In THE DARK HORSE, Guy Kibbee plays a candidate for state governor so incredibly stupid that "every time he opens his mouth he subtracts from the sum total of human knowledge." Topically thrown together during an election year, this rollicking, refreshingly jaundiced political farce still packs a razor-sharp bite.
Consider the relevance to modern day affairs: Warren William is the fast-talking con artist hired to manage Kibbee's campaign and sell the unknown candidate to the public. He coaches his brain-dead charge in the finer points of evasive double-talk (Kibbee's response to reporters' probing questions: "Yes... and then again no"), provides him with arcane speeches by Abe Lincoln for debates, drums up smear campaigns and law suits against the opposition, manipulates media attention, and displays utter contempt for the easily-duped voter that remains uncompromising to the end (Kibbee is last seen tipping his hat in a motorcade after a landslide victory).
This acid-drenched comedy directed by the gifted workhorse Alfred E. Green and written by Joseph Jackson can be forgiven its occasional buffoonish slapstick and formula romantic subplot (with a throwaway Bette Davis). Timeless satire always gets a pass.
The film's comic highlight: Kibbee's strip-poker game with opposition vamp Vivienne Osborne. With Frank McHugh, Harry Holman, Berton Churchill.
Consider the relevance to modern day affairs: Warren William is the fast-talking con artist hired to manage Kibbee's campaign and sell the unknown candidate to the public. He coaches his brain-dead charge in the finer points of evasive double-talk (Kibbee's response to reporters' probing questions: "Yes... and then again no"), provides him with arcane speeches by Abe Lincoln for debates, drums up smear campaigns and law suits against the opposition, manipulates media attention, and displays utter contempt for the easily-duped voter that remains uncompromising to the end (Kibbee is last seen tipping his hat in a motorcade after a landslide victory).
This acid-drenched comedy directed by the gifted workhorse Alfred E. Green and written by Joseph Jackson can be forgiven its occasional buffoonish slapstick and formula romantic subplot (with a throwaway Bette Davis). Timeless satire always gets a pass.
The film's comic highlight: Kibbee's strip-poker game with opposition vamp Vivienne Osborne. With Frank McHugh, Harry Holman, Berton Churchill.