The Senator Was Indiscreet (1948) - Turner Classic Movies

Brief Synopsis

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Dim-witted blowhard, Melvin G. Ashton, is a US Senator who wants to be President. He hires Lew Gibson, a talented PR man who gets Ashton in newsreels and on the front page, never thinking he'll win. But Ashton has a secret weapon: a diary documenting every shady deal his party's made for 35 years. With the diary, he blackmails the party leaders to support his candidacy, and he's on his way to the nomination. An unseen political enemy is after the diary, using the young and lovely Valerie Shepherd to get into the Senator's room, and Lew's fiancée, reporter Poppy McNaughton thinks she can get her hands on it, too, and stop Ashton. Will the otherwise unemployable dope become President?

Cast & Crew

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George S. Kaufman

William Powell

Senator Melvin G. Ashton

Ella Raines

Poppy McNaughton

Peter Lind Hayes

Arleen Whelan

Valerie Shepherd

Ray Collins

[Fred] Houlihan

Film Details

Genre

Comedy

Political

Release Date

Jan 1948

Premiere Information

New York opening: 26 Dec 1947; Los Angeles opening: 31 Dec 1947

Production Company

Inter-John, Inc.

Distribution Company

Universal Pictures Company, Inc.

Country

United States

Screenplay Information

Based on the serial story "The Senator Was Indiscreet" by Edwin Lanham in Collier's (24 Aug--7 Sep 1946).

Technical Specs

Duration

1h 21m

Sound

Mono

Color

Black and White

Theatrical Aspect Ratio

1.37 : 1

Synopsis

Upon his arrival at the Hotel Westbrook in New York City, presidential aspirate Senator Melvin G. Ashton is asked by Lew Gibson, a newly hired publicist for Ashton's political party, to accept an honorary induction into the Cherokee Indian tribe, which the publicity-hungry senator eagerly agrees to do. Political boss Fred Houlihan then arrives at the Westbrook and demands that the inept Ashton give up his presidential hopes, but he refuses, much to Lew's delight. Back at his office, Lew's work for Ashton becomes sidetracked by the arrival of the beautiful Valerie Shepherd, though he is already romantically involved with newspaper woman Poppy McNaughton. That night, after Ashton gives a long-winded speech, during which he once again denies his presidential candidacy, Poppy breaks up with Lew, as she is nauseated by his support for the incompetent senator. The newspapers are soon filled with headlines proclaiming Ashton's candidacy, and after reading them, Houlihan goes to the senator's hotel room in the middle of the night and demands once again that he give up his presidential dreams. Ashton, however, informs the political boss that during his thirty years in politics he has kept a daily diary, which chronicles all the actions of their political party, honest and not. With that blackmail threat, Ashton begins a cross-country speaking tour of the United States and, despite his ineptitude, quickly rises to second place in the polls. After a political rally at Madison Square Garden, however, Ashton discovers that his prized diary is missing. While Ashton suspects Karl, a communist hotel waiter, of the book's theft, Lew accuses Poppy of stealing the diary. Later, Robert Oakes, Ashton's ex-secretary, is discovered in the room next door to the senator's, and while he has the diary's jacket cover, he swears that someone else stole the book before he did. Meanwhile, Lew discovers that his old friend and Valerie's boyfriend, Bill Fisher, is a political enemy of Ashton, having authored a bill in the senator's home state to investigate the senator. Through her own journalistic investigation, Poppy also comes to the conclusion that Valerie stole the diary, as the young woman had purchased a book of the same size from a New York bookseller. The next morning, Houlihan asks Ashton to resign from the Senate for the good of the party, but the penniless senator refuses unless the party can find him another source of income. Limited by Ashton's abilities, the political bosses finally promise to make him the commissioner of a professional sports league, a job that pays twice as much as the presidency. At the same time, Poppy steals a locker key from Valerie's purse and recovers the stolen diary, only to have Lew then take it from her. Although Lew calls Ashton to tell him that he has safely recovered the diary, Houlihan has difficulty convincing Ashton to take a pay cut and return to politics. The publicist has a change of heart, however, and gives the diary back to Poppy. After the revelations in Ashton's diary are published, Ashton and his cronies are forced to flee the country, and the senator later becomes the chief of a South Seas Island.

