The Great Man Votes

The Great Man Votes (DVD) (*)

~~$20.99~~ $14.97

Language Selections:
English ( Dolby Digital 2.0 )
Spanish ( Dolby Digital 2.0 )
Spanish ( Subtitles )

Product Origin/Format:
Spain ( PAL/Region 0 )

Running Time:
72 min

Aspect Ratio:
Fullscreen

Special Features:
Interactive Menu
Scene Access
Black & White
Booklet

Movie filmed in 1939 and produced in:
United States ( USA, Canada )

Directed By:
Garson Kanin

Written By:
Gordon Malherbe Hillman
John Twist

Actors:
John Barrymore ..... Vance
Peter Holden ..... Donald
Virginia Weidler ..... Joan
Katharine Alexander ..... Miss Billow
Donald MacBride ..... Iron Hat McCarthy
Benny Bartlett ..... Davy McCarthy
Brandon Tynan ..... Chester Ainslee
Elisabeth Risdon ..... Phoebe Ainslee
Granville Bates ..... The Mayor
Luis Alberni ..... Manos
J.M. Kerrigan ..... Hot Shot Gillings
William Demarest ..... Charles Dale
Roy Gordon ..... Mr. Byrne

Synopsis:

In 1923, Gregory Vance, a widower with two children, is a former scholar who has turned from book-to-bottle. He works, slightly, as a night-watchman and his children, who know him for what he is and what he isn't, are his only admirers. Then, it is discovered that he is the only registered voter in a key precinct and the politicians, from both parties, arrive in droves bearing inducements. What he does about this situation, and the relatives who want to take his children away from him make up the story.

Ageing, alcohol-benumbed John Barrymore had one last great performance left in him before his death in 1942, and The Great Man Votes was the ideal vehicle for that performance. Barrymore plays a widowed, once-distinguished professor, lately reduced to being a night watchman. He tries to stay off the "hard stuff" for the sake of his two small children, Virginia Weidler and Peter Holden, but his lack of responsibility nearly loses him the custody of both kids. Meanwhile, scheming politico Donald MacBride discovers that his winning the upcoming mayoral election hinges upon one single vote--and guess whose vote that is? With "VIP" status suddenly thrust upon him, Barrymore regains his children, his former status in life, and (as a last-minute plot twist reveals) his self respect. Director Garson Kanin was so anxious to extract a good performance from John Barrymore that he ordered everyone on the set to treat the fading matinee idol with deference and respect. Unaccustomed to such treatment in his later years, Barrymore looked around the set and bellowed, "Which Barrymore do you think I am, Lionel?" Despite his precarious physical condition and his reputation for temperamental outbursts, Barrymore was the soul of cooperation on the set. His fiery temper flared only once, when child actor Virginia Weidler calculatedly attempted to steal a scene from him. Though appalled at the spectacle of The Great Profile profanely chewing out the tiny Weidler, Kanin admitted in retrospect that Barrymore was absolutely right: the kid was intruding on one of the star's soliloquies, and nobody did that to John Barrymore.

Respected scholar Gregory Vance (John Barrymore) falls to pieces upon the death of his wife, descending into drunken irresponsibility. Despite his being reduced to working as a night watchman, his loyal children, Donald (Peter Holden) and Joan (Virginia Weidler), know that he can regain his dignity. The opportunity arises when the press discovers that Gregory is the last uncommitted voter in the district, and the mayor sends out his political boss to ensure that Gregory votes correctly.

This product was added to our catalog on Thursday 10 December, 2015.

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