The Dark Horse

Despite obvious limitations, this 1932 programmer is as perceptive and provocative as many of the more modern-day political films. What this minor movie underlines so importantly is the ease and appeal of electing an intellectual simpleton (Guy Kibbee) to high office (governor) for partisan purposes. Just wrap him in the appropriate populist symbolism, and he's a shoo-in. Unfortunately, the movie doesn't show how much money can be made from having an unquestioning dolt in office.

What it does show is the ease with which clever manipulators can say the right words and pander to an uncritical electorate. Consider the irony of both party candidates (Progressive Kibbee and Conservative Churchill) speaking from the same plagiarized page of Lincoln's soaring campaign rhetoric. What then separates the two if the speeches themselves are indistinguishable. What this comically made point suggests is that it's rhetoric rather than policy that's uppermost in winning the electorate. Comic or not, the point is still worth pondering.

Here the master manipulator is Warren William in a bravura performance-- too bad this dynamic actor is almost totally forgotten. Unfortunately, Guy Kibbee goes over the top as the good-natured simpleton, while Bette Davis shows both fire and flair in a very early role as William's office girl-friend. And in an unheralded albeit sleeper role is Vivenne Osborne as William's shrewish ex-wife, who's every guy's nightmare and enough to undo the whole institution of marriage.

Reviewer Hausner is correct that the focus shifts half-way through from Kibbee as governor to William's marital woes. It's almost as if the writers didn't know where to go with Kibbee's character once he's in office. Too bad-- there's real potential for incisive comment there. Anyway, we know the film precedes the deadening Production Code of 1934 since violation of the Mann Act turns up as a prominent plot device, ie. transporting women across state lines for immoral purposes, intended to stop what was then known as "white slavery" or forced prostitution. I don't recall mention of this risqué law any time during the 30-year Code era.

All in all, the movie is fitfully funny and interesting, but unfortunately fails to follow through on a fascinating premise.

Guy Kibbee gives the viewer a lot of laughs. Like most candidates, he knows almost nothing. Warren William, a very, under rated actor, is superb in giving instructions to Kibbee; that is, he teaches him to say something which means nothing to the voting public. A campaign based on no comment, "I'll take it under advisement," and "Maybe yes, but then again, maybe no," is the nearly perfect way to win an election. Succinctly, the dumber the candidate, the greater the chance he or she will win. After all, the public can identify with such a person. With respect to the movie, it makes for a lot of comedy.

One of the reasons that I decided to watch this film today when it was broadcast was the splendid cast. The Dark Horse anticipates what Preston Sturges did with The Great McGinty and it's quite a commentary on what occasionally gets elected now and then due to astute political management and the gullibility of the voting public.

Looking down the cast list nearly everyone in it is cast in roles I've come to expect to see them play. The title role in The Dark Horse is played by Guy Kibbee as he's nominated by one of the parties because they're deadlocked at the convention between better candidates. Kibbee is absolutely priceless as the dumber than a post county coroner the party has as its candidate. Well they've got him and the only way to put him over is get the best campaign manager around even if he's in the slam.

Which is where Warren William is even if its for owing back alimony to ex-wife Vivienne Osborne. William takes his Dave the Dude character from Lady For A Day and proceeds to make Kibbee the favorite in the race for governor. Kibbee's very dumbness is programmed to work in his favor, his slogan could have been elect Kibbee, he's too stupid to steal.

The opposition candidate is Berton Churchill playing another one of his patented pompous windbags. The prospect of seeing Kibbee in a race against Churchill is what really attracted me to this film and I was not disappointed. Churchill and his party may be down, but not out and they've got some tricks up their sleeve. And those tricks involve Kibbee and Osborne.

The only one who is wasted really is Bette Davis. She plays Warren William's loyal and efficient secretary who loves him. She does her best with a traditional good girl role, but there isn't much for her to work with. Vivienne Osborne gives the ex-wife part the kind of bite we normally find in Bette Davis films later on.

The Dark Horse is a really crackerjack political film that deserves to be better known.

The Dark Horse (1932)

*** (out of 4)

The dimwitted Zachary Hicks (Guy Kibbee) gets nominated for governor through a complete mistake but since he's such a long horse his secretary (Bette Davis) suggests that they hire political spinner Hal Blake (Warren William) to try and help them win the election. THE DARK HORSE is a Warner comedy at its very best as we get a fun story, some pre-code moments and of course there's the terrific cast that really seals the deal. The majority of the credit has to go to the terrific cast, all of which deliver perfect performances. William has no trouble playing the fast-talking spinner who constantly has to be on his toes try to cover and make people like this idiot. Kibbee can play dumb like no other and he does it in a charming way. I think most actors would have been annoying playing a character as dumb as this one but Kibbee manages to make the character very charming and fun. Davis is basically reduced to a supporting role but it's fun getting to see her at this early point in her career and she has a nice chemistry with William. Vivienne Osborne is perfect as Blake's ex-wife who is a complete snake that you love to hate. Frank McHugh plays his typical comic relief role and does a nice job with it. I think the film works best when it's making fun of politics. The last portion of the film finds the ex-wife working for the other party to set up Kibbee and I think some of this was a bit too far fetched to be entertaining. Still, the terrific cast and amount of laughs make this a must see for fans of this era.

Guy Kibbee is Zachary Hicks, "The Dark Horse" for a governor's race in this 1932 film starring Warren William, Bette Davis, Frank McHugh and Vivian Osbourne. In order to break the convention deadlock, the Progressive party nominates a sure loser, Zachary Hicks, for governor. Secretary Davis, a plant in the political bosses' offices, urges them to hire her boyfriend, Hal Samson Blake (William) as Hicks' campaign manager. At the moment, he's in jail for back alimony, but the bosses are stirred by a speech Hal gives the prisoners. A subplot, which enters the main plot eventually, is in fact this very alimony, which Hal's ex (Osbourne) is determined to collect from him. Her anger with him causes her to interfere with the governor's race.

This is a very amusing movie and of course, we've seen bumbling politicians throughout film history - "Thanks a Million," "The Great Man Votes," "The Senator was Indiscreet" (my favorite) etc. ad infinitum. The reason they're always funny is that nothing has changed, so these films always strike a chord. This movie has special interest because of the presence of a very young, very pretty Bette Davis and also because it's pre-Code. There's a lot of rather obvious suggestiveness in it that I suppose would have caused objection.

I have to confess an undying love for Warren William, who is, as always, relaxed, funny and marvelous as a wheeler dealer who can get anybody elected to anything. He was sort of a poor man's Barrymore in these roles. I would have loved to have seen Barrymore do this part as well. Davis in an early ingénue role is good, but it's before anyone knew what to do with her. A million actresses could have played her part, but how many actresses could have done what she did in Of Human Bondage? Guy Kibbee is a perfect idiot nominee with bad feet and an eye for the ladies, and Frank McHugh is on hand to give his usual excellent support.

Lighthearted fun and recommended as a reminder that the more things change, the more they remain the same.