The Senator Was Indiscreet (1947)

User Rating:

6.8/10   

Director:

George S. Kaufman

Writers:

Edwin Lanham (story)
Charles MacArthur (writer)

Release Date:

10 December 1948 (Sweden)

Genre:

Comedy

Plot:

Dim-witted blowhard, Melvin G. Ashton, is a US Senator who wants to be President. He hires Lew Gibson...

Plot Keywords:

Diary | Senator | Blackmail | Political | Journalist

Awards:

1 win

Cast

William Powell	...	Senator Melvin G. Ashton
Ella Raines	...	Poppy McNaughton
Peter Lind Hayes	...	Lew Gibson
Arleen Whelan	...	Valerie Shepherd
Ray Collins	...	Houlihan
Allen Jenkins	...	Farrell
Charles D. Brown	...	Dinty
Hans Conried	...	Waiter
Whit Bissell	...	Oakes
Milton Parsons	...	'You Know Who'
Francis Pierlot	...	Frank
Oliver Blake	...	Indian
Chief Thundercloud	...	Indian (as Chief Thunder Cloud)
Chief Yowlachie	...	Indian
Iron Eyes Cody	...	Indian

Also Known As:

Mr. Ashton Was Indiscreet (UK)

Runtime:

88 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Certification:

Finland:S | USA:Approved (PCA #12689, General Audience) | Sweden:15

Company:

Inter-John Productions

Trivia:

The final of fourteen films pairing William Powell and Myrna Loy.

Non stop laughs

This film stands along with "Bringing Up Baby" as one of the most preposterous non Marx Brothers comedies ever filmed. Its plot seems to defy reality, but in looking at the political climate of this era it seems like more of a case of art imitating life.

This art is created hilariously by William Powell who as Senator Melvin G Ashton is the epitome of buffoonery yet due to his political party's shenanigans and the fact that he has kept a diary of those dastardly deeds finds himself as a candidate for President of the United States. When that diary is stolen, the efforts to retrieve it lead Powell from one embarrassing situation to another with non-stop laughs.

Peter Lind Hayes, not known for acting plays Powell's press agent and is very funny. Ella Raines, one of the most stunning women in films, plays a reporter and she's not only very funny but very beautiful. And there's a who's who of character actors led by Ray Collins, Allen Jenkins, Charles D. Brown and Milton Parsons who perform superbly.

George S Kaufman directed the film. He was long known as one of the leading playwrights of both comedy and drama. He won 2 Pulitzer Prizes. He wrote 2 Marx Brothers Films, as well as "The Man Who Came To Dinner" and "You Can't Take It With You". This was his only turn at directing a film. The pace he establishes is frenetic, with dialogue delivered in the Howard Hawks overlapping style.

Stay with this until the very last line. The ending is a pip. In fact the whole film is one