"Magic Town" is a romantic comedy set in a charming "typically American" small town in the years immediately following World War II. What makes the film startlingly timely is the profession of leading man Jimmy Stewart's character which turns out to be political polling. Coming this close to the New Hampshire primaries, when so many people are looking to that small New England locale as a kind of "Magic State," the 1947 insights of this William Wellman film make it even more fun to watch today. (It's also a reminder of what an ingratiating actress Jane Wyman was in her prime.)
Things go just swell until the residents find out how valuable their opinions are, and things fall apart; for the pollster's jobs, for their personal lives, and for the town itself.
This movie is well worth the time spent to watch it...but you need to know that "Magic Town" lacks much of the movie magic of other period situation comedy films, such as "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington," "It's a Wonderful Life," "Mr. Deeds Goes to Town," and "My Girl Friday."In William Wellman's MAGIC TOWN, pollster Rip Smith (whose company is bankrupt) discovers that the aggregate opinions of Grandview mirror those of the entire country. As a cost-cutting move he and two assistants set up shop in the little community; they pose as insurance salesmen so that polling can be conducted without the respondents' knowledge.
While waiting to speak to Grandview's mayor, Rip overhears activist Mary Peterman's proposal to the town council of a major construction project-one that might alter the demographics Rip values so highly. He interrupts Mary and expansively declares Grandview the perfect American town just as it is. Mary's proposal is tabled.
Her family owns a newspaper, so in revenge Mary publishes an editorial denouncing Rip. When she later discovers exactly why Rip has come to Grandview, this is revealed in the paper, as well. The national media jump on the story and the small town is invaded by a horde of reporters who label Grandview "public opinion capital of the U.S."
No longer able to conduct their secret polling, Rip and company leave the area. After results of a political survey prove disastrouly incorrect, Grandview's notoriety is meteroric and the community ends up a national disgrace. The unemployed Rip then returns and tells Mary he loves her; she feels the same affection for him. Before acting on this however, Mary and Rip are determined to restore Grandview's good name.
As of 4/09, "Magic Town" was not available on a Region 1 DVD.
Jimmy Stewart's next project was CALL NORTHSIDE 777 (1948). In this true story, he's a Chicago news reporter who reopens and solves a 10-year-old murder case. (VHS) (DVD)
Immediately after this film, Jane Wyman starred in and won the Oscar as JOHNNY BELINDA (1948), a deaf/mute who is assaulted and impregnated by her attacker. (VHS) (DVD)
Parenthetical number preceding title is a 1 to 10 viewer poll rating found at a film resource website.
(6.8) Magic Town (1947) James Stewart/Jane Wyman/Kent Smith/Ned Sparks/Wallace Ford/Regis Toomey/Ann Doran/Donald Meek (uncredited: 'Snub' Pollard)
Read Best Reviews of Magic Town (1947) Here
Magic Town [VHS]Magic Town is a typical post war feel-good movie. Jimmy Stewart is a former basketball star, now a public opinion expert seeking the holy grail of demographic perfection. Long before computers and the Internet, Stewart is convinced that somewhere out there is a small town or city which mimics, with almost pinpoint accuracy, the demographics (and in this case voting preferences) of the USA.
Then perchance he stumbles upon just such a cool place, Grandview (a name which fits the view of Stewart's goal perfectly). He needs to keep the reasons for opening offices in Grandview secret or everyone in his field would be down there reaping the benefits of his discovery, so he and his partner pretend at being insurance men so the secret of his discovery is hidden until the next election is over and which results he believes, Grandview will show perfectly in advance,
True to Romantic Comedies of the era, things rapidly go amiss, and become highly complicated beginning by Stewart flipping-out over co-star Jane Wyman's character, a newspaper editor with a nose for news, which is catching scent of a scam, Re: since there are several already successful and popular insurance companies in a town with a rather small population, why would New Yorkers come down to Grandview to sell insurance?
Before Stewart's character, can get much done, he finds himself falling in love with Wyman's character. Problem is, he has lied to her and everyone else in town, and in his lust for gold, his strategy has enabled him to shoot himself in the foot. Meanwhile Wyman easily, but uncomfortably senses, something is not right.
In the course of his business, Stewart's hoop shooting, basket ball coaching, genius, makes him the idol of the local Basketball team, but his sham has benched him in Wyman's eyes. As expected, his minor cover-up, as cover ups are prone to doing, is in danger of jettisoning, his romance with Wyman and losing his demographic gold mine. While he is struggling to decide which is most important, Wyman's further research is dangerously close to outing him with an OpEd piece, but will she do it and permanently wreck the romance?
Though the plot's strategy and tactics are already a bit unlikely, the expected complications pile up in a needlessly growing mess. How will it end? Will Wyman out him and then dump him? Will he move back to the Big Apple? Or will Cupid set everything right?
The thing about it, especially if you had already landed on planet Earth before, during or right after WW II when America was still a naïve' and friendly place, is that the movie will bring back found memories of a simpler time, a heaven compared to the present disasters at every turn and the nostalgia will clear up your woes, at least for a while. If, however, you are younger than the Baby-boomers, and your knowledge of history is better than average, you will still probably love this black and white post-bellum oldie movie anyway.
I give it five stars for loving nostalgia; three for plot development, and four for cast/direction, an overall rating of 4 stars. This is a good, not great, romantic comedy well directed by William Wellman, which reminded me of my grade school era and the town in which I grew up. Hope you like it too.
Want Magic Town (1947) Discount?
he is so completely charming, while playing a rather aggressive marketing guy.Jane Wyman plays independent professional, that we seem to forget, was not
unheard of in the movies pre 1950 50's were sort of special in its attempt
to push women back into the kitchen.
nice story with the young people of the town making a stand -rather topical today!
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