his change of heart? Confronting the corrupt politicians?

9. A pleasant piece of '30s Americana - from another world?