Before the Election: Classic Films on American Politics Worth Seeing
With the country’s elections almost here, with Americans deeply politically divided, and miscommunications flourishing on right-wing news channels and major social media, I suggest you take a sanity break and view some classic older American films that offer perspective on the political chaos Americans have experienced over the past two decades.
After viewing a few of the films listed below, you may discover that the current American political situation is not as rare as one might think. Before Trump, fascists came out every few decades trying to sell the American people on a particular ‘strong man’ or scaring them about a particular ideology. There were antisemites who talked about the dangers of mythic Jewish Power, racists who scared white Americans with a future Black majority America, and political parties that used ideology to scare and divide America. Think about Joe McCarthy and the anticommunism era, demagogue ‘Kingfish’ Huey Long who was corrupt as the day is long yet still managed to create a strong personality cult of admirers mainly down South.
Of course, one would like to think that America has learned from these brushes with false prophets and ideological movements that use fearmongering. But as human beings, voters are subject to all kinds of influences and in this age of unregulated, dangerous social media and television networks that under a stronger FCC would be forced to deal only in truth, things get complicated. For many people across the political divide, Donald Trump is viewed as unfit for the presidency and Kamela Harris is the only sane choice. Clearly, there are many Americans who are still under the influence of miscommunications and falsehoods. Another problem is the discontinuance of civics in education, and the growing divide between the rich and poor with the middle and working classes shrinking every day. All of this leaves Americans more cynical regarding the current political system.
So hunker down with popcorn, soda and some of the titles below and discover how often America has been challenged by fascists, communists, racists, antisemites, sexists, personality cults, egotists, corporations, and the insanely rich who manipulate American politics using their power and money. I have seen most of these films, with the titles in boldface considered classics and which I highly recommend. However, the list in regular typeface is also worth the time to view. Almost all of these are available on several of the streaming services or can be rented on Amazon Prime for smaller fees because they are older. YouTube also has some of these films.
Best Bets:
The Best Man (1964). Dir.: Franklin J. Schaffer. Henry Fonda stars as a leading presidential candidate who may or may not be ‘the best man’ as a past secret is discovered.
Seven Days in May (1964). Dir.: John Frankenheimer. Burt Lancaster and Kirk Douglas star. Covers an attempted coup by a right-wing leader and the far right’s threat to liberal democracy.
Advise & Consent (1962). Dir.: Otto Preminger. Henry Fonda again as a virtuous man caught up in mud-slinging politics. A senate fight over the nomination of a man with progressive leanings to be secretary of state.
A Face in the Crowd (1957). Dir. Elia Kazan. Andy Griffiths as you have never seen him—a scary and creepy performer who discovers his power over people. An evergreen warning about the danger of demagogues and the naivete or collaboration of American media.
All the King’s Men (1949). Dir.: Robert Rossen. About demagogue and social democratic fascist Huey Long a/k/a ‘The Kingfish’ of Louisiana. Based on Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by Robert Penn Warren.
Worth Screening:
The Candidate (1972). Dir.: Michael Ritchie. Classic about a left-wing lawyer running a senate campaign against an incumbent while trying to keep his ideals and integrity.
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939). Dir.: Frank Capra. Jimmy Stewart stars. A naïve new senator discovers corruption on Capitol Hill.
All the President’s Men (1976). Dir.: Alan J. Pakula. Somewhat glossy story of the Washington Post reporters who broke the Watergate story and President Richard Nixon’s involvement.
The Manchurian Candidate (1962-the original version). Dir.: John Frankenheimer. Stars Frank Sinatra. The original film about the fragility of our democracy, the dangers to it and goes from conspiracy to assassination and manipulation of the masses.
Gabriel Over the White House (1933). Dir. Gregory La Cava. Coinciding with FDR’s inauguration, the film shows what happens when someone advocates for a populist dictatorship as a president gets into office and tries to change the status quo.
High Noon (1952). Dir.: Fred Zinneman. Stars Gary Cooper. An allegory capturing the Anti-Communist Era, points out the dangers of McCarthy and other advocates of the blacklist and warns what can happen when the American population sits on the sidelines and refuses to act.
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