The Magnificent Dope

Director: Walter Lang Walter Lang

Overview

In order to be permitted to appear in "prestige" items like Grapes of Wrath and The Ox-Bow Incident, Henry Fonda had to agree to appear in such inconsequential fluff as The Magnificent Dope. On its own terms, however, this gentle satire of the "Dale Carnegie" school of self-help is pretty funny. Don Ameche plays Dwight Dawson, the owner of a success school which isn't all that successful. Dawson's secretary-sweetheart, Claire Harris (Lynn Bari), suggests a publicity stunt which might improve business -- if Dawson can make a success out of the laziest man in America, the world will beat a path to his door. After an extensive search, the perfect candidate for Dawson's academy is found: cheerful, laid-back country boy Tad Page, who prefers happiness and serenity to hard work and wealth. In true "reverse procedure" tradition, it is Tad's take-it-easy philosophy, rather than Dawson's "get up and go" dictum, that eventually wins the hearts of the American public. Fourth-billed Edward Everett Horton has little to do other than his inimitable double takes, one of which amusingly closes the picture.

Product Details

Release Date:	10/07/2014
UPC:	0024543970354
Original Release:	1942
Rating:	NR
Source:	ALLIED VAUGHN
Language:	English
Time:	1:23:00
Sales rank:	46,974

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Henry Fonda	Thadeus Winship 'Tad' Page
Don Ameche	Dwight Dawson
Lynn Bari	Claire Harris
Edward Everett Horton	Horace Hunter
George Barbier	Barker
Frank Orth	Messenger
Roseanne Murray	Dawson's Secretary
Marietta Canty	Jennie
Hal K. Dawson	Charlie
Josephine Whittell	Mrs. Hunter
Arthur Loft	Fire Engine Salesman
Paul Stanton	Peters
Harry Hayden	Mitchell
Chick Chandler	Reporter
Kitty McHugh	Sadie
Hobart Cavanaugh	Gowdy
Claire DuBrey	Secretary
Pierre Watkin	Carson
William B. Davidson	Mr. Reindel
Byron Foulger	Man
Harry Depp	Man
Carey Harrison	Man
Ralph Brooks	Man
Jack Mower	Man
Charles Meakin	Man
Larry Wheat	Man
Larry Williams	Man
Kenneth Gibson	Man
Frank Jaquet	Man
Paul McVey	John
Gladys Blake	Another Secretary
Lawrence Wheat	Man

Technical Credits

Walter Lang	Director
William Perlberg	Producer

Editorial Reviews

Although Frank Capra made it seem easy to make a Capra-esque comedy, The Magnificent Dope demonstrates that it's far trickier than it seems. Clearly inspired by the likes of Mr. Deeds Goes to Town and Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, Dope takes on the hayseed-vs.-city slicker conflict and does absolutely nothing original with it. Dope is predictable from start to finish. Predictability can be alright in this type of picture, but only if it is set up in such a way that it feels more like inevitability -- and only if the characterizations have a spark of originality and the dialogue has a crispness or sparkle to it. These qualities are largely missing here, and while Walter Lang does keep things moving at a brisk pace and tries to divert attention from the screenplay's flaws, it isn't quite enough. Fortunately, Dope does have a very good cast. Henry Fonda hated doing the film, but his performance doesn't show it; he makes the absolute most of every moment he is given, and his presence and ease give a substantial boost to the film. Don Ameche is also in very excellent form, playing off of both Fonda and Lynn Bari with smoothness. Bari does quite well with the love interest part, and Edward Everett Horton is appealing though given little to do.

All Movie Guide - Craig Butler