The Dark Horse (1932) Online

I've read that the Warner's release, High Pressure, with William Powell, as the fast-talking pitchman Gar Evans, was a hit when it was released in January, 1932. Daryl Zanuck (writing as Mark Canfield) wrote a sequel. When Warner's couldn't get the writer of the original novel to agree to a price that they wanted to pay they transformed conman Gar Evans into the rapid-fire king-maker "Hal Blake." Instead of goods he was selling candidates. They bumped Powell (fearing a lawsuit if they used the same actor for similar characters) in favor of Warren William and the movie became The Dark Horse.

What a crackerjack little film! It had a large cast of assembly-line actors and crew who knew how to crank out a film hot enough to ignite the nitrate stock it was printed on. This film went through pre- production, production and post-production in time for its release in June, 1932. That's just five months after the film that inspired it! Its rushed release didn't show in its spot-on rapid fire dialog or delivery.

Other reviewers have whined about a later subplot involving Hal Blake's ex. By that time I was so completely won over the charms of this pre- code gem that I completely accepted, and enjoyed, the late curveball.

How could you not love a movie with a song like:

Upstate, downstate Cities and the sticks, The voters yell for change Even babies cry for Hicks! Boys and girls together Toms and Harrys and Dicks, Climb the big bandwagon, While they cast their vote for Hicks!

One of the reasons that I decided to watch this film today when it was broadcast was the splendid cast. The Dark Horse anticipates what Preston Sturges did with The Great McGinty and it's quite a commentary on what occasionally gets elected now and then due to astute political management and the gullibility of the voting public.

Looking down the cast list nearly everyone in it is cast in roles I've come to expect to see them play. The title role in The Dark Horse is played by Guy Kibbee as he's nominated by one of the parties because they're deadlocked at the convention between better candidates. Kibbee is absolutely priceless as the dumber than a post county coroner the party has as its candidate. Well they've got him and the only way to put him over is get the best campaign manager around even if he's in the slam.

Which is where Warren William is even if its for owing back alimony to ex-wife Vivienne Osborne. William takes his Dave the Dude character from Lady For A Day and proceeds to make Kibbee the favorite in the race for governor. Kibbee's very dumbness is programmed to work in his favor, his slogan could have been elect Kibbee, he's too stupid to steal.

The opposition candidate is Berton Churchill playing another one of his patented pompous windbags. The prospect of seeing Kibbee in a race against Churchill is what really attracted me to this film and I was not disappointed. Churchill and his party may be down, but not out and they've got some tricks up their sleeve. And those tricks involve Kibbee and Osborne.

The only one who is wasted really is Bette Davis. She plays Warren William's loyal and efficient secretary who loves him. She does her best with a traditional good girl role, but there isn't much for her to work with. Vivienne Osborne gives the ex-wife part the kind of bite we normally find in Bette Davis films later on.

The Dark Horse is a really crackerjack political film that deserves to be better known.

The main reason to see this film is Warren William, who is in top form as the shyster campaign manager. He is electric, constantly finding ways to fool the public and defeat the opposing party in the midst of the biggest disasters. William is a great actor -- I feel he never got his due. Bette Davis as his girlfriend also shines in an under-written role. Personally, I found Guy Kibbee not quite right as the lame-brained candidate that William and the others are trying to foist on the public. He seemed more like an empty canvas than a person. I would have preferred to see a real character emerge rather than a non-character. The story itself is implausible, silly and clichéd. But Warren William and Bette Davis are well worth watching.

Warren William and Bette Davis star in this film about electing a dark horse in office. The term, "a dark horse" in political jargon refers to someone running for office who's not unlikely to win or not likely to get the peoples' or favorite vote, not one to bet on, in terms of horse racing. When the party is not happy with their candidate because he's lost the confidence of the people, they come up with the name of an average Joe, who may be able to do what their man can't - keep their party in office, the main goal at election time. Guy Kibbee is "The Dark Horse," who appears with his usual ease and affability, here even more simple-minded than usual. When it's decided they need a publicity man to sell him, Bette Davis says she knows just the man, but he's in jail. They get Warren William out of jail and put him to work. William is ideally suited for the role, with his forceful voice and imposing demeanor. Warren is center stage with his complications of his love life with Bette and his ex and him trying to sell Guy Kibbee to the people. People may see this, because it's a Bette Davis film, but it belongs to Warren William. Warren William has, for the most part, been forgotten, except by those who frequently watch TCM. He was the first actor to play Perry Mason in film, and was known for his deep voice and the firm conviction he gave to his characters - usually lawyers and people of influence, but not always on the side of the law or good. For an introduction to Warren William and for good entertainment, watch "The Dark Horse." Its antics may come across as silly and simple, but its heart is there, and Bette and Warren make for an exciting couple to sit back and enjoy.

