EssenceStory Well Deserved Praise

Platicsco Good story, Not enough for a whole film

Phonearl Good start, but then it gets ruined

Married Baby Just intense enough to provide a much-needed diversion, just lightweight enough to make you forget about it soon after it’s over. It’s not exactly “good,” per se, but it does what it sets out to do in terms of putting us on edge, which makes it … successful?

MartinHafer The background for this film is given in a prologue. Apparently, the President himself (FDR) challenged several writers to come up with a story that is believable about a rich man disappearing and staying incognito despite having millions. This movie, apparently, is the result of the challenge and Franklin Roosevelt is listed among the writers of this film! Sadly, the story is NOT believable and seems like a politically motivated bit of public relations. For this, and that is all, the story is mildly interesting.James Blake (Henry Wilcoxon) is a mega-millionaire who has little to do with himself as he's loaded with money and his holding run themselves. One day, he goes on a fishing trip and discovers a small town in trouble...in trouble thanks to industrialists like himself. So, he decides to pretend to be just a regular Joe and moves to the town in order to re-start its dead canning industry.Unfortunately for Blake, his less than loving wife has been accidentally killed...and folks think HE is responsible. This means that remaining in disguise might be a good idea...though he doesn't have access to his immense fortune.The film comes off like a Depression era fairy tale--with some stereotypes and obvious messages are inserted liberally. I think had the story been less heavy-handed and more believable, it could have worked, as one of the best films of the 1930s was "The Millionaire"...a film from 1931 starring the wonderful George Arliss. It's also about a man who is essentially like Blake--who goes back to work and gets his hands dirty because being a millionaire is so dull and non- productive.

mark.waltz Proving that he was a regular fellow, Franklin D. Roosevelt dabbled in a bit of creative writing to contribute to the story with Samuel Hopkins Adams in this story of a wealthy man (Henry Wilcoxin) fed up with being one of the richest men in the world, how it affects his personal life, and the lack of freedom and privacy he has to do what he wants. So he cashes out everything and disappears, ending up in a small town, where, guess what happens, he becomes an adviser to some of the happenings going on, loosing his freedom and privacy, while the rest of the country wonders what happened to him, especially when his wife is murdered and he is accused of the crime.This storyline sounds like something that would embarrass Frank Capra, and while the acting and dialog are sound, it is the execution of the structure of the plot that raises eyebrows. A bit too much happens over the course of an hour, like an over-exaggerated version of that bad morning that starts off with you stubbing your toe, unable to find your keys or wallet, not having hot water, etc. So while you give kudos to the president for pursuing a dream outside politics, you can't help but wonder how things could have turned out had he toned down the dramatics a bit. He tosses in some comic relief with an effeminate butler (was there any other kind during the golden age of movies?) who ironically ends up saving the day.

JohnHowardReid An unconvincing drama which fails dismally to convert a thinking audience to its inflammatory anti-big business point of view, but is nonetheless quite entertaining despite a whole slew of loose plot ends which, if properly tied up would see the hero sent to jail for a far longer term than the villainous tycoon—who would probably escape conviction anyway when his smart lawyer quickly destroyed the credibility of all the people's witnesses—criminals or even worse, professional liars, the lot of them!Henry Wilcoxon, who seemed to make a career of giving indifferent performances in big pictures, and really impressive portrayals in "B" films, is not unexpectedly, at his best here. He receives hearty support from pretty Betty Furness, and heavies Blackmer and Brent, but it is Barnett Parker who walks away with the acting honors, thanks to indulgent writing. Wade Boteler also makes the most of a rare big scene opportunity, while Clem Bevans makes his mark in a key instant-information sequence. By his usual humble standards, Phil Rosen's direction is remarkably polished and even accomplished. Production values are solid too.

dbborroughs The film begins with a scroll telling us that the President's mystery is the question of whether a man could disappear utterly with five million dollars in his possession and not be found. The idea was come up with by FDR at a luncheon with a magazine publisher, hence the title. A story was written around the idea and published. This film takes the idea and uses it for a springboard for a different story. The story of the film concerns a high profile lawyer who is disillusioned with life, he hates his job and he has nothing in common with his wife. After he is sent to Washington to kill a relief bill in Congress, he goes fishing in the hope of unwinding. There he runs into the effects of the bill he killed. Unhappy with the pain and suffering he caused he decides, after reading the magazine story The President's Mystery, to disappear and then go back and help the town he had harmed.This is a breezy little movie thats a great deal of fun. Its a joy to be completely mislead as to whats going on with a film. Since there "Mystery" is in the title you really do expect there to be some murder or robbery or something, but it never comes. By the time you realize that there is no mystery you're hooked anyway. How will it all come out? You really do want to know. The plotting is closer in many ways to a Film Noir, except that the story isn't at all bleak. It reminded me of Impact with Brian Donlevy for some reason.This is a good little movie to make an effort to find. Certainly its under an hour running time wouldn't make it the only choice for a night at the movies, but as part of a night of moldy oldies this will fit the bill nicely.