Magic Town **** (1947, James Stewart, Jane Wyman, Kent Smith) – Classic Movie Review 9559

Director William A Wellman’s 1947 comedy Magic Town is an underrated pleasure. It describes the politician’s dream – a Magic Town that is a perfect mirror of American opinions.

James Stewart stars as opinion pollster Lawrence ‘Rip’ Smith, who is told about a sleepy little town that’s exactly typical statistically so, with colleagues Mr Twiddle and Ike (Donald Meek and Ned Sparks), he heads for Grandview to make his fortune and rescue his opinion poll company, which is going broke.

He charms the locals and falls for newswoman and civic crusader Mary Peterman (Jane Wyman). But then everything goes wrong when the townsfolk find out that he is not really the insurance man he says he is and why he is interested in them. Kent Smith co-stars as Professor Frederick Hoopendecker.

Magic Town is an uneven but always involving and amusing Frank Capra-esque satirical comedy, with sparkling work from Stewart, Wyman and the superb character players, director Wellman and writer Robert Riskin (who was Frank Capra’s regular collaborator).

Also in the cast are Regis Toomey, Donald Meek, Ned Sparks, Wallace Ford, Ann Shoemaker, Ann Doran, Howard Freeman, George Irving, Selmer Jackson, Robert Dudley, Julia Dean, George Chandler, Danny Mummert, Snub Pollard, Frank Fenton, William Haade and Dick Wessel.

Magic Town is directed by William A Wellman, runs 103 minutes, is made by Robert Riskin Productions, is released by RKO Radio Pictures, is written by Robert Riskin, from a story by Robert Riskin and Joseph Krumgold, is shot in black and white by Joseph F Biroc, is produced by Robert Riskin and William A Wellman, is scored by Roy Webb and Constantin Bakaleinikoff (musical director), with production designs by Lionel Banks.

It is also available in a colorized version.

Ill health forced Loretta Young to quit as female lead.

© Derek Winnert 2020 Classic Movie Review 9559

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