Comedy
United States of America
The Great McGinty, released in 1940, is a political satire film directed and written by Preston Sturges. The film stars Brian Donlevy as Dan McGinty, Muriel Angelus as Catherine, and Akim Tamiroff as The Boss.
The film opens with Dan McGinty, a destitute bum, recounting his rise to power in a smoky bar. Flashing back to his earlier life, he finds himself being recruited by a corrupt political machine to help with vote fraud. With his natural talent for manipulation and deceit, Dan quickly rises through the ranks and becomes a trusted aide to The Boss.
When the current mayor dies, The Boss decides to run Dan as a "reform" candidate, hoping to deceive the public into thinking they are voting for an honest leader. In order to make Dan appear more respectable, The Boss instructs him to marry Catherine, a woman who is unaware of Dan's true nature.
Dan marries Catherine and quickly wins the election, becoming the mayor of the city. However, as he begins to see the effects of his corrupt actions on the citizens he is supposed to be serving, he begins to feel guilty. Catherine also confronts him about his wrongdoing, causing Dan to realize the error of his ways.
In the end, Dan decides to confess his corruption to the public and is consequently sentenced to 10 years in prison. Catherine, who has fallen in love with Dan despite his flaws, waits for him until he is released.
The Great McGinty was praised for its sharp wit and biting social commentary. It won the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay and launched Preston Sturges' career as a film director.
