Preston Sturges became the patron saint of all writers who wished to direct by making such an impressive splash with this film. It still holds up today, as cynical tales where everyone is out for themselves tend to do. The girl who plays his wife isn’t that good looking but does her best and I loved the moment where they’re discussing marriage, he glances at her legs and she says “what’s that got to do with it?”
Brian Donlevy is lively and good value as the down at heel bum who becomes mayor (although if he was so clever how did he get so poor?) - his scuzzy persona and not-handsome-enough-for-traditional-leading-man looks work well. Akim Tamiroff is terrific fun as his boss and there is, as would become usual for Sturges, a rich gallery of supporting characters.
Genuine pathos which works too - McGinty feeling ashamed because his step kids get in fights over him, McGinty talking about going to work when he was young (all the better because this is done wittily), and most of all the finale, with McGinty having been arrested but being allowed to escape... presumably the censor didn't mind this because he is parted forever from the women and children he loves.
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