Magic Town

1947's Magic Town Has Magic in 2000.
"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.)

Good, but it's no "Wonderful Life"
Magic Town is an interesting show. Pollsters find a small town that has a population whose opinions reflect those of the entire nation. The pollsters then go secretely about collecting their data, which they use to represent public opinion.

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."

Grandview, U.S.A.
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...

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