New Year, New Movie: Politics (1931)

I am ready for some lighthearted entertainment, and tonight seemed like a good night for Politics. The first time I saw Marie Dressler was in Dinner at Eight, and I was intrigued by the reverence she seemed to inspire, which caused me to seek out more of her movies. She was certainly not the glamour gal that was the norm of the day, but was truly a talented and beloved actress. This is one of nine films where she partnered with Polly Moran, and they made a great comedic team.

The Gist

After a friend's daughter takes a bullet intended for her own daughter's secret fiancé at a speakeasy, Hattie appeals to Mayor Tom Collins during a women's club meeting to close up the speakeasies to protect their children. He dismisses her for being a silly, hysterical woman, prompting her to give an impassioned speech that fires up the ladies, who call for her to run for mayor. After the town's husbands try to pressure their wives not to support Hattie's election bid, she comes up with a plan to ensure the men's votes by organizing a women's strike of "parlor, bedroom and bath." 

Memorable Moments

"Put that foot where it belongs!"

"If I did, you wouldn't be able to sit down for a month."

The Stolen Jools was released 3 months before this film.

Casualty of gangland violence.

"We're a cinch. Listen to those old dames fall for Collins.
That guy could bring tears to a glass eye."

Standing up to the mob.

A secret love affair.

"The men are using their masculine rights and power—
their money, their physical strength unfairly.
Alright! Then there's nothing left for us women to do
but to use our rights and our strength."

Discovering a fugitive.

Election in jeopardy.

Getting cleared.

Teamwork

My Thoughts

I confess that this movie is not entirely new to me, though since I haven't seen it in a long time and I have such a poor memory, it is almost like watching it for the first time. I had forgotten how much fun Dressler and Moran are to watch together. It's interesting to see a portrayal of a woman running for office just a little more than ten years after women were granted the right to vote. It only took 90 years since this movie was released to elect a woman to the White House.