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.
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.