Rent State of the Union (1948)
3.5 of 5 from 72 ratings
1h 57min
- General info
- Available formats
- Synopsis:
Based on a Pulitzer Prize winning play, this well cast film is enhanced by Spencer Tracy's portrayal of an idealistic industrialist come self-made millionaire, Grant Matthews who runs for the presidency. Katharine Hepburn's flawless performance as Grant's estranged wife adds excitement to this drama meets comedy flick. The tension builds and the party machine begins to worry as Grant and Mary begin to speak for themselves. Mary condemns corrupt politicians and Grant learns to speak out even more boldly. In order to enhance his image and win the voters, Grant convinces Mary to return to him after a big break-up so they can provide a united front to the public. But as the campaign roars along, the liberal candidate becomes increasingly disillusioned with the strain of the political world. - Actors:
- Spencer Tracy, Katharine Hepburn, Van Johnson, Angela Lansbury, Adolphe Menjou, Lewis Stone, Howard Smith, Charles Dingle, Maidel Turner, Raymond Walburn, Margaret Hamilton, Art Baker, Pierre Watkin, Florence Auer, Irving Bacon
- Directors:
- Frank Capra
- Producers:
- Frank Capra
- Writers:
- Howard Lindsay, Russel Crouse, Anthony Veiller, Myles Connolly
- Aka:
- The World and His Wife / Frank Capra's State of the Union
- Studio:
- Universal Pictures
- Genres:
- Classics, Comedy, Drama, Romance
- Collections:
- Films to Watch if You Like It's a Wonderful Life, Films to Watch If You Like..., Getting to Know..., Glynis & Angela: Ninetysomething Marvels, History of US Presidents in Cinema: Part 2, Holidays Film Collection, Romantic Film Pairings for Valentine's Day, A Brief History of Film..., The Instant Expert's Guide, The Instant Expert's Guide to Frank Capra, Top 10 Films By Year, Top 10 Films of 1948
- BBFC:
- Release Date:
- 07/09/2021
- Run Time:
- 123 minutes
- Languages:
- English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Mono
- Subtitles:
- English Hard of Hearing
- Formats:
- Pal
- Aspect Ratio:
- Full Screen 1.33:1 / 4:3
- Colour:
- B & W
- BLU-RAY Regions:
- B
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Reviews (1) of State of the Union
Political Realism. - State of the Union review by Steve
The title applies to the relationship of a potential Republican nomination (Spencer Tracy) to his wife (Katherine Hepburn). And of course, to the condition of the United States. The marriage is threatened by a predatory young press magnate (Angela Lansbury) while democracy is vulnerable to powerful vested interest.
It's an exposé of Washington realpolitik and the parasites and henchmen that attach themselves to the public relations roadshow. Tracy is persuasive in the lead. Hepburn has a support role though the film seems to be suggesting that her character is the more natural leader. Lansbury is wonderfully chilling as a manipulative agent of the far right.
This was Frank Capra's last masterpiece, though it was a departure. It's quite naturalistic compared with his great political fantasies of the thirties. Only at the end when Matthews confesses to his dishonesty on network tv and calls for labour and capital to pull together do we feel the director's old touch.
We witness a political machinery which promotes narcissism and rewards insincerity. This is a comedy in the sense that the people who occupy the screen talk with in constant flow of irony, which evades explicit meaning. The writing is sharp and witty, but the strength of the film is its cynical vérité. It feels true, and it feels it is still true.
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