IMDb > State of the Union (1948)

State of the Union (1948) More at IMDbPro »

Overview

User Rating:
7.5/10   1,123 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
No change in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Frank Capra
Writers:
Howard Lindsay (play) and
Russel Crouse (play) ...
(more)
Contact:
View company contact information for State of the Union on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
30 April 1948 (USA) more
Genre:
Comedy | Drama more
Tagline:
How's the State of the Union? It's GREAT!
Plot:
An industrialist is urged to run for President, but this requires uncomfortable compromises on both political and marital levels. full summary | add synopsis
Plot Keywords:
more
NewsDesk:
(15 articles)
Ice Cube, 50 Cent Among Honorees At Bet Hip Hop Awards
 (From iCelebz. 23 October 2009, 6:59 AM, PDT)
Ice Cube, 50 Cent Among Honorees At Bet Hip Hop Awards
 (From iCelebz. 23 October 2009, 6:59 AM, PDT)
User Comments:
Ronald Reagan stole this line. more (19 total)

Cast

  (in credits order) (verified as complete)

Spencer Tracy ... Grant Matthews

Katharine Hepburn ... Mary Matthews (as Katherine Hepburn)

Van Johnson ... 'Spike' McManus

Angela Lansbury ... Kay Thorndyke

Adolphe Menjou ... Jim Conover (as Adolph Menjou)
Lewis Stone ... Sam Thorndyke
Howard Smith ... Sam I. Parrish
Charles Dingle ... Bill Nolard Hardy
Maidel Turner ... Lulubelle Alexander
Raymond Walburn ... Judge Alexander
Margaret Hamilton ... Norah
Art Baker ... Radio Announcer
Pierre Watkin ... Sen. Lauterback
Florence Auer ... Grace Orval Draper
Irving Bacon ... Buck Swanson

Charles Lane ... Blink Moran, Network Producer
Patti Brady ... Joyce Matthews
Georgie Nokes ... Grant 'Butch' Matthews Jr.
Carl 'Alfalfa' Switzer ... Bellboy (as Carl Switzer)
Tom Fadden ... Waiter
Tom Pedi ... Barber
Rhea Mitchell ... Jeny
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Harry Anderson ... Photographer (uncredited)
Stanley Andrews ... Senator (uncredited)
Sam Ash ... Editor (uncredited)
Frank Austin ... Crackpot (uncredited)
George Barton ... Photographer (uncredited)
Brandon Beach ... Editor (uncredited)
Jack Boyle ... Photographer (uncredited)
Douglas Carter ... Photographer (uncredited)
Maurice Cass ... Little Man (uncredited)
Davison Clark ... Crump (uncredited)

David Clarke ... Rusty Miller (uncredited)
Frank L. Clarke ... Joe Crandall (uncredited)
Charles Coleman ... Photographer (uncredited)
Gene Coogan ... Photographer (uncredited)
Edwin Cooper ... Bradbury (uncredited)
Boyd Davis ... Doctor (uncredited)
Thornton Edwards ... Bit Part (uncredited)
Franklyn Farnum ... Bit Role (uncredited)
Mahlon Hamilton ... Businessman (uncredited)
Dell Henderson ... Broder (uncredited)
Al Hill ... Television Technician (uncredited)
Tor Johnson ... Wrestler (uncredited)
Marion Martin ... Blonde Girl (uncredited)
Russell Meeker ... Politician (uncredited)
Howard M. Mitchell ... Doctor (uncredited)
Bert Moorhouse ... Politician (uncredited)
Arthur O'Connell ... First Reporter (uncredited)
Garry Owen ... Brooklynite (uncredited)
Eddie Phillips ... Television Man (uncredited)
Francis Pierlot ... Josephs (uncredited)
Stanley Price ... Photographer (uncredited)
Marshall Ruth ... Bit Part (uncredited)
Charles Sherlock ... Photographer (uncredited)
Lew Smith ... Photographer (uncredited)
Charles Sullivan ... Television Sound Technician (uncredited)
Eve Whitney ... Secretary (uncredited)
Dave Willock ... Pilot (uncredited)
Wilson Wood ... Photographer (uncredited)
Fred Zendar ... Photographer (uncredited)
Create a character page for: ?

