The Last Hurrah

~ … something to shout about! ~

Overview:

In a changing world where television has become the main source of information, Adam Caulfield, a young sports journalist, witnesses how his uncle, Frank Skeffington, a veteran and honest politician, mayor of a New England town, tries to be reelected while bankers and captains of industry conspire in the shadows to place a weak and manageable candidate in the city hall.

Director:

John Ford

Status:

Released

Language:

English

Buget:

$0.00

Revenue:

$0.00

Key words:

husband wife relationship
based on novel or book
election campaign
irish-american
black humor
politician
family secrets
class differences
co-workers relationship
uncle nephew relationship
political satire
town mayor
usa politics
mayoral campaign
mayoral candidate
social prejudice
mayoral election

Cast

Spencer Tracy

~ as ~

Mayor Frank Skeffington

Jeffrey Hunter

~ as ~

Adam Caulfield

Dianne Foster

~ as ~

Mave Caulfield

Pat O'Brien

~ as ~

John Gorman

Basil Rathbone

~ as ~

Norman Cass Sr.

Donald Crisp

~ as ~

The Cardinal

James Gleason

~ as ~

Cuke Gillen

Edward Brophy

~ as ~

Ditto Boland

John Carradine

~ as ~

Amos Force

Willis Bouchey

~ as ~

Roger Sugrue

View full cast & crew

Reviews (1)

CinemaSerf
Written 2 year(s) ago
7
Spencer Tracy is very much in his element as the long established, ducking and diving, Irish-American city mayor who takes on the blue-blooded commercial powers-that-be in his un-named New England city led by industrialist "Cass" (Basil Rathbone). It plays a little to Irish-American stereotypes across the board - corruption abounds all over the shop; plenty of light hearted cons and arm-twisting being used for the public good and with a little healthy pocket-lining at the same time. A solid supporting cast led by Jeffrey Hunter (his nephew "Adam") with an on form James Gleason ("Cuke") and Donald Crisp as the obligatory Cardinal all make for a well put together political drama with plenty of pithily scripted and lightly-amusing banter, most of which comes from the confident Tracy. I didn't much care for the ending; it is a little disappointing - almost as if John Ford ran out of steam - but overall, the pace is great and fans of modern day American "machine" politics will still see plenty that resonates even now. Maybe a little bit too long, but still a thoroughly engaging vehicle for the star to demonstrate his personable acting style and is certainly well worth watching.