The Dark Horse (1932)

Director:

Alfred E. Green

Writers:

Joseph Jackson (writer)
Wilson Mizner (writer)

Release Date:

16 June 1932 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Plot:

Zachary Hicks is nominated at the Progressive party's convention even though he has little chance of winning the governorship...

Plot Keywords:

Political | Alimony | Plagiarism | Strip Poker

Cast

Warren William	...	Hal Samson Blake
Bette Davis	...	Kay Russell
Guy Kibbee	...	Zachary Hicks
Vivienne Osborne	...	Maybelle Blake, Hal's ex-wife
Frank McHugh	...	Joe
Sam Hardy	...	Mr. Black
Harry Holman	...	Mr. Jones
Charles Sellon	...	Mr. Green
Robert Emmett O'Connor	...	Sheriff (as Robert E. O'Connor)
Berton Churchill	...	William A. Underwood
Robert Warwick	...	Mr. Clark

Runtime:

75 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Company:

First National Pictures

Quotes:

Hal Samson Blake: He's the dumbest human being I ever saw. Every time he opens his mouth he subtracts from the sum total of human knowledge.

Soundtrack:

Hail! Hail! The Gang's All Here

An amusing take-off of the American political process, 1930's style, but it falters halfway through.

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.