In THE DARK HORSE, Guy Kibbee plays a candidate for state governor so incredibly stupid that "every time he opens his mouth he subtracts from the sum total of human knowledge." Topically thrown together during an election year, this rollicking, refreshingly jaundiced political farce still packs a razor-sharp bite.

Consider the relevance to modern day affairs: Warren William is the fast-talking con artist hired to manage Kibbee's campaign and sell the unknown candidate to the public. He coaches his brain-dead charge in the finer points of evasive double-talk (Kibbee's response to reporters' probing questions: "Yes... and then again no"), provides him with arcane speeches by Abe Lincoln for debates, drums up smear campaigns and law suits against the opposition, manipulates media attention, and displays utter contempt for the easily-duped voter that remains uncompromising to the end (Kibbee is last seen tipping his hat in a motorcade after a landslide victory).

This acid-drenched comedy directed by the gifted workhorse Alfred E. Green and written by Joseph Jackson can be forgiven its occasional buffoonish slapstick and formula romantic subplot (with a throwaway Bette Davis). Timeless satire always gets a pass.

The film's comic highlight: Kibbee's strip-poker game with opposition vamp Vivienne Osborne. With Frank McHugh, Harry Holman, Berton Churchill.

Guy Kibbee is Zachary Hicks, "The Dark Horse" for a governor's race in this 1932 film starring Warren William, Bette Davis, Frank McHugh and Vivian Osbourne. In order to break the convention deadlock, the Progressive party nominates a sure loser, Zachary Hicks, for governor. Secretary Davis, a plant in the political bosses' offices, urges them to hire her boyfriend, Hal Samson Blake (William) as Hicks' campaign manager. At the moment, he's in jail for back alimony, but the bosses are stirred by a speech Hal gives the prisoners. A subplot, which enters the main plot eventually, is in fact this very alimony, which Hal's ex (Osbourne) is determined to collect from him. Her anger with him causes her to interfere with the governor's race.

This is a very amusing movie and of course, we've seen bumbling politicians throughout film history - "Thanks a Million," "The Great Man Votes," "The Senator was Indiscreet" (my favorite) etc. ad infinitum. The reason they're always funny is that nothing has changed, so these films always strike a chord. This movie has special interest because of the presence of a very young, very pretty Bette Davis and also because it's pre-Code. There's a lot of rather obvious suggestiveness in it that I suppose would have caused objection.

I have to confess an undying love for Warren William, who is, as always, relaxed, funny and marvelous as a wheeler dealer who can get anybody elected to anything. He was sort of a poor man's Barrymore in these roles. I would have loved to have seen Barrymore do this part as well. Davis in an early ingénue role is good, but it's before anyone knew what to do with her. A million actresses could have played her part, but how many actresses could have done what she did in Of Human Bondage? Guy Kibbee is a perfect idiot nominee with bad feet and an eye for the ladies, and Frank McHugh is on hand to give his usual excellent support.

Lighthearted fun and recommended as a reminder that the more things change, the more they remain the same.

The Dark Horse (1932)

*** (out of 4)

The dimwitted Zachary Hicks (Guy Kibbee) gets nominated for governor through a complete mistake but since he's such a long horse his secretary (Bette Davis) suggests that they hire political spinner Hal Blake (Warren William) to try and help them win the election. THE DARK HORSE is a Warner comedy at its very best as we get a fun story, some pre-code moments and of course there's the terrific cast that really seals the deal. The majority of the credit has to go to the terrific cast, all of which deliver perfect performances. William has no trouble playing the fast-talking spinner who constantly has to be on his toes try to cover and make people like this idiot. Kibbee can play dumb like no other and he does it in a charming way. I think most actors would have been annoying playing a character as dumb as this one but Kibbee manages to make the character very charming and fun. Davis is basically reduced to a supporting role but it's fun getting to see her at this early point in her career and she has a nice chemistry with William. Vivienne Osborne is perfect as Blake's ex-wife who is a complete snake that you love to hate. Frank McHugh plays his typical comic relief role and does a nice job with it. I think the film works best when it's making fun of politics. The last portion of the film finds the ex-wife working for the other party to set up Kibbee and I think some of this was a bit too far fetched to be entertaining. Still, the terrific cast and amount of laughs make this a must see for fans of this era.

