The Great McGinty (1940)

Synopsis: Preston Sturges graduated from writing hit comedies to writing and directing them with his cautionary tale of corruption and honesty, THE GREAT MCGINTY. In a dive bar south of the border, a begrudging bartender, McGinty (Brian Donlevy) tries to assuage an embezzling bank clerk on the lam by... Preston Sturges graduated from writing hit comedies to writing and directing them with his cautionary tale of corruption and honesty, THE GREAT MCGINTY. In a dive bar south of the border, a begrudging bartender, McGinty (Brian Donlevy) tries to assuage an embezzling bank clerk on the lam by relating his own reasons for fleeing to the banana republic. He was mayor of a big city, and from this unsuspected revelation ensues a sweeping look at McGinty's seedy journey from tough-guy bum to mob lackey. A tip-off that there's money in voting for the corrupt incumbent mayor leads McGinty to the belligerent mob Boss who runs the city, and is so taken with McGinty's street wise charms that he takes him under his wing. When the mayor is exposed by the press, the Boss proposes McGinty as the reform party candidate complete with a quickly arranged marriage to his sweet-faced secretary, Catherine. These airtight mob machinations come undone when the good influence of the wise Catherine begins to wear away at McGinty's lifelong bad habits. He vows to work for the people as Sturges' inverted thesis of honesty as the disastrous fatal flaw wreaks comic havoc on this precise and compelling comedy. [More]