Magic Town [Blu-ray]

Director: William A. Wellman William A. Wellman

Overview

With Robert Riskin as screenwriter, director William Wellman proved in Magic Town that it was possible to make a Frank Capra-esque picture without Capra himself at the helm. James Stewart plays Rip Smith, a cynical pollster who comes across a small American town named Grandview, which represents a "perfect" balance of ethnic types, professions, political beliefs, and personal opinions (a parody of the then-current "Middletown" study). Smith publicizes this discovery, leading to a barrage of media attention and an onslaught of get-rich-quick entrepreneurs. Not surprisingly, all of this has an adverse effect on the heretofore "average" citizens of Grandview; it also seriously threatens Smith's blossoming romance with local girl Mary Peterman (Jane Wyman), who feels that her friends and neighbors are being used, exploited, and in some cases, corrupted. The satirical thrust of the film bogs down into sentimentality toward the end, but it's fun while it lasts. One of the colorful supporting characters is played by screwball-comedy favorite Donald Meek, who died during production, necessitating a number of hasty and not altogether successful rewrites. Though it pleases audiences today, Magic Town was a financial disappointment in 1947, prompting James Stewart to seek out "tougher" and more challenging roles to restore his box-office appeal.

Product Details

Release Date:	04/23/2013
UPC:	0887090059206
Original Release:	1947
Rating:	NR
Source:	Olive
Presentation:	[B&W]
Language:	English
Time:	1:43:00
Sales rank:	21,437

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

James Stewart	Rip Smith
Jane Wyman	Mary Peterman
Kent Smith	Hoopendecker
Wallace Ford	Lou Dicketts
Ned Sparks	Ike Sloan
Regis Toomey	Ed Weaver
Ann Doran	Mrs. Weaver
Donald Meek	Mr. Twiddle
E.J. Ballantine	Moody
Ann Shoemaker	Ma Peterman
Mickey Kuhn	Hank Nickleby
Howard Freeman	Richard Nickleby
Harry Holman	Mayor
Mickey Roth	Bob Peterman
Mary Currier	Mrs. Frisby
George Irving	Sen. Wilton
Selmer Jackson	Charlie Stringer,Charlie Stringer
Robert Dudley	Dickey
Julia Dean	Mrs. Wilton
Joel Friedkin	Dingle
Paul Scardon	Hodges
George Chandler	Bus Driver
Frank Darien	Quincy
Larry Wheat	Sam Fuller
Jimmy Crane	Shorty
Richard Belding	Junior Dicketts
Danny Mummert	Benny
Griff Barnett	Henry
Edna Holland	Secretary
Eddie Parks	Bookkeeper
Paul Maxey	Fat Man in Hallway
Lee 'Lasses' White	Old Timer
Snub Pollard	Townsman,Townsman
Wheaton Chambers	Electrician
Edgar Dearing	Gray-Haired Man
Emmett Vogan	Reverend
Eddy Waller	Newcomer
Frank Fenton	Birch
Garry Owen	Man Smoking Offensive Cigar
William Haade	Moving Man
Dick Wessel	Moving Man
John Ince	Postman
Dick Elliott	New Arrival
Lee Phelps	City Council Member
Lawrence Wheat	Sam Fuller
Roy Webb	Composer

Technical Credits

Robert Riskin

Robert Riskin	Producer,Screenwriter
William A. Wellman	Director
John E. Tribby	Sound/Sound Designer
Terry Kellum	Sound/Sound Designer

Editorial Reviews

Magic Town could have used a little magic itself -- especially the kind of magic provided by that old wizard, Frank Capra. Magic demonstrates just how important a factor Capra was to the success of his films. Written (and produced) by Capra writer Robert Riskin, Magic has many of the ingredients that one associates with Capra, but it lacks the spark to animate them or to transform the sticky sentimentality that pervades the film into genuine heartfelt sentiment. William Wellman doesn't really make a stab at Capra magic, nor does he take a different tack and try explore the satirical elements in the situation; instead, he provides fairly flat direction that lacks distinction. Fortunately, Magic does have a marvelous cast that makes up for many of the film's flaws, with James Stewart and Jane Wyman taking top honors. It also has a number of scenes -- the dual poem-recitation scene, a great drinking segment -- that do take flight. If all the film were as delightful as these scenes, Magic Town would have been a terrific film. As it is, it's certainly light and entertaining, but not much more.