I had lots of chuckles for the first half of this spoof of the American political scene in the 1930's, when a deadlocked Progressive Party convention finally nominates delegate Zachary Hicks (Guy Kibbee) for governor because one of the party leaders liked his name, and then spread the word he'd be a good compromise candidate. What they didn't bargain for was that Kibbee was as dumb as could be. Party secretary, Bette Davis (young and beautiful in this early role), suggests getting the dynamo campaign manager, Warren William, to handle the campaign. The funniest scene occurs at the debate, when Kibbee's opponent (Berton Churchill) starts to give the same speech (written by Abraham Lincoln) that William had Kibbee memorize. William jumps up and accuses Churchill of plagiarism.

Kibbee is perfect as the dumb candidate, with his wide cherubic grin and innocent, halting way of speaking. William is also excellent as the fast talking, fast thinking manager, a part he played many times in previous and later films. Unfortunately, when William's ex-wife, Vivienne Osborne, shows up demanding past alimony payments and causing Davis to become jealous, the focus of the film changes a bit, much to its detriment. Still, the opposition Conservative Party has some tricks up their sleeve trying to win the election, which keeps the film interesting.

I do see what my forebears saw in the youthful Bette Davis. She's splendid throughout this almost-madcap political comedy which actually stars Warren Williams as the political operative constantly behind on his alimony. Vivienne Osborne is brilliant as his ex, and I found myself rooting for her throughout. The Williams character is not at all sympathetic, and he's not even a decent op.

Guy Kibbee is one of the best at what he does. As a candidate dragged out of his sleep at a political convention and nominated to be governor in order to prevent a rival candidate from being nominated, so this whole mess is borne of internecine political warfare in a party called the "Progressive Party." If you're of a political mind, you will probably see a party other than the one with which you are affiliated reflected in the fictional "Progressive Party" of Williams and Kibbee. I could draw exact parallels, but we're not here for that.

This is a good movie for those of us who love these old comedies. If you've ever watched any of the old Wheeler & Woolsey titles (HALF SHOT AT SUNRISE, THE RAINMAKERS), you'll find Frank McHugh, as Williams's right arm, looking and behaving a lot like Bert Wheeler. He had me fooled.

Yes, both my wife and I recommend this one.

Guy Kibbee gives the viewer a lot of laughs. Like most candidates, he knows almost nothing. Warren William, a very, under rated actor, is superb in giving instructions to Kibbee; that is, he teaches him to say something which means nothing to the voting public. A campaign based on no comment, "I'll take it under advisement," and "Maybe yes, but then again, maybe no," is the nearly perfect way to win an election. Succinctly, the dumber the candidate, the greater the chance he or she will win. After all, the public can identify with such a person. With respect to the movie, it makes for a lot of comedy.

The progressive party convention has been deadlocked for four days. Then a delegate has an idea: Why don't we nominate a dark horse to split our rival's votes and then squeeze our candidate in? Thus is born the gubernatorial candidacy of Zachary Hicks (Guy Kibbee), a sleepy and footsore conventioneer who soon inspires one of his own supporters to argue in his support, "Now there's no use to quarrel, gentlemen….It isn't the first time a fool was nominated to a political office."

The cast is excellent in this political satire that makes no pretense at being a tale of redemption or morality. Bette Davis is sharp as a party secretary and operative who is, as much as anyone, the brains behind the party's workings. Warren William is the political king-maker for hire who promotes Kibbee ruthlessly and brilliantly—and yet can't seem to quite escape from his own ex-wife, played saucily by Vivienne Osborne. Frank McHugh is William's loyal assistant, steady as always. Kibbee is possibly a little dumber than necessary, but very entertaining.

The weak spot in the story is the romantic subplot between the two leads—Warren William is impressive but he's all talk; Bette Davis appreciates his talent for glibness but has to keep walking out on him, for good reasons. Will he eventually convince her of his sincerity? Well, not really. Will he instead wear down her resistance? Well…. When this kind of plot is done best, we in the audience are won over by the wooer along with the object of his affections. In this case, I'm afraid I was rooting for Bette to run fast. –In other words, the romantic subplot isn't quite convincing, and is thus somewhat distracting. But oh well—both Bette and Warren talk fast and shoot penetrating glances all over the place.

