The father of American musical comedy, George M. Cohan, is regarded as a legendary giant for his long line of musical compositions, lyrics, singing, dancing, playwriting and producing. Add to this extensive resume his stage and film acting, Cohn is one of those rarest of breeds in the entertainment world. His songs, such as "Over There," "Give My Regards to Broadway," and "The Yankee Doodle Boy," are some of the most recorded and performed American songs ever. Cohan was in just five movies, three of them silent. His only surviving film is Cohn's speaking debut in cinema, at 52, seeing him play a duo role of the United States President and a lookalike stand-in for September 1932's "The Phantom President."
Adapted from an unpublished novel by George F. Worts, "The Phantom President" opens with Cohen, as Theodor Blair, who's an utter bore of a politician. He proposes to his good friend Felicia (Claudette Colbert) just before his campaign for President. Felicia turns him down with a yawn. Coincidentally, shortly after she spots an exact carbon copy to Theodor jumping the fence into her yard, Peeter Varney, a medicine show huckster. Peeter is witty, exciting and the complete opposite of her boyfriend. Blair's handlers realize Peeter is personally a more charming fellow than their candidate. They persuade Theador that Peeter should make the public speeches and appearances while he hides until the election is over. If and when he wins, Theodor can then replace his exciting double.
The farce is a commentary on how the new medium of radio is able to define the likability of a candidates' personality and puts aside his or hers competence and experience. It makes the point that lesser qualified persons could be elected in this country's most important office. Jimmy Durante is Peeter's close advisor, Curly Cooney. "The Phantom President" is the only instance where Cohan's personality and dance style is seen on celluloid. He was opposed to singing Richard Rogers' music and Lorenz Hart's lyrics, which were part of the film. Director Norman Taurog and Paramount Pictures' producers persuaded him as delicately as they could that Rogers and Hart's work was more contemporary than his. Cohan sarcastically called the composers "Gilbert and Sullivan."
Variety praised the film, saying it's a "political satire holding a full share of laughs, it's about the first of its type for the screen, certainly as to the musical comedy vein. A lot of smart stuff packed into this footage." For Cohan, though, his heart was in New York City, where before World War One he was called "the man who owned Broadway." He returned once more to film in the 1934 "Gambling," but all copies have reportedly been destroyed. Cohan was the first entertainer to receive the Congressional Gold Metal, and through the efforts of lyricist Oscar Hammerstein II, a bronze statue of him sits on Times Square. James Cagney's Oscar-winning Best Actor portrayal of him in 1942's "Yankee Doodle Dandy," which Cohan was a consultant, was a huge hit for Warner Brothers. Cohan lived long enough to see the completion of the film, saying of Cagney's performance, "My God, what an act to follow."
Adapted from an unpublished novel by George F. Worts, "The Phantom President" opens with Cohen, as Theodor Blair, who's an utter bore of a politician. He proposes to his good friend Felicia (Claudette Colbert) just before his campaign for President. Felicia turns him down with a yawn. Coincidentally, shortly after she spots an exact carbon copy to Theodor jumping the fence into her yard, Peeter Varney, a medicine show huckster. Peeter is witty, exciting and the complete opposite of her boyfriend. Blair's handlers realize Peeter is personally a more charming fellow than their candidate. They persuade Theador that Peeter should make the public speeches and appearances while he hides until the election is over. If and when he wins, Theodor can then replace his exciting double.
The farce is a commentary on how the new medium of radio is able to define the likability of a candidates' personality and puts aside his or hers competence and experience. It makes the point that lesser qualified persons could be elected in this country's most important office. Jimmy Durante is Peeter's close advisor, Curly Cooney. "The Phantom President" is the only instance where Cohan's personality and dance style is seen on celluloid. He was opposed to singing Richard Rogers' music and Lorenz Hart's lyrics, which were part of the film. Director Norman Taurog and Paramount Pictures' producers persuaded him as delicately as they could that Rogers and Hart's work was more contemporary than his. Cohan sarcastically called the composers "Gilbert and Sullivan."
Variety praised the film, saying it's a "political satire holding a full share of laughs, it's about the first of its type for the screen, certainly as to the musical comedy vein. A lot of smart stuff packed into this footage." For Cohan, though, his heart was in New York City, where before World War One he was called "the man who owned Broadway." He returned once more to film in the 1934 "Gambling," but all copies have reportedly been destroyed. Cohan was the first entertainer to receive the Congressional Gold Metal, and through the efforts of lyricist Oscar Hammerstein II, a bronze statue of him sits on Times Square. James Cagney's Oscar-winning Best Actor portrayal of him in 1942's "Yankee Doodle Dandy," which Cohan was a consultant, was a huge hit for Warner Brothers. Cohan lived long enough to see the completion of the film, saying of Cagney's performance, "My God, what an act to follow."