Director

George S. Kaufman

Cast

William Powell

Senator Melvin G. Ashton

Ella Raines

Poppy McNaughton

Peter Lind Hayes

Arleen Whelan

Valerie Shepherd

Ray Collins

[Fred] Houlihan

Allen Jenkins

Charles D. Brown

Hans Conried

Whit Bissell

Milton Parsons

Francis Pierlot

Oliver Blake

Chief Thunder Cloud

Chief Yowlachie

Iron Eyes Cody

Boyd Davis

Rodney Bell

Edward Clark

Cynthia Corley

William Forrest

Douglas Wood

University president

George K. Mann

Claire Carleton

William H. Vedder

Book dealer [Gryphon]

Nina Lunn

Girl in elevator

John R. Wald

Vincent Pelletier

Myrna Loy

Mrs. Melvin G. Ashton

Norma Varden

Woman at banquet

Tom Dugan

Tom Coleman

John Alban

Alex Davidoff

Forrest Dickson

Howard Mitchell

Don Wilson

Martin Garralaga

John Bagni

Billy Newell

Elevator operator

Leon Lenoir

Billy Bletcher

John A. Butler

Franklin Parker

Clarence Straight

John O'connor

Mervin Williams

Eddie Coke

Dutch Schlickenmayer

Jimmy Clark

Russ Whiteman

Jack Chefe

Walter Soderling

John Valentine

Sven Hugo Borg

Lucius Brooks

Michael Stokey

Paul Bryant

Polly Bailey

Laura Parrish

Gene Fowler Sr.

Beatrice Roberts

Bruce Riley

Ethan Laidlaw

Richard Gordon

Walton Decardo

Watson Downs

William Bailey

Cedric Stevens

Rex Dale

Crew

Daniele Amfitheatrof

Leslie I. Carey

Richard Deweese

Carmen Dirigo

Gene Fowler Jr.

Associate Producer

Russell A. Gausman

Bernard Herzbrun

David S. Horsley

Special Photographer

Grace Houston

Miss Raines' clothes

Nunnally Johnson

Boris Leven

Nina Lunn

Technical Advisor

Charles Macarthur

William Mellor

Director of Photography

Sherman A. Rose

Ken Swartz

David Tamkin

Jack Voglin

Assistant Director

Bud Westmore

Film Details

Genre

Comedy

Political

Release Date

Jan 1948

Premiere Information

New York opening: 26 Dec 1947; Los Angeles opening: 31 Dec 1947

Production Company

Inter-John, Inc.

Distribution Company

Universal Pictures Company, Inc.

Country

United States

Screenplay Information

Based on the serial story "The Senator Was Indiscreet" by Edwin Lanham in Collier's (24 Aug--7 Sep 1946).

Technical Specs

Duration

1h 21m

Sound

Mono

Color

Black and White

Theatrical Aspect Ratio

1.37 : 1

Articles

The Senator Was Indiscreet -

August 6, 2020

The Senator Was Indiscreet (1947) was the only film ever directed by the playwright and critic George S. Kaufman. The choice was understandable seeing that it was produced by famed screenwriter Nunnally Johnson and written by revered screenwriter Charles MacArthur. It's a writer's movie and the writers wanted to make sure they were in charge of everything. With the great cinematographer William C. Mellor at the camera's helm, and William Powell, Ella Raines, Ray Collins and Peter Lind Hayes handling the front of house duties, there's little that could get in the way of the film's success and, indeed, it was quite successful. Playing to the post-war, post-Great Depression good will, it was easy to mock politics now that there was little at stake on the home front. How it plays today, though, is a different story altogether.

The plot concerns a bumbling mid-Western senator played by William Powell, a somewhat odd choice given his knack for playing refined, quick-witted, leading roles but, under a full complement of wig and facial hair makeup, the transformation is fairly convincing. Senator Melvin G. Ashton has designs on running for president, despite the protestations of party leader Houlihan (Ray Collins). When Ashton's diary is stolen, a diary that contains a load of dirty laundry about other prominent politicians, panic ensues, and Ashton's campaign manager Lew (Peter Lind Hayes) and reporter Poppy McNaughton (Ella Raines) go on a manic hunt to find the journal before all hell breaks loose.