Among a full cast of schemers and liars, Vivienne Osborne as William's wicked ex-wife perhaps comes off best: she at least is honest about what she wants, and almost becomes a likable character at one point. Frank McHugh, too, is very good in a role where he's constantly squeezed in uncomfortably among other people's problems and survives by his wits and dexterity.

All of the politicians in the film are atrocious hacks--schemers and backstabbers without exception. Politics has certainly come a long way over the decades!

Despite obvious limitations, this 1932 programmer is as perceptive and provocative as many of the more modern-day political films. What this minor movie underlines so importantly is the ease and appeal of electing an intellectual simpleton (Guy Kibbee) to high office (governor) for partisan purposes. Just wrap him in the appropriate populist symbolism, and he's a shoo-in. Unfortunately, the movie doesn't show how much money can be made from having an unquestioning dolt in office.

What it does show is the ease with which clever manipulators can say the right words and pander to an uncritical electorate. Consider the irony of both party candidates (Progressive Kibbee and Conservative Churchill) speaking from the same plagiarized page of Lincoln's soaring campaign rhetoric. What then separates the two if the speeches themselves are indistinguishable. What this comically made point suggests is that it's rhetoric rather than policy that's uppermost in winning the electorate. Comic or not, the point is still worth pondering.

Here the master manipulator is Warren William in a bravura performance-- too bad this dynamic actor is almost totally forgotten. Unfortunately, Guy Kibbee goes over the top as the good-natured simpleton, while Bette Davis shows both fire and flair in a very early role as William's office girl-friend. And in an unheralded albeit sleeper role is Vivenne Osborne as William's shrewish ex-wife, who's every guy's nightmare and enough to undo the whole institution of marriage.

Reviewer Hausner is correct that the focus shifts half-way through from Kibbee as governor to William's marital woes. It's almost as if the writers didn't know where to go with Kibbee's character once he's in office. Too bad-- there's real potential for incisive comment there. Anyway, we know the film precedes the deadening Production Code of 1934 since violation of the Mann Act turns up as a prominent plot device, ie. transporting women across state lines for immoral purposes, intended to stop what was then known as "white slavery" or forced prostitution. I don't recall mention of this risqué law any time during the 30-year Code era.

All in all, the movie is fitfully funny and interesting, but unfortunately fails to follow through on a fascinating premise.

The fast-talking, deeply dishonest trickster gets the girl. What kind of a plot is that? The point seems to be to showcase Warren William, as Hal Blake, the promo man who can elect a radish. The radish is Zachary Hicks (Guy Kibbee), a moon-faced Progressive Party delegate who gets the nomination in a failed trick to break the convention deadlock. The party officials are aghast, when in steps secretary Kay Russell (Bette Davis) telling them to hire Blake, once they've bailed him out. In jail for missing alimony payments, Blake has organized the inmates into singing Hicks supporters. So he's hired, helps Hicks, prevents a frame-up, has to remarry his mean wife (Vivienne Osborne), and almost loses Kay, but his next job is in Nevada, so he can get a Reno divorce. William is tall, with a noble profile and shifty eyes. He plays the smooth-talking, poised, elegant lady's man a lot. Kibbee is utterly wasted here, playing a genial simpleton who grins and grins, like the great bobblehead of the 30s. Davis is pretty smashing in her small role, tough, fast-talking, smart, and terrifically pretty.

"The Dark Horse" is a wonderful Warner Brothers satire of politics. Coming in 1932, it pans the past corruption of politicking at the same time it shows the growing influence of shysters in political campaigns. Just four years before, the "Pineapple Primary" of 1928 was probably the bloodiest election in American history. It happened in Chicago with dozens of bombings and killings to scare off political opponents. Two candidates were killed. The pineapple reference was to grenades for the more than 60 bombings.

Just one year before this film came out, Anton Cermak was elected mayor of Chicago. He would take political corruption to a new level with his Democratic Machine that would find every way possible of cheating to get votes. His machine reached its pinnacle under Mayor Richard Daley who reigned from 1955 to 1976.

One message in this movie that hasn't changed over the decades is public gullibility. That's what enabled corrupt politicians of the past to get in office, and it's what many modern campaigns try use to their advantage.

