Review of State of the Union (1948) by Chris S — 24 May 2012

Industrialist Grant Matthews (Tracy) is urged strongly by newspaper executive Kay Thordyke (Lansbury) to run for president. After getting a taste of the high side of legislature, Grant decides that it just might be the job for him.

But all of the commotion ends up changing his real persona, and eventually he embarks in a brief afar with Kay, much to the surprise of the few who know. In the meantime, to help his campaign, he flies his estranged wife Mary (Hepburn) in, but it doesn't take long for her to realize that her husband is beginning to morph into a manipulative congressman, and Mary knows she has to bring him back to reality before it's too late.

"State of the Union" seems at first to be just a typical '40's comedy to be masquerading to be political. But the second that Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn walk into the screen, that's when the film feels like a uber-smart Frank Capra film.

This is definitely one of the best Hepburn and Tracy films-- even up to the ranks of "Adam's Rib". Their chemistry works as usual, but what makes it so good is the relationship they have in the movie feels so genuine that it makes every one of their scenes together simply wonderful.

And Capra knows what he's dealing with, and mixes the romance well with what the movie is really all about-- politics. What's so excellent about this film is it's almost endlessly witty, but all of its remarks on politics are so true and still relevant today.

Whether it be Lansbury playing a young, Hilary Clinton type or Johnson playing a snide right hand man, everything feels real, and it's shocking to me that this film isn't more popular-- it seems to be an important part of cinema.

It uncovers so much people didn't know and makes it a comedy. Very impressive. "State of the Union" is just perfect-- entertaining AND though-provoking. Recommended.