Kaufman pretty much relied on his editor, Sherman A. Rose, cinematographer William C. Mellor and associate producer, Gene Fowler Jr. to make the film visually workable. He was only concerned with the actors and the script. And the actors, particularly Powell and Raines, do an exceptional job of keeping the audience engaged and interested (and Myrna Loy pops up late in the movie in an uncredited cameo). However, the story, or more specifically certain story details, haven't aged as well as others. The movie begins with a prolonged sequence involving Senator Ashton being inducted into the local Indigenous tribe with just about every offensive stereotypical trope about Native Americans on display, including jokes about everyone saying "how" to each other.

Perhaps more unsettling is the ending, taking place on an unnamed island in the southern Pacific Ocean, jokes are made about having to move the islanders yet again for another nuclear test. In 1947, the Marshall Islanders had yet to lose everything from constant moves and disastrous tests that left their land destroyed for centuries to come. Watching those scenes now, it's impossible to find any humor in them.

The Senator Was Indiscreet was a box-office hit and even an award winner for Powell, who won the New York Film Critics Circle Best Actor award for this and Life with Father, but Kaufman never directed another movie. The biggest disappointment of all was that Ella Raines never took off into super stardom. Her energy and talent enliven every scene she's in and she deserved a much better, more successful career than the one she got.

Director: George S. Kaufman
Producer: Nunnally Johnson
Screenplay: Charles MacArthur
Music: Daniele Amfitheatrof
Cinematography: William C. Mellor
Editor: Sherman A. Rose
Art Direction: Bernard Herzbrun, Boris Leven
Set Decoration: Russell A. Gausman, Ken Swartz
Makeup: Carmen Dirigo, Bud Westmore
Cast: William Powell (Senator Melvin G. Ashton), Ella Raines (Poppy McNaughton), Peter Lind Hayes (Lew Gibson), Arleen Whelan (Valerie Shepherd), Ray Collins (Houlihan), Allen Jenkins (Farrell), Charles D. Brown (Dinty), Hans Conried (Waiter), Whit Bissell (Oakes), Milton Parsons (You Know Who), Francis Pierlot (Frank), Oliver Blake (Indian), Victor Daniels billed as Chief Thundercloud (Indian), Daniel Simmons billed as Chief Yowlachie (Indian), Espera 'Oscar' DeCorti billed as Iron Eyes Cody (Indian)

By Greg Ferrara

The Senator Was Indiscreet -

The Senator Was Indiscreet -

The Senator Was Indiscreet (1947) was the only film ever directed by the playwright and critic George S. Kaufman. The choice was understandable seeing that it was produced by famed screenwriter Nunnally Johnson and written by revered screenwriter Charles MacArthur. It's a writer's movie and the writers wanted to make sure they were in charge of everything. With the great cinematographer William C. Mellor at the camera's helm, and William Powell, Ella Raines, Ray Collins and Peter Lind Hayes handling the front of house duties, there's little that could get in the way of the film's success and, indeed, it was quite successful. Playing to the post-war, post-Great Depression good will, it was easy to mock politics now that there was little at stake on the home front. How it plays today, though, is a different story altogether. The plot concerns a bumbling mid-Western senator played by William Powell, a somewhat odd choice given his knack for playing refined, quick-witted, leading roles but, under a full complement of wig and facial hair makeup, the transformation is fairly convincing. Senator Melvin G. Ashton has designs on running for president, despite the protestations of party leader Houlihan (Ray Collins). When Ashton's diary is stolen, a diary that contains a load of dirty laundry about other prominent politicians, panic ensues, and Ashton's campaign manager Lew (Peter Lind Hayes) and reporter Poppy McNaughton (Ella Raines) go on a manic hunt to find the journal before all hell breaks loose. Kaufman pretty much relied on his editor, Sherman A. Rose, cinematographer William C. Mellor and associate producer, Gene Fowler Jr. to make the film visually workable. He was only concerned with the actors and the script. And the actors, particularly Powell and Raines, do an exceptional job of keeping the audience engaged and interested (and Myrna Loy pops up late in the movie in an uncredited cameo). However, the story, or more specifically certain story details, haven't aged as well as others. The movie begins with a prolonged sequence involving Senator Ashton being inducted into the local Indigenous tribe with just about every offensive stereotypical trope about Native Americans on display, including jokes about everyone saying "how" to each other. Perhaps more unsettling is the ending, taking place on an unnamed island in the southern Pacific Ocean, jokes are made about having to move the islanders yet again for another nuclear test. In 1947, the Marshall Islanders had yet to lose everything from constant moves and disastrous tests that left their land destroyed for centuries to come. Watching those scenes now, it's impossible to find any humor in them. The Senator Was Indiscreet was a box-office hit and even an award winner for Powell, who won the New York Film Critics Circle Best Actor award for this and Life with Father, but Kaufman never directed another movie. The biggest disappointment of all was that Ella Raines never took off into super stardom. Her energy and talent enliven every scene she's in and she deserved a much better, more successful career than the one she got. Director: George S. Kaufman Producer: Nunnally Johnson Screenplay: Charles MacArthur Music: Daniele Amfitheatrof Cinematography: William C. Mellor Editor: Sherman A. Rose Art Direction: Bernard Herzbrun, Boris Leven Set Decoration: Russell A. Gausman, Ken Swartz Makeup: Carmen Dirigo, Bud Westmore Cast: William Powell (Senator Melvin G. Ashton), Ella Raines (Poppy McNaughton), Peter Lind Hayes (Lew Gibson), Arleen Whelan (Valerie Shepherd), Ray Collins (Houlihan), Allen Jenkins (Farrell), Charles D. Brown (Dinty), Hans Conried (Waiter), Whit Bissell (Oakes), Milton Parsons (You Know Who), Francis Pierlot (Frank), Oliver Blake (Indian), Victor Daniels billed as Chief Thundercloud (Indian), Daniel Simmons billed as Chief Yowlachie (Indian), Espera 'Oscar' DeCorti billed as Iron Eyes Cody (Indian) By Greg Ferrara

