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State of the Union

  • 19481948
  • ApprovedApproved
  • 2h 4m
IMDb RATING
7.2/10
3.8K
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Katharine Hepburn, Spencer Tracy, Angela Lansbury, and Van Johnson in State of the Union (1948)
An industrialist is urged to run for President, but this requires uncomfortable compromises on both political and marital levels.
Play trailer2:51
1 Video
26 Photos
  • Comedy
  • Drama

An industrialist is urged to run for President, but this requires uncomfortable compromises on both political and marital levels.An industrialist is urged to run for President, but this requires uncomfortable compromises on both political and marital levels.An industrialist is urged to run for President, but this requires uncomfortable compromises on both political and marital levels.

IMDb RATING
7.2/10
3.8K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Frank Capra
  • Writers
    • Howard Lindsay(play)
    • Russel Crouse(play)
    • Anthony Veiller(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Spencer Tracy
    • Katharine Hepburn
    • Van Johnson
Top credits
  • Director
    • Frank Capra
  • Writers
    • Howard Lindsay(play)
    • Russel Crouse(play)
    • Anthony Veiller(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Spencer Tracy
    • Katharine Hepburn
    • Van Johnson
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 40User reviews
    • 26Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Videos1

    Trailer
    Trailer 2:51
    Trailer

    Photos26

    Katharine Hepburn, Spencer Tracy, Angela Lansbury, and Van Johnson in State of the Union (1948)
    Katharine Hepburn and Spencer Tracy in State of the Union (1948)
    Katharine Hepburn and Spencer Tracy in State of the Union (1948)
    Katharine Hepburn and Spencer Tracy in State of the Union (1948)
    Spencer Tracy, Angela Lansbury, and Adolphe Menjou in State of the Union (1948)
    Angela Lansbury, Van Johnson, and Adolphe Menjou in State of the Union (1948)
    Spencer Tracy and Adolphe Menjou in State of the Union (1948)
    Spencer Tracy and Angela Lansbury in State of the Union (1948)
    Katharine Hepburn, Spencer Tracy, Angela Lansbury, and Van Johnson in State of the Union (1948)
    Katharine Hepburn, Spencer Tracy, and Adolphe Menjou in State of the Union (1948)
    Spencer Tracy, Angela Lansbury, Van Johnson, and Adolphe Menjou in State of the Union (1948)
    Katharine Hepburn, Van Johnson, and Adolphe Menjou in State of the Union (1948)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Spencer Tracy
    Spencer Tracy
    • Grant Matthewsas Grant Matthews
    Katharine Hepburn
    Katharine Hepburn
    • Mary Matthewsas Mary Matthews
    Van Johnson
    Van Johnson
    • 'Spike' McManusas 'Spike' McManus
    Angela Lansbury
    Angela Lansbury
    • Kay Thorndykeas Kay Thorndyke
    Adolphe Menjou
    Adolphe Menjou
    • Jim Conoveras Jim Conover
    Lewis Stone
    Lewis Stone
    • Sam Thorndykeas Sam Thorndyke
    Howard Smith
    Howard Smith
    • Sam I. Parrishas Sam I. Parrish
    Charles Dingle
    Charles Dingle
    • Bill Nolard Hardyas Bill Nolard Hardy
    Maidel Turner
    Maidel Turner
    • Lulubelle Alexanderas Lulubelle Alexander
    Raymond Walburn
    Raymond Walburn
    • Judge Alexanderas Judge Alexander
    Margaret Hamilton
    Margaret Hamilton
    • Norahas Norah
    Art Baker
    Art Baker
    • Leith - Radio Announceras Leith - Radio Announcer
    Pierre Watkin
    Pierre Watkin
    • Sen. Lauterbackas Sen. Lauterback
    Florence Auer
    Florence Auer
    • Grace Orval Draperas Grace Orval Draper
    Irving Bacon
    Irving Bacon
    • Buck Swensonas Buck Swenson
    Charles Lane
    Charles Lane
    • Blink Moranas Blink Moran
    Patti Brady
    Patti Brady
    • Joyce Matthewsas Joyce Matthews
    Georgie Nokes
    • Grant Matthews Jr.as Grant Matthews Jr.
    • (as George Nokes)
    • Director
      • Frank Capra
    • Writers
      • Howard Lindsay(play)
      • Russel Crouse(play)
      • Anthony Veiller(screenplay)
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    Storyline

    Edit
    Kay Thorndyke (Dame Angela Lansbury) loves Grant Matthews (Spencer Tracy) and helps him become Republican nominee for President. The party machine begins to worry as Grant begins to speak for himself. At an important dinner, his wife Mary (Katharine Hepburn) condemns corrupt politicians, and Grant learns to speak out even more boldly. —Ed Stephan <stephan@cc.wwu.edu>
    • republican party
    • dysfunctional marriage
    • television broadcast
    • extramarital affair
    • idealism
    • 75 more
    • Plot summary
    • Add synopsis
    • Taglines
      • How's the State of the Union? It's GREAT!
    • Genres
      • Comedy
      • Drama
    • Certificate
      • Approved
    • Parents guide
      • Add content advisory

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Claudette Colbert was originally cast to play Mary Matthews. A few days before production began, Producer and Director Frank Capra fired her from this movie because she refused to work into the evening. Capra then hired Katharine Hepburn after Spencer Tracy suggested her.
    • Goofs
      Katharine Hepburn's name is misspelled in the opening credits as "Katherine". This is the result of the original MGM opening credits (MGM was the original theatrical distributor.) being replaced by haphazardly designed replacement credits when MGM's distribution rights expired.
    • Quotes

      Mary Matthews: Oh, that's silly. No woman could ever run for President. She'd have to admit she's over 35.

    • Crazy credits
      When this film was reissued, new titles and credits were printed. The original end cast listing was retained, so the cast names which are misspelled in the reissue's opening credits are spelled correctly in the closing cast list.
    • Connections
      Featured in MGM: When the Lion Roars (1992)

    User reviews40

    Review
    Top review
    10/10
    Another neglected gem!
    This is an outstanding movie that belongs in the standard viewing repertoire of great movies from the 1940's. There is a reason this movie is not so well known. It was obviously filmed as a big MGM production (you can hear the lion's roar on the soundtrack!) that became owned by Frank Capra's Liberty Films. The script is very intelligent and demonstrates a knowing cynicism of the political world, but much more believable and less sentimental than Mr. Smith or other Capra films. Most people have seen only a few Tracy-Hepburn movies. Hopefully with Hepburn's recent passing the rights owner will produce a digitally restored DVD with background explaining the history and perspective of this seldom seen classic.
    helpful•29
    3
    • bestactor
    • Jul 1, 2003

    FAQ1

    • What was the criticle reception to the film in the late 1940s?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • April 30, 1948 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Frank Capra's State of the Union
    • Filming locations
      • Detroit, Michigan, USA
    • Production companies
      • Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)
      • Liberty Films (II)
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $2,600,000 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 4 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

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    Katharine Hepburn, Spencer Tracy, Angela Lansbury, and Van Johnson in State of the Union (1948)
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