Although the political references are dated (Hoover, Harding,FDR, Truman) this film is wonderful. If you just cued to the speeches about cutting taxes and the American Dream it could be an editorial out of the magazine The Nation. In 1948 Hollywood was able to take incredible actors and actresses, record more words in five minutes than a movie today speaks in an hour, and still appeal to the "common folk" politically. Hokey but sophisticated, patriotic but cynical, State of the Union grapples with the corruption behind political machines. Its main weakness is the presentation of a powerful woman as someone who belongs "in a kennel" and the good woman the mother with two kids who kneels and sews a loose thread in her husband's suit (even though she knows he is cheating on her). Hepburn manages to be powerful, strong willed, but a typical mid-century hausfrau-there for her man. You may not agree with its presentation of women, but its politics are as astute anything you will read on a blog today.
Review of State of the Union
