Sua Esposa e o Mundo

This is a political fable but basically an emotive drama dealing with an American businessman (Spencer Tracy) who is encouraged by opportunities to run the presidency and while leaving his integrity behind in the process . Along the way , the cunning and powerful named Kay Thorndyke (Dame Angela Lansbury) helps him become Republican nominee for President . Then the party machine starts to worry as he begins speaking for himself and against ambition and corrupt politicians . His estranged wife (Katharine Hepburn) is asked to return so they can masquerade as a loving couple for the sake of his political career . As she attempts to help him , as the backstage political machinations erode his personal convictions . How's the State of the Union? It's GREAT!

Another Spencer Tracy/Katharine Hepburn vehicle with wonderful wisecracks , being adapted from a highly successful , topical Broadway play , but the writers Anthony Veiller , Myles Connnolly and Frank Capra himself changed dialogue constantly to reflect the news . Capra and his colleagues at Liberty Picture originally hoped to cast Cary Cooper and Claudette Colbert . Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn are a joy to see , as usual . Here shines Spencer Tracy giving an excelent acting , providing a tour-de-force in his outburst at the end that reminds one of the speech he was to make nearly twenty years after at his last film : Guess who's coming to dinner . But this movie loses much of its impact due to much overtalking and the overuse of obvious political stereotypes in its main and supporting players . Hepburn and Menjou were at odds politically , over communist witch hunts in Hollywood with the House Un-American Activities Committee or House Committee on Un-American Activities (HUAC or HCU) , but they are really splendid together onscreen. Remaining secondary cast are frankly fabulous , as they're very well accompanied by Angela Lansbury who has a magnificent nasty role which she performs icily and to the hilt , along with Van Johnson , Adolphe Menjou , Lewis Stone, Charles Dingle , Howard Smith , Raymond Walburn , Margaret Hamilton , among others.

The motion picture was well directed by Frank Capra who carries out a sharp dissection of political chicanery and delivering good acting from the prestigious actors . Frank Capra was an expert in manipulating emotions such as proved in his films of the 1930s and 1940s , as he influenced the lives and beliefs of people of the nation with movies as 'Mr Deeds goes to town' ,' It happened one night' , 'You can't take it with you' , 'It's wonderful life' , 'Mr Smith goes to Washington' , ' Mr Deeds goes to town' , and 'Meet John Doe' . State of the Union (1948) rating : 6.5/10 . The flick will appeal to Spencer Tracy , Katharine Hepburn fans , as well as Frank Capra enthusiasts.

Politics then and now, what's the difference? "People are beginning to think that there is no difference between the Republican and the Democratic party" Sounds familiar? Special interests groups, lobbyists, mercenaries and somewhere in the middle of it all Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn, projecting the hopes of all well meaning Americans, or earthlings in general for that matter. The chemistry between Tracy and Hepburn is so all consuming that whatever we see them do or hear them say we believe, we believe totally. As if this was not enough, Adelph Menjou gives his character a truth that is as relevant and uncomfortable as it is entertaining. But the crowning jewel of this wonderful film is Angela Lansbury - she was barely 20 years old when she made this movie and look at her, just look at her. Not merely holding her own with seasoned stars like Tracy and Hepburn but at times, overshadowing them. This is considered a minor Capra, I just say, you must be kidding.

In the 1980 New Hampshire primary, an exasperated Ronald Reagan blurted out the famous line "I'm paying for this microphone!" when a moderator threaten to turn off the microphones at an unruly debate. It was a hugely successful and defining moment for Reagan, nailing down his image as a man of rugged independence who refused to suffer fools gladly -- to say nothing of his ability to craft a clever quip. However, given his Hollywood roots, it seems more likely he consciously or unconsciously lifted this line from Spencer Tracy's character in "State of the Union."

This is my favorite Tracy-Hepburn film and one of my favorite Frank Capra films. I recommend reading Capra's out-of-print biography, "The Name Above the Title" for the interesting story of the reaction to this film by official Washington in 1948.

Quite reminiscent of "Meet John Doe," the story tests the character of a man against the political power-brokers who want to use him for their own purposes. Ideals battle pragmatism in ways that still ring true 50+ years later.

Angela Landsbury is a wicked woman (can we call her a fem fa tale?) in an amazing performance foreshadowing her role in 1962's "Manchurian Candidate." Adolphe Menjou's sleazy political boss is about a greasy as they come.

All in all there is nothing like a Capra film to make me what to stick to my principles and listen to the people who really love me. Add to Capra's theme of the inherent wisdom of the people this first rate group of actors and you have two hours of time well spent.

State of the Union (1948)

*** (out of 4)

Political drama from Capra has an honest Grant Matthews (Spencer Tracy) being selected to run for President but soon his honest ways are thrown out by a newspaper woman (Angela Lansbury) and a political spinner (Adolphe Menjou). The two of them plan on riding him into the White House but his wife (Katharine Hepburn) begins to have second thoughts on what their turning her husband into. Of all the Tracy/Hepburn teamings this one here is probably the least known, which is a little bit surprising considering Capra directed it and the wonderful supporting cast but on second thought it might be understandable as this isn't the typical film that they'd appear in together. The movie features some terrific performances but a few questionable bits a comedy keep it from being a bigger hit. There were some scenes that I would have left on the cutting room floor including an extremely silly sequence where plane-tag is played. With a few more of the comedic moments edited out you would have been left with a major hit but as is this film still manages to be quite powerful. What really makes the film go is Hepburn and it's funny to learn she got the role by accident after another actress pretty much walked off after certain demands of hers couldn't be met. Hepburn steals the film from Tracy as she really digs in and gives the movie all of its heart and soul and I think the actress really should get this film mentioned more when people discuss her wonderful career. Tracy is once again Tracy meaning that he turns in the expected great performance. The supporting cast includes nice work from Lewis Stone, Van Johnson, Charles Dingle and even Carl "Alfafa" Switzer in a small role. Menjou and Lansbury are very good in their supporting roles of what would turn out to be good villains. Capra pretty much handled this type of material earlier in MR. DEEDS GOES TO TOWN and MR. SMITH GOES TO WASHINGTON but he makes it all seem fresh again here. The ending has a nice punch to it even though you'll certainly see it coming from a mile away. It's rather funny to see how political movies from the 1930s and 40s still hold up perfectly well today but then it's rather sad to see how nothing much has changed in the political world.