State of the Union (film)

State of the Union is a 1948 film adaptation written by Myles Connolly and Anthony Veiller of the Russel Crouse, Howard Lindsay play of the same name. Directed by Frank Capra and starring Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn, the film is Capra's first and only project for MGM Pictures. The screenplay deviated most from the play in its absence of the play's sardonic wit and more controversial themes.

Originally, actress Claudette Colbert was cast as Mary, the wife of Grant Matthews (played by Spencer Tracy), but rumors of disagreements with Capra and a reported "back" injury led to the weekend casting of Hepburn, Tracy's longtime companion. Other behind the scenes tensions were between Adolphe Menjou, a onetime member the McCarthyist group Motion Picture Alliance for the Preservation of American Ideals, and his former co-star Katharine Hepburn, as well as Hepburn and the much younger Angela Lansbury.

The film was produced entirely by Capra's own company, Liberty Films. In order to cast MGM contract player Tracy in the film, the latter studio bought the distribution rights. In fact, many of the major actors in the film were under contract with MGM also.

Capra bought the film after its initial theatrical release. After Capra's company folded, Liberty Films' assets were acquired by Paramount Pictures. It has since had limited availability on VHS home video and until recently has been unavailable on DVD. EMKA, Ltd./NBC Universal currently owns the rights to the film due to it being a part of Paramount's pre-1950 library. Universal Studios Home Entertainment released a DVD version on August 29, 2006.

Plot

Republican newspaper magnate Kay Thorndyke (Angela Lansbury) intends to make her lover, aircraft tycoon Grant Matthews (Spencer Tracy), President of the United States with her as the power behind the throne. Thorndyke plans to use her newspaper chain's influence to deadlock the 1948 Republican National Convention, so it will choose Matthews as a compromise dark horse candidate instead of Dewey, Taft, or another.

Matthews is skeptical of the idea of running for president, but Thorndyke, Republican strategist Jim Conover (Adolphe Menjou), and campaign manager Spike McManus (Van Johnson) persuade him to run. Matthews reunites with estranged wife Mary (Katharine Hepburn) for the campaign. Despite knowing about her husband and Thorndyke's affair Mary agrees to support him in public because of his idealism and honesty, and because she does not know about Thorndyke's role in the campaign.

The politically naïve Matthews makes a controversial speech in Wichita denouncing big labor. Before he makes another controversial speech in Detroit denouncing big business, Thorndyke secretly persuades him to moderate his tone to help his chances for the nomination. With her and Conover's help, Matthews makes deals with various special interests for their support.

Before a nationwide fireside chat from the Matthews' home, Mary learns of Thorndyke's continuing relationship with her husband and sees the deals that he has made. Matthews realizes that he has betrayed his and Mary's ideals. On live radio, he denounces both his backers and himself as frauds, withdraws as a candidate but promises to seek bipartisan reform, and asks for his wife's forgiveness.

Cast

External links

• State of the Union at the Internet Movie Database
• State of the Union at AllRovi