Fremde Stadt

This picture feels like one of the Capra/Riskin classics of the thirties but made a decade later there's something not quite right. The prog-rock analogy would be when Marillion in the 80s tried to emulate Genesis of the 70s - really good but lacking authenticity.

The golden partnership of Frank Capra and Robert Riskin had broken up by now and both were pursuing solo careers. The two former friends now really disliked each other and when Riskin saw his old pal's IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE, he was furious that Capra had made a film just like the ones he used to write himself. Consequently he made this as his reply. Although Riskin's film has exactly the same tone and mood as his earlier works he did with Capra in the thirties, he seems to try too hard to outdo Capra by making the story a little bit too far-fetched and being even more sentimental and mushy.

The films he made with Capra were incredibly sentimental but they work - they're believable and engaging. I think the passing of the decade from the thirties to the forties made this type of film too sweet for our tastes today. The thirties were a long time ago, we don't know anyone from that decade so we imagine them as a distinct species living in a Hollywood dream world where sentimentality was as natural as air and where an overwhelming sense of optimism, decency and kindness would always overcome the evils of society. OK, the forties is also a long time ago, because it's post-war those people don't seem that remote - they're virtually the same as us and don't think that differently to us. Seeing therefore that 1930s mind-set transposed to people whom we think are like us doesn't quite sit right.

Being a big 1930s movie fan, it's great although a little sad to see the stalwarts of the pre-code days - but much older. We've former leading men, Regis Toomey and Wallace Ford now in supporting roles. We have Donald Meek and the great grumpy Ned Sparks in their last roles. The presence of these 'old timers' adds some necessary nostalgia from the earlier decade. Necessary because the whole premise of this picture is to imbue the audience with a sense of how warm, cozy and innocent America was before the war. What Riskin tries to do is make another of his classic little guy fights and beats 'the man.' In this case the little guy is a whole innocent and idyllic little town and 'the man' is greed and corruption. The trouble is that it's now 1947 so stories like his didn't quite resonate with a cynical post-war audience. Just like IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE, this film was a momentous flop at the time (although IAWL lost even more money!)

MAGIC TOWN is not a bad film, it's just a rather pale reflection of better films! Whereas those earlier picture developed tension and a sense of outrage when things looked like they were starting to go wrong for our hero, this just plods along its predestined well-trodden path. You don't develop any empathy with the characters. Maybe that's because the hero of this story isn't really James Stewart, it's vaguer than that. Is the hero meant to be the townsfolk, these "average Americans" or possibly good old American values.

You can't engage with these people. James Stewart as always is likeable but he's not loveable in this one. Jane Wyman is pleasant enough but she doesn't exhibit any real personality and you honestly couldn't care less whether or not any romance develops between her and James Stewart. Worst of all - it feels like hours and hours of the story are devoted to Mr Stewart coaching a basketball team of pretentious kids - nobody cares.... no, worse than that is actually the school song which again goes on for about an hour allowing the camera to pan over every single man, woman and dog in the whole annoying town allowing them all to do their bit of acting as tears of pride well up in their eyes and smiles of affection abound (I can't say I put my hand on my heart and look wistfully at the sky when I think of my old school but that's clearly what everyone in 1947 did!).

What's most disappointing is William Wellman, Mr Action himself. It's hard to believe that "Wild Bill" Wellman made such a slow paced (plodding through treacle) mediocre movie. But would Frank Capra have made it better? Probably not - his output in the fifties wasn't anything to be that proud about either.

Written and produced by frequent Frank Capra collaborator Robert Riskin and starring the director's three-time leading man James Stewart, one would be excused for mistaking this for a film by the celebrated purveyor of socially-conscious comedies.

However, while the plot is typically original and engaging, somehow it lacks Capra's unique cinematic expertise in putting over Riskin's ideas: the tone is too often syrupy and sentimental, while the hero isn't made to face formidable villains such as one finds in Capra's work. Even if director Wellman was more at home in outdoor actioners, he often displayed a social side and, for the record, had previously triumphed in two classic films set in contemporary times – namely the original version of A STAR IS BORN and the screwball comedy NOTHING SACRED (1937).

