Gabriel over the White House (1933), - 8pm est
Posted on 09/18/2012 9:57:09 AM PDT by Vision
This is your Turner Classic Movie channel alert!
Tonight...Walter Huston!...in Gabriel over the White House(1933), 8pm est
"A crooked president reforms mysteriously."
When the film opens, U.S. President Judson C. ‘Judd’ Hammond (Huston) is variously described as “a Hoover-like partisan hack”[6] or “basically a do-nothing crook, based on, to some extent, Warren G. Harding.” Then he suffers a near-fatal automobile accident and goes into a coma. Through what Portland State University instructor[7] Dennis Grunes calls “possible divine intervention,”[8] Hammond (an “FDR lookalike”)[9] miraculously recovers, emerging “a changed man, an activist politician, a Roosevelt.”[3]
President Hammond makes “a political U-turn,”[5] purging his entire cabinet of “big-business lackeys.” When Congress impeaches him, he responds by dissolving the legislative branch, assuming the “temporary” power to make laws as he “transforms himself into an all-powerful dictator.”[10] He orders the formation of a new “Army of Construction” answerable only to him, spends billions on one New Deal–like program after another, and nationalizes the manufacture and sale of alcohol.[6]
Sounds like socialist propaganda
I don't want the current president to 'reform'. I just want him the hell out of here.
Yes, wow, this really does sound like propaganda.
Struck to death, the whole world marvels at his recovery? That sounds vaguely familiar...
Inspired by certain foreign movements - fascism, nazism, communism...
US military leaders plot to overthrow the President because he supports a nuclear disarmament treaty and they fear a Soviet sneak attack.
An appalling piece of fascist/collectivist propaganda. This movie is discussed in Jonah Goldberg's Liberal Fascism. It's a good example of it.
Sounds like FDR actually learned from this movie.
I think they made it while he was running for President or something. Like agitprop or something. But for which side?
I hope people understand how special Walter Huston was. A beautiful American actor.
Interesting post... thank you.
Check out Houston in “Mission To Moscow’’(1943). The guy was a Red through and through.
I’ve seen most of it. It was one of FDR’s favorite movies. The movie ends with the President having a stroke and dieing just before he can sign a disarmament treaty.
It was one a series of “strong man” movies made at the bottom of the Depression showing someone coming in and setting things right. Whether the actions were Constitutional or not.
“Over the White House” is evidently the one that has survived the test of time.
Thanks for the reply. A few of us may not have wanted to know the ending however.
It was directed by F. W. Murnau, the great German Expressionalist also known for his direction of the famous silent classic, "Nesferatu".
The plot of "Sunrise" was cornily dramatic, but the acting was so intense and outstanding plus the stylistic sets and other features were so innovative for the time that I really got hooked on it. It is considered one of the 100 best films ever made.....and has been called "the Citizen Kane of the Silents" because of the directing innovations and the unusual camera work.
Thanks, Vision, for posting alerts to us on all the great classic movies that TCM is showing. Last week, dang it all, I missed the 1946 terrific film noir, "Gilda", with Rita Hayworth at her most luscious and seductive peak (and wearing that unforgettable gown that women still remember and men still lust over!)
Leni
Yes, silent films can be quite gripping. I really like City Lights.
And yes...Hayworth was amazing in Gilda.
They're a sad commentary on how far American culture has fallen; but we still have these!
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