Directed by
Frank Capra 
 
Writing credits
Howard Lindsay (play) and
Russel Crouse (play)

Anthony Veiller (screenplay) and
Myles Connolly (screenplay)

Produced by
Frank Capra .... producer
Anthony Veiller .... associate producer
 
Original Music by
Victor Young 
 
Cinematography by
George J. Folsey 
 
Film Editing by
William Hornbeck 
 
Art Direction by
Cedric Gibbons 
Urie McCleary 
 
Set Decoration by
Emile Kuri 
Edwin B. Willis 
 
Costume Design by
Irene 
 
Makeup Department
Jack Dawn .... makeup artist
Sydney Guilaroff .... hair stylist
 
Production Management
Arthur S. Black Jr. .... production manager
 
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Arthur S. Black Jr. .... assistant director
 
Sound Department
Conrad Kahn .... sound (as Conrad P. Kahn)
Douglas Shearer .... sound
 
Special Effects by
A. Arnold Gillespie .... special effects
 
Camera and Electrical Department
Mervin Bradner .... grip (uncredited)
Robert J. Bronner .... camera operator (uncredited)
Jerry Hester .... still photographer (uncredited)
 
Music Department
Sidney Cutner .... orchestrator (uncredited)
George Parrish .... orchestrator (uncredited)
Leo Shuken .... orchestrator (uncredited)
 
Other crew
Eylla Jacobs .... script supervisor (as Ellya Jacobus)
 

Production CompaniesDistributors
Create a character page for: ?

Additional Details

Also Known As:
The World and His Wife (UK)
more
Parents Guide:
Add content advisory for parents
Runtime:
124 min
Country:
USA
Language:
English
Color:
Black and White
Aspect Ratio:
1.37 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Mono
Certification:
UK:A (original rating) | UK:PG (re-rating) (2005) | Canada:PG (Ontario) | USA:Approved | USA:Passed | Finland:S | Sweden:Btl
Filming Locations:
Detroit, Michigan, USA
Company:
Liberty Films (II) more

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
When the film was made and released, President Harry Truman had not made his miraculous political comeback and was considered a sure loser in the 1948 Presidential election by nearly everyone, which is why both the Republican Presidential nomination is considered so valuable in the movie, and why Van Johnson's character is amused when a young woman tells him that she thinks Truman will be elected President in his own right in November. more
Goofs:
Factual errors: Katharine Hepburn's name is misspelled in the opening credits as "Katherine". more
Quotes:
Mary Matthews: You politicians have stayed professionals only because the voters have remained amateurs. more
Movie Connections:
Featured in 100 Years of Comedy (1997) (V) more

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.

User Comments

   (Comment on this title)
6 out of 10 people found the following comment useful.
Ronald Reagan stole this line., 18 February 2003
Author: gordon_02140 from Cambridge, MA

In the 1980 New Hampshire primary, an exasperated Ronald Reagan blurted out the famous line "I'm paying for this microphone!" when a moderator threaten to turn off the microphones at an unruly debate. It was a hugely successful and defining moment for Reagan, nailing down his image as a man of rugged independence who refused to suffer fools gladly -- to say nothing of his ability to craft a clever quip. However, given his Hollywood roots, it seems more likely he consciously or unconsciously lifted this line from Spencer Tracy's character in "State of the Union."

Was the above comment useful to you?
more (19 total)

Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for State of the Union (1948)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
WHAT?! Remake with Richard Gere eldnepm
The Original Sazerac Cocktail bobe-4
Is this already on dvd? capra_corn
improvised???? junglered269
more

Recommendations

If you enjoyed this title, our database also recommends:
- - - - -
The Aviator Giant Strangers on a Train L'accompagnatrice Gone with the Wind
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
Show more recommendations

Related Links

Full cast and crew Company credits External reviews
News articles IMDb Comedy section IMDb USA section
Add this title to MyMovies

You may report errors and omissions on this page to the IMDb database managers. They will be examined and if approved will be included in a future update. Clicking the 'Update' button will take you through a step-by-step process.