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State of the Union (1948)

Kay Thordyke loves Grant Matthews and helps him become Republican
nominee for President. The party machine begins to worry as Grant begins
to speak for himself. At an important dinner his wife Mary condemns corrupt
politicians and Grant learns to speak out even more boldly.

Directed by Frank Capra
Writing credits: Myles Connolly, Russel Crouse, Howard Lindsay,
Anthony Veiller

Cast:

Spencer Tracy ....  Grant Matthews
Katharine Hepburn ....  Mary Matthews
Van Johnson ....  'Spike' McManus
Angela Lansbury ....  Kay Thorndyke
Adolphe Menjou ....  Jim Conover
Lewis Stone ....  Sam Thorndyke
Howard Smith ....  Sam I. Parrish
Charles Dingle ....  Bill Nolard Hardy
Maidel Turner ....  Lulubelle Alexander
Raymond Walburn ....  Judge Alexander
Margaret Hamilton ....  Norah Art Baker ....  Radio Announcer
Pierre Watkin ....  Sen. Lauterback
Florence Auer ....  Grace Orval Draper
Irving Bacon ....  Buck Swanson
Charles Lane ....  Blink Moran
Patti Brady ....  Joyce Matthews
Georgie Nokes ....  Grant Matthews Jr.
Carl 'Alfalfa' Switzer ....  Bellboy
Tom Fadden ....  Waiter
Tom Pedi ....  Barber Rhea
Mitchell ....  Jeny
Harry Anderson ....  Photographer
Stanley Andrews ....  Senator
Sam Ash ....  Editor
Frank Austin ....  Crackpot
George Barton ....  Photographer
Brandon Beach ....  Editor
Jack Boyle ....  Photographer
Douglas Carter ....  Photographer
Maurice Cass ....  Little Man
Davison Clark ....  Crump
David Clarke ....  Rusty Miller
Frank L. Clarke ....  Joe Crandall
Charles Coleman ....  Photographer
Gene Coogan ....  Photographer
Edwin Cooper ....  Bradbury
Boyd Davis ....  Doctor
Thornton Edwards
Franklyn Farnum
Mahlon Hamilton ....  Businessma
Dell Henderson ....  Broder
Al Hill ....  Television Technician
Tor Johnson ....  Wrestler
Marion Martin ....  Blonde Girl
Russell Meeker ....  Politician
Howard M. Mitchell ....  Doctor
Bert Moorhouse ....  Politician
Arthur O'Connell ....  First Reporter
Garry Owen ....  Brooklynite
Eddie Phillips ....  Television Man
Francis Pierlot ....  Josephs
Stanley Price ....  Photographer
Marshall Ruth
Charles Sherlock ....  Photographer
Lew Smith ....  Photographer
Charles Sullivan ....  Television Sound Technician
Eve Whitney ....  Secretary
Dave Willock ....  Pilot
Wilson Wood ....  Photographer
Fred Zendar ....  Photographer

Produced by Frank Capra
Anthony Veiller ....  associate producer
Original Music by Victor Young
Cinematography by George J. Folsey
Film Editing by William Hornbeck
Art Direction by Cedric Gibbons, Urie McCleary
Set Decoration by Emile Kuri, Edwin B. Willis
Costume Design by Irene
Makeup Department Jack Dawn ....  makeup artist
Sydney Guilaroff ....  hair stylist
Production Management Arthur S. Black Jr. ....  production manager
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Arthur S. Black Jr. ....  assistant director
Sound Department Conrad Kahn ....  sound
Douglas Shearer ....  sound
Special Effects by A. Arnold Gillespie ....  special effects
Other crew:
Mervin Bradner ....  grip
Robert J. Bronner ....  camera operator
Jerry Hester ....  still photographer
Eylla Jacobs ....  script supervisor

Also Known As:The World and His Wife (UK)
Runtime: 124 min
Country: USA
Language: English
Color: Black and White
Sound Mix: Mono
Certification: UK:PG (re-rating) (2005) / UK:A (original rating) /
Finland:S / Sweden:Btl

Trivia: Claudette Colbert was originally cast to play Mary. Days before
production began, Frank Capra fired her from the film because she refused
to work into the evening. Capra then hired Katharine Hepburn after Spencer
Tracy suggested her.
Gary Cooper was originally chosen for the role of Grant Matthews.
Katharine Hepburn's , Adolphe Menjou's and George J. Folsey's names
are misspelled in the opening credits because the distribution rights were
originally owned by MGM, but only for seven years. The rights were then
sold to another company, which had to create its own opening credits.
Although practically the entire cast and production staff were under contract
to M-G-M, the film as seen today does not open with Leo the Lion roaring
and the credit "Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer presents". It opens with the Liberty
Bell clanging and the credit "Liberty Films presents".Frank Capra originally
wanted Clark Gable to play Grant Mathews so that he and Claudette Colbert
could re-team again after their sweeping success It Happened One Night
(1934), also directed by Capra.

Goofs: Continuity: A newspaper, meant to be for the current date in the
movie, is shown with the date Monday, April 5, 1948. Later, another
newspaper, also meant to be for what is now the current date, is shown,
and the date is Friday, March 26, 1948.
Factual errors: Katharine Hepburn's name is misspelled in the opening
credits as "Katherine".

Quotes: Mary Matthews: Oh, that's silly. No woman could ever run for
President. She'd have to admit she's over 35.
Jim Conover: You're the most beautiful plank in your husband's platform.
Mary Matthews: It's a small request, but I'd give anything for a good smack
on the south end.
Lulubelle Alexander: I haven't enjoyed myself this much since Huey Long died!

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