The Senator Was Indiscreet

1947
Approved
1h 28m

IMDb RATING

YOUR RATING

William Powell and Ella Raines in The Senator Was Indiscreet (1947)

A bumbling, long-winded and crooked Southern senator, considered by some as a dark horse for the Presidency, panics his party when his tell-all diary is stolen.A bumbling, long-winded and crooked Southern senator, considered by some as a dark horse for the Presidency, panics his party when his tell-all diary is stolen.A bumbling, long-winded and crooked Southern senator, considered by some as a dark horse for the Presidency, panics his party when his tell-all diary is stolen.

Director
- George S. Kaufman
Writers
- Charles MacArthur
- Edwin Lanham
Stars

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

6.5/10

733

YOUR RATING

Director
- George S. Kaufman
Writers
- Charles MacArthur
- Edwin Lanham
Stars

See production info at IMDbPro

Awards
- 4 wins total

User reviews20

Featured review

8/10

Very funny and then some

In the "good old days", in this case 1947, politicians were career opportunists and just as self serving and corrupt then as they are now. Happily, in the movies - unlike in real life - we can laugh at the trouble they get themselves into.

After 35 years of serving his state's constituents, senator Ashton wants to be president. And just what qualifications does he offer, asks his scoffing party leader? From a list "mama" found in a magazine, #3 is to have a dog. Ashton says, " I have a dog. I hate the hound. He's bit me 4 times, but I have one." This mild satire kept me laughing from beginning to end. Powell, as expected, is terrific, and Ray Collins stands out among the supporting characters. The "Senator" is not a classic comedy as is "My Man Godfrey", but it's not necessary or possible that every comedy hit a home run in order to be deemed worthy of our time.

hotangen
Jul 22, 2014
Permalink

Photos7

Storyline

Edit

Did you know

Edit

Trivia
This was the only film directed by playwright and stage director George S. Kaufman. He directed the film in the same manner that he directed in the theater, by closing his eyes and listening only to the actors speaking the dialogue, with no regard to how the scene looked. Since Kaufman knew nothing about the technical aspects of filmmaking, associate producer Gene Fowler Jr. looked after those issues, with Kaufman allowing Fowler to cut a take at his discretion if there was a technical problem.

Goofs
The Senator has been keeping his diary for 35 years, which, at one page per day, would add up to around 12,785 pages, but the size of the single 5" x 8" tome that is seen apparently represents a one-year volume, so it could hardly be of such great consequence.

Quotes
Mr. Gryphon - Book Dealer: It was the first time in my 45 years in the book business that a customer insisted on a book exactly 5 by 8 ½ inches, regardless of contents.

Crazy credits
Opening credits prologue: Dedication: To every politician who has ever jeopardized a baby's health with unsanitary kisses, who has ever delivered a three - hour Fourth of July oration about himself and George Washington, who has ever promised peace, prosperity and triple movie features in exchange for a vote, this picture is not too humbly dedicated.