The players in this film all do superb jobs. Warren William is at his best as Hal Samson Blake. He's the epitome of a shyster campaign manager. Guy Kibbee plays the perfect candidate for this plot. His Zachary Hicks is a clueless character -- not a buffoon, but a slow-witted, naïve and simple guy. And, honest as the day is long. His name even suggests the character (an obvious ploy of the writers) – Hicks. It seems that movies often portray honest people as simple, slow, common, even dumb. Kibbee, who is a very talented supporting actor, nails his part perfectly here.

Bette Davis is superb as Kay Russell. She's a sharp confidant, aide and supporter of Blake. She also loves him but has the sense to realize he's too much of a tiger to be able to tame easily. Another reviewer said the Davis part was underwritten. But, it was perfect for the plot of this film. Any more would have detracted from the plot. Movie fans have to realize that favorite actors can't have the leads in everything they do. Most have come to stardom with lesser roles in their early years. And, some actors have won Oscars and done their best work in supporting or lesser roles. Davis is excellent as Russell, and this is a very good early film of hers.

It's interesting that this was just the tenth film of each of the leads -- Davis and William. And, the third leading role for each one. William was 13 years older than Davis and had his start in silent films 10 years earlier. But he did just two of those and spent most of his first years on Broadway. He returned to film after sound was established, and became a favorite leading and second player with his deep, rich voice. William made his mark playing three different detective or lawyer roles. He was the first Perry Mason in films, and made a number of films as Philo Vance and Michael Lanyard (aka, The Shadow).

Davis was one of the newcomers to Hollywood who would shoot to stardom rapidly. Her first film was in 1931, and she got great notice in a film just before this one. She played Grace Blair opposite George Arliss in the 1932 popular film, "The Man Who Played God." She had several more successful films from 1932 to 1934, and that year cemented her stardom in "Of Human Bondage."

A favorite scene in "The Dark Horse" is on the night of the debate between the candidates. Hal Blake has coached Zachary Hicks to give an early down home talk that supposedly had been given by Abraham Lincoln. But, opponent William Underwood gets to speak first, and he begins his talk with that very same speech. Blake, sitting in the front audience, realizes that his man is cooked, since Hicks knows nothing else and may not even realize that he and Underwood have the same identical speeches.

The only way Blake could save the day and candidacy of Hicks would be to disrupt the forum. And he does so with aplomb. He raises his voice, interrupts Underwood's talk and takes the stage, pushing even the moderator aside. Then, brandishing his own copy of Abraham Lincoln speeches he accuses Underwood of plagiarism. He has such command of the stage, feigning his own indignation of having been duped by Underwood, that the opponent flees the stage. Then, Blake turns the gathering into a rally for Hicks. He leads them in the song he had written for the Hicks campaign (while he was in jail). It goes to the tune of "East Side, West Side."

This is a good film to see the talent of these fine actors in their early years, and some of the fine supporting actors of the period. It's also a good look at the culture of politics of the day. The plot is not of the caliber of the very best of these type of films (i.e., "The Senator was Indiscreet" of 1947 with William Powell), but it is a very good comedy and satire of politics. Or, as Zachary Hicks might say, "Yes, and again… no." For some of the funny dialog, see the Quotes section under this IMDb Web page for the film.

Incidentally, the Abraham Lincoln speech referred to in the movie – as being plagiarized by Mr. Underwood, wasn't a speech at all. The words that Hal reads from his book were the very end of a long letter that Lincoln wrote to announce his first candidacy for office. It was published on March 9, 1832, in the Sangamo Journal of Springfield, Illinois. Lincoln was running for a county seat in the Illinois General Assembly.

***SPOILERS*** Hysterically funny political movie that has a totally naive and simple man, or man of the people, Zachary Hicks, Guy Kibbee, suffering from a pair of ill-fitting shoes get the Progressive Nomination for governor with ex-con, in him being behind in his alimony payments, Hal "Samson" Blake, Warren William, becoming his campaign manager. Doing everything to make Hicks acceptable as governor Blake soon runs into problems with his estranged wife Maybelle, Vivienne Osborne, storming into Hick's campaign office demanding the $400.00 he's behind in his alimony payments or she'll call the cops on him and have him put back behind bars.

There's also the case of Blake's secretary Kay Russell, Bette Davis, who's planning to marry him finding out that he's in fact still married to Maybelle a fact he kept from her all this time. With the campaign for governor's race in full swing Blake has to somehow come up with the $400.00 or else get exposed as a dead beat husband and cause his client Zachary Hicks to end up going down in flames in the upcoming election.

