General News
Tracy and Hepburn STATE OF THE UNION Saturday Morning at The Hi-Pointe
“Oh, that’s silly. No woman could ever run for President. She’d have to admit she’s over 35!”
STATE OF THE UNION plays on the big screen at St. Louis’ fabulous Hi-Pointe Theater this weekend as part of their Classic Film Series. It’s Saturday, November 12th at 10:30am at the Hi-Pointe located at 1005 McCausland Ave., St. Louis, MO 63117. Admission is only $5.
It’s election week so the Hi-Pointe is rolling out a vintage political film to screen for this month’s Classic Film Series. STATE OF THE UNION is a 1941 Frank Capra film that comes off fresh and timely. A plain speaking, likable man, Grant Matthews (Spencer Tracy) is convinced to run for President by the publisher of a newspaper, Kay Thorndyke (Angela Lansbury) who is also his mistress, and before he knows it, his words and intentions are no longer his own. Because he wants to win, he compromises and lies down with the dogs. When he stands up, he’s got fleas.
Katharine Hepburn costars as Grant’s wife Mary in a role intended for Claudette Colbert, and she’s excellent. All the performances in this film are marvelous. Van Johnson is very funny and charming as a newspaperman who becomes Grant’s campaign manager. Adolphe Menjou is perfect as Kaye’s mouthpiece who wants to go after the money people and court big business and the union heads. Lansbury is fantastic as the ambitious, cutthroat Kaye, who took over the paper from her father and knows how to use and abuse power. By today’s standards, STATE OF THE UNION is probably too naïve and talky – Capra often has big monologues in his films, but they’re always delivered powerfully. Here is no exception. A rousing film about the breakdown of idealism before political realities. Go see it on the big screen Saturday morning!
The Hi-Pointe’s site can be found HERE
0 comments