This political drama is based on a play, and it sure looks like it. There are scenes after scenes with characters engaging in long conversations, mostly about politics. It basically looks like a filmed stage play and it soon becomes tiresome. Capra tries to break up the monotony by including a scene featuring planes barnstorming, but it looks out of place and feels tacked on just to make it cinematic. This is one of the weakest entries in the Tracy-Hepburn series, but the stars are not to blame. They try their best, but are let down by the material. Lansbury is fine in a role that's a precursor to "The Manchurian Candidate." Johnson provides the comic relief.
Review of State of the Union