***SPOILERS*** Ther's also a sub-plot hatched against Hicks in getting him into a compromising position with a married women-Maybelle no less-who tricks the dope into playing a game of strip poker which he, in trying to impress her, purposely loses to her leaving him with only his long-johns on and having a crew of newspapermen and photographers ready to bust into his motel room an catch and photograph him in the act! The ending of the film is a bit strained but still a happy one with Hicks elected governor by a landslide with Blake finally dumping his wife Maybelle and marrying Kay in of all places Reno Nevada before Maybelle has a chance, in re-marrying Blake, to prevent it from happening!

Warren Williams leads a good cast in a fast-paced movie about politics and marriage.

It's one of Williams' best performances. He's perfect as the fleet-thinking con man who juggles responsibilities -- electing a complete nincompoop as governor, and trying to squeeze out from under alimony payments and marry his secretary, Bette Davis. William's long snoot and pompous expressions resemble John Barrymore's in his later years. He may not be a gifted comedian but he delivers the goods.

The political story is, well, I hate to say "relevant" -- but it's relevant. The romantic angle is well handled too. Nobody breaks into tears or begs forgiveness. The only emotions we see, besides an occasional gesture of affection, are anger and skepticism. Bette Davis is blond and pretty, and her eyes are extra-terrestrial.

Fun, and worth catching.

Warren William steals the show in this film as a campaign manager appearing to be just about one step beyond his critics.

It's basically the old tale of a political party nominating a dim-wit, in this case, the affable Guy Kibbee to be their candidate for governor, in the hope that they can control just about everything.

Bette Davis makes an impressive look here as the secretary of the party who gets the regulars to hire the William character since he is the man she is romantically involved with. He is stuck paying alimony to a cunning ex-wife and when she is hired to create an embarrassment for Kibbee on the eve of the election, all comic hilarity bursts out.

In most of the movies I've seen with Guy Kibbee, his presence is usually too short, as the occasional blustery background financier and producer in Gold Diggers of (insert year here). In a few, his presence is too long, as the lead in a movie where he is an ill tempered crank who shouts at everyone for a couple of hours. In this movie, the balance is perfect.

Kibbee plays the role that he has polished to perfection: The bumbling and somewhat stupid character, in this case the candidate that is running for office. His campaign staff has to prop him up in order to run successfully. The comedy is rich, and the background cast -- especially a young Bette Davis -- is up to the challenge. The ending is somewhat forced but satisfying.

It's a little weird that the fat and elderly Kibbee spends so much time in his underwear toward the end, and that the camera focuses in for close-ups on the rips in the rear of his long johns, but...to each his own.

Definitely worth your time, if you're in the mood for a turn-off-your-brain and feel good old-time Depression-era escapist movie.

Guy Kibbee, in amiable-idiot mode, is mistakenly made a gubernatorial candidate and cruises to victory with the help of scheming publicist Warren William, who's romancing campaign assistant Bette Davis, who looks bored in this conventional-leading-lady role. It's a lively pre-Code Warners satire that doesn't go very deep, not really saying anything about elections beyond "everybody's a crook." But it's fun going, with Frank McHugh as a campaign troubleshooter and Vivienne Osborne making the most of a nasty role as William's treacherous ex-wife. Even William, who didn't often show a lot of life, really gets into this part and looks like he's having fun. Much of the flummery on display could easily be updated to present-day electioneering-- just add TV and Twitter and stir. An enjoyable quickie.

This is a frustrating film, as parts were quite enjoyable but there were just too many lulls where the writing went south. It's a shame, as it could have been a lot better. As is, it's a watchable time-passer with a disappointing ending.

The film begins with a political convention. It's been deadlocked for many hours and the two prime candidates for governor can't get a majority. Finally, in desperation, they nominate a complete unknown (Guy Kibbee)--a guy who is not only a political novice but a complete boob. So, to help push the idiot on to the governor's office, they hire a brilliant but disreputable guy (Warren William) to closely manage the campaign and keep Kibbee out of trouble.

Along for the ride is Bette Davis in one of her early and more thankless roles. She really has little to do other than to be William's girlfriend--the sort of bland roles she got quite a bit though the mid-1930s. Instead, the show is much more William with his suave and oily charm and Kibbee playing his usual boob-like character. It's enjoyable but occasionally the film shows that perhaps the script needed a bit more polishing. And, sadly, the part in most need of punching up was the ending--which came off flat and unsatisfying. Not bad--not great.