Quotes

Trivia

Notes

The film opens with the following written foreword: "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." Set decorator Ken Swartz's name was misspelled in the credits as "Schwartz." The Senator Was Indiscreet was the only motion picture ever directed by noted Broadway playwright-director George S. Kaufman. According to modern sources, Kaufman was so leery of the technical aspects of filmmaking, associate producer Gene Fowler, Jr. was put in charge of the mechanical portion of the production. Fowler said in interviews that he would give the "action" and "cut" directions, and that Kaufman did not even look at the actors as they performed, preferring to direct with his ears, rather than his eyes. According to Hollywood Reporter news items, Kaufman also planned to co-write the screenplay with Charles MacArthur, but only MacArthur received an onscreen writing credit. Myrna Loy, William Powell's co-star in numerous M-G-M films, including The Thin Man series, made an uncredited cameo appearence at the end of the film, as "Mrs. Melvin G. Ashton." This was the last film in which they appeared together. Powell received the 1947 New York Film Critics' award for Best Actor for his performances in this film and Warner Bros. Life with Father (see entry above).
According to the film's pressbook, portions of the film were shot on location in New York City. The film company spent one week shooting at New York's Grand Central Station, where they were allowed to film only between the hours of one and six o'clock in the morning. Technical advisor Nina Lunn was a Washington, D.C. debutante and the granddaughter of Senator Wallace H. White of Maine. Hollywood Reporter production charts include Hester Sondergaard in the cast, but her appearance in the released film has not been confirmed.
According to information contained in the file on the film in the MPAA/PCA Collection at the AMPAS Library, a final shooting script for The Senator Was Indiscreet dated May 13, 1947, was rejected by the Breen Office for its "characterization of a United States Senator in such a derogatory and ridiculous manner." On June 10, 1947, Universal representatives argued with the Breen Office that the picture could be made in such a way as not to be "derogatory to the dignity of the United States Senate." On June 20, 1947, Joseph I. Breen met personally with Universal representatives, where he tried once again to convince the studio to "scrap" the film or change the character of Ashton from a United States Senator to a state governor. The Breen Office finally approved the project when William Gordon, director of public relations at Universal, agreed to personally check the script for any problems. Hollywood Reporter and New York Times news items reported that Bank of America foreclosed on the picture in 1953, along with nine other independently produced films released by Universal between 1946 and 1948, after Inter-John and the other producers failed to repay their loans. Modern sources also state that The Senator Was Indiscreet was declared "traitorous and un-American" by noted anti-communist Senator Joseph McCarthy.

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