Magic Town

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source: Magic Town

Magic Town

Underrated Capraesque gem with Jimmy Stewart playing a pollster who finds a small American town where the opinions reflect the national consensus. Charming fun with a great cast. Stewart and Jane Wyman have delightful chemistry. The classroom scene is wonderful. The movie falters in the second half when things turn dark but it's still a treat for anyone who likes these kinds of sweet old-fashioned pictures. It probably doesn't make it on director William Wellman's highlight reel but I enjoyed it. I think it improves upon repeated viewings as I like it more each time I see it. Sadly, this was the final film for two tremendously talented character actors: Donald Meek and Ned Sparks.

"It's a Wonderful Life", this movie's predecessor, had grit and depth due to the highly conflicted role of the central character, George Bailey, superbly played by Jimmy Stewart. Those elements are singularly lacking in this bland followup, which turns out to be little more than an exercise in niceness.

A charming Capraesque satire that lacks bit but contains warmth and mild amusement. Rip Smith (James Stewart) is a pollster who has a theory that somewhere in America there is a small town which a cross section of the public whose make up and views reflect the wider USA. He finds out that Grandview is that town and with his team pretending to be insurance salesmen they conduct their surveys. These plans are threatened when a local lady Mary Peterman (Jane Wyman) wants to expand the town with new buildings which Smith feels might upset the balance of the town. Peterman then later finds out Smith's real agenda and that the town is used for his own company's financial gain. Pretty soon every media organisation and pollsters come to Grandview seeking the townsfolk opinions but their behaviour changes and so do their opinions no longer reflect the wider nation. The film loses its satirical edge for a sentimental love story but it still an enjoyable story with pleasing leads.

This was very good in the first half, a disappointment in the second. When things were going good, it was light-hearted and fun to watch, even inspiring to see "Lawrence 'Rip' Smith (James Stewart) and his idolizing kids. But, but when "Smith" was exposed as someone else, the story went in the opposite direction, almost depressing. The townspeople were still interesting to watch, even making fools of themselves with their suddenly-inflated egos but, they, too, lost their charm. After these ups and downs, we get a Frank Capra-like ending where all things work out, even with a few credibility holes in the story. In all, a so-so human interest story perhpas worth a rental if you're a James Stewart fan, but not buying.

Okay, I'll admit the plot is silly and contrived. Sure, the idea of an actuary determining that there is a "perfect" city that is actually statistically represents America in a microcosm is silly. And, their plan NOT to tell anyone in the town but surreptitiously poll just these townspeople in order to find out what America thinks about a wide variety of issues is far-fetched. BUT, with Jimmy Stewart and Jane Wyman as well as William Wellman's direction, who cares?! This is one of those "just sit back and enjoy" pictures that isn't particularly deep but that is charming and great fun to watch. And I think we need a few films like this now and again.