Stewart is a poll expert who believes that one city in the U.S. could be deemed the reference point as to how the whole nation thinks and feels about all aspects of life – its aspirations, trends, political views, etc. His report leads him to settle on the small Midwestern town of Grandview which, however, is on the point of modernizing itself (via a project bequeathed to local reporter Jane Wyman by her father). This would, doubtless, affect the idealized image being promoted by Stewart of Grandview as the prototypical American town with its simple way of life, so he manipulates the populace (without letting them on to his line of work) into opposing Wyman's scheme! This doesn't prevent the two from falling in love – a romance which ends, though, when she overhears him speaking to his superior in New York; distraught, she exposes his racket – but, in so doing, brings a whole circus of 'prospectors' and newshounds upon Grandview…so that the next poll turns out to be a disaster, and the town is disgraced!

Stewart is dismayed by all of this; however, he keeps in touch with the people of Grandview (the kids especially had learned to look up to him in view of his basketball prowess!) and, of course, Wyman. Eventually, he hits upon the idea that a pompous statement made earlier (but which remained unpublished) by the highest authorities in Grandview that, if necessary, they'll erect the proposed civic centre with their own hands could be used now to symbolize the town's determination to re-emerge… An RKO production, the film also features such reliable performers as Ned Sparks and Donald Meek as Stewart's associates, Kent Smith as a Grandview professor and ex-school chum of Stewart's, and Wallace Ford as one of the eminent townspeople.

Certainly not one of the great comedies, but charming and rather whimsical in its own way. In this day and age of raucous and crude humour (if you can call it that), a movie like "Magic Town" will probably seem hopelessly old-fashioned and dated, but for those who prefer a quieter and more gentle humour, "Magic Town" will fill the bill very nicely. Very Frank Capra-like (not surprisingly since screenwriter Robert Riskin collaborated with Capra numerous times), "Magic Town" reminds us of a by-gone era, a time when living in a small town meant knowing your neighbours, pride in your community, and the moral values of common decency and humility were still part of everyday life. James Stewart as the pollster who discovers a town full of people whose opinions exactly mirror the national thinking gives his customary good performance, as does Jane Wyman as the newspaper publisher who wants to see change in the town. Many well-known character actors (Kent Smith, Wallace Ford, Ann Shoemaker and particularly Ned Sparks) provide capable support. A slight offering, perhaps, but quite worthwhile.

Okay, I'll admit the plot is silly and contrived. Sure, the idea of an actuary determining that there is a "perfect" city that is actually statistically represents America in a microcosm is silly. And, their plan NOT to tell anyone in the town but surreptitiously poll just these townspeople in order to find out what America thinks about a wide variety of issues is far-fetched. BUT, with Jimmy Stewart and Jane Wyman as well as William Wellman's direction, who cares?! This is one of those "just sit back and enjoy" pictures that isn't particularly deep but that is charming and great fun to watch. And I think we need a few films like this now and again.

Stewart's previous movie was "It's a Wonderful Life", and this one drinks from the same well.

It has a strong underlying moral about being true to yourself, and extols the virtues of honesty, pride in your small-town community. The town appears to be a microcosm of America, but it can only be that while it still has its innocence: once it tries to cash in on its status, disaster strikes.

It's a gentle, heartwarming little movie. Jimmy Stewart and the then Mrs Reagan do the romantic lead bits, and lots of people with "interesting" faces play "typical small town characters", the children manage to avoid being ridiculously cute, and it's all quite charming.

Watch out for the Senator's wife and the ancient employees of the newspaper, who are the most obviously funny characters. This may be billed as a comedy, but it's one to be amused by, and brings smiles to you face rather than guffaws and belly-laughs.

If you liked James Stewart in "It's a Wonderful Life" and "The Philadelphia Story", this one's for you.