WASHINGTON STORY
US, 1952, 81 minutes, Black and white.
Van Johnson, Patricia Neal, Louis Calhern, Sidney Blackmer, Philip Ober, Patricia Collinge, Elizabeth Patterson, Rineholdt Schunzel.
Directed by Robert Pirosh.
Washington Story is a brief programmer film from MGM. It was produced during the black list period and the hearings by Senator Mc Carthy. It was an attempt to give some credibility to the American Congress, bypassing the current controversies of the 1950s and focusing on the role of the House of Representatives, the integrity of politicians, the role of lobbyists, the experience of journalists, their support of politicians as well as their muckraking.
The film was written and directed by Robert Pirosh, a veteran writer from the 1930s (including A Day at the Races) and of many popular television episodes in the 1960s and 70s. He directed only five films including Go for Broke, Valley of the Kings, The Girl Rush.
Van Johnson is surprisingly credible as the congressman. A song-and-dance man, he also showed an ability for performance in some of the MGM features of the 1940s. Patricia Neal was at the beginning of her career, on loan from Warner Bros where she made many films including The Fountainhead. Louis Calhern was a veteran at MGM. There is a very good supporting cast.
The film is interesting in retrospect – and also in comparison with contemporary opinions about the role of American politicians and of Congress.
1. American politics, 1952, the latter part of the 20th century and the discrediting of the presidency and politicians? The 21st century – and the Bush and Obama administrations?
2. The parallels with later times, Republicans and Democrats, voting, the lobbyists, the votes in Congress, the voters, campaigns?
3. The black and white photography, Washington, the Capitol? Interiors, Congress? The American score and its American, patriotic tone?
4. The title, journalists, politicians, lobbyists, truth and slander, principles?
5. Alice’s arrival in Washington, the audience seeing Washington through her eyes? Her past, the connection with her paper, muckraking? Her keeping it quiet? The meeting with Nunnally, his showing her around, the tour, sitting in the House, listening to the statistics? Seeing Joe intervene? Nunnally and his talk? Nunnally as a character, muckraking, being sued? His wanting to get at Joe Gresham?
6. The idea for the article, Alice and her meeting with Joe, his secretary and her work, Joe’s hesitance, agreement? Her cover, the phone call – and the later revelation that it was Nunnally’s house? Their impersonations for Joe? Alice and her tenacity, following Joe, the long walks, the range of people, the speeches, dictating letters, the Boy Scouts and the photo opportunity, the television rehearsal, the television interview, hurried meals? Becoming comfortable with him, the meals, dancing?
7. Sitting in on the committee, Joe presiding, Burch and his ploys, afterwards and the discussion about tactics, their friendship? Emery and his lobbying, his speech? Nunnally’s warnings about Joe and Emery? The social, Joe meeting Emery, their discussion, giving him documents? Alice and her falling for Joe’s charm? Listening to his speeches? In society, the meetings? Her suspicions of Emery?
8. The migrant, his story, visiting the House, his petition, not being allowed back in America and being deported, after twenty-eight years? Joe and his enigmatic response? Alice and her reaction? Her later discovering of the truth, Joe’s kindness towards the migrant?
9. The issue of shipbuilding, disbursing it over the country or localising it? The effect on local communities, the workforce? The role of the lobbyists and information? The discussions in committee?
10. Joe’s visit home, to his aunt, Alice visiting, comfortable with the family? The aunt later visiting Joe in Washington to support him?
11. The vote, Joe and his stance, people’s reaction? The minders and their concern, the newspaper articles? The hostile phone calls and telegrams? The effect on Joe, his wanting to give up? Burch and his challenging Joe about failures and comebacks?
12. Joe, disillusionment, not answering the phone, planning a trip?
13. Alice and her article, discovering the truth, talking with the migrant, tearing up her article, confronting Nunnally? The quick ending on the Capitol steps?
14. Politics, journalists, political and social issues?
