The Great McGinty 1940
"It's Two-Fisted FUN! A fightin' fool gives you laughter of a lifetime..!"
Step into the gritty, fast-talking world of Preston Sturges' razor-sharp 1940 comedy *The Great McGinty*, a Depression-era satire that blends political intrigue with laugh-out-loud antics.
Director: Preston Sturges
Cast
Brian Donlevy
Daniel 'Dan' McGinty
Muriel Angelus
Catharine McGinty
Akim Tamiroff
The Boss
Allyn Joslyn
George
William Demarest
Skeeters - The Politician
Louis Jean Heydt
Tommy Thompson
Harry Rosenthal
Louie - The Boss' Bodyguard
Arthur Hoyt
Mayor Wilfred H. Tillinghast
Libby Taylor
Bessy - The Maid
Thurston Hall
Mr. Maxwell
Frequently Asked Questions
What is The Great McGinty (1940) about?
*The Great McGinty* follows a street-smart hustler recruited by a political machine during the Great Depression, where his talent for vote fraud lands him in the mayor's office—with strings attached. His fake marriage to an honest woman sparks an unexpected crisis of conscience, turning his original scheme of corruption into a battle for integrity.
Who directed The Great McGinty?
The film was directed by Preston Sturges, a master of screwball comedy whose sharp social commentary and rapid-fire dialogue redefined Hollywood satire in the 1940s.
Who stars in The Great McGinty?
The film stars Brian Donlevy as Dan McGinty, Akim Tamiroff as the ruthless political boss, and Muriel Angelus as his reluctant wife, alongside Allyn Joslyn and William Demarest in standout supporting roles.
Is The Great McGinty (1940) worth watching?
Absolutely—if you love classic comedies with bite. Sturges' razor-sharp script and Donlevy's magnetic performance make this a standout satire of political corruption. While it's not as widely known as some of his later works, its themes and humor hold up remarkably well today.
How long is The Great McGinty?
The runtime for *The Great McGinty* is 82 minutes.
🎥 Trailer
About The Great McGinty (1940) — Preston Sturges' Classic Political Satire Explained
Step into the gritty, fast-talking world of Preston Sturges' razor-sharp 1940 comedy *The Great McGinty*, a Depression-era satire that blends political intrigue with laugh-out-loud antics. The film follows Dan McGinty, a down-and-out vagrant plucked from the streets by a slick city political machine, where his knack for vote-rigging catapults him from lowly thug to the unlikely face of a phony reform campaign. Starring Brian Donlevy as the ambitious yet morally conflicted McGinty and Akim Tamiroff as his shady boss, this witty romp explores themes of power, hypocrisy, and the slippery slope of corruption—all wrapped in Sturges' signature blend of cynicism and charm.
The atmosphere crackles with the energy of a bygone era, where backroom deals and empty promises feel just as relevant today as they did in the 1930s. As McGinty's dishonest rise spirals into a marriage of convenience with the idealistic Catherine (Muriel Angelus), the film asks whether redemption is possible—or if the system will always win. With its snappy dialogue and clever twists, *The Great McGinty* remains a timeless gem for fans of political satire and classic Hollywood wit.
