The Magnificent Dope

1942 "Meet the All-American Jerk...Ladies' Man De Luxe!"

The Magnificent Dope

6.8 | 1h23m | NR | en | Comedy

Dwight Dawson, who runs an unsuccessful success school, stages a contest to find the biggest failure in the USA, for publicity value when the "dope" takes his course. But winner Tad Page is contented with his idle, lazy life and threatens to convert Dawson's other students to his philosophy. Dawson captalizes on Tad's attraction to Claire Harris to win him over; but will Tad find out Claire is really engaged to Dawson?

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6.8 | 1h23m | NR | en | Comedy | More Info

Released: July. 01,1942 | Released Producted By: 20th Century Fox , Country: Budget: 0 Revenue: 0 Official Website:

Synopsis

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Cast

Henry Fonda , Lynn Bari , Don Ameche

Director

Walter Lang

Producted By

20th Century Fox ,

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Trailers & Images

Cast

Henry Fonda

as Thadeus Winship 'Tad' Page

Charles Bronson: The Spirit of Masculinity Jane Fonda in Five Acts John Ford & Monument Valley Sacco and Vanzetti On Golden Pond Gideon's Trumpet City on Fire Wanda Nevada Fedora

Lynn Bari

as Claire Harris

Trauma Damn Citizen Abbott and Costello Meet the Keystone Kops Francis Joins the WACS Has Anybody Seen My Gal? I Dream of Jeanie I'd Climb the Highest Mountain The Amazing Mr. X Nocturne

Don Ameche

as Dwight Dawson

The Silver Screen: Color Me Lavender Corrina, Corrina Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey Folks! Cocoon: The Return Things Change Harry and the Hendersons Pals Cocoon

Reviews

edwagreen Very clever comedy where Don Ameche taps Henry Fonda as the nation's biggest failure and lures him to New York where he will have him take his course on being assertive.Lynn Bari shed her usual image of a cunning, devious woman to play Ameche's secretary and fiancé who ultimately falls for the Fonda character. Fonda gives a good performance as the simple, kind person who believes in relaxation and the simpler things of life.The shenanigans that are pulled to prevent Fonda from learning about Ameche's relationship with Bari and coaxing him to remain in New York and take the course are well staged.

Martha Wilcox Here we have Henry Fonda playing a lazy guy who is happy to just drift through life. When he answers an advert that earns him $500 and puts him in touch with Don Ameche, we learn that Fonda's character is not someone you can change by arguing with them, but rather by showing them how they should live. It follows the pattern: tell me and I'll forget; show me and I'll remember; demonstrate and I'll buy. If you want to motivate people you cannot do it by arguing with them you have to show and demonstrate to them the right way to do things. We don't have enough role models in daily experience, but we have loads of people who want to change us by criticising us.It's a nice touch when Fonda sees a man eating dinner by himself and he goes over to offer friendship. Realistic you couldn't do that today, but it shows Fonda had his heart in the right place.

dankarlamont This movie contains some incredibly racist lines. It was obviously aimed at southern belief system. I wouldn't let my kids watch it. Lynn Bari makes remarks about Louise Beavers making a cake with her "lilly white hands". Louise Beavers basically says she can't read. Then during the actual party scene Don Ameche sings in a pseudo black voice. On the other side the movie does have some very fun scenes but some of the lines are not funny and unnecessary to the plot of the movie.The clothing in this movie is fabulous. Lyn Bari's outfits are quite fashionable. I don't think she ever looked better in a movie.Henry Fonda, Don Ameche and Everett Horton play their usual excellent comedic roles. Good for a quick laugh.

mr. 880 It will be evident, that any attentive viewer of this movie, will have a thoughtful review of their own past. Moreover, it will cause one to ponder on the concept, "Why have I been going the way that I have been." Slow Down !!! ... Take it easy. There are many people that are in such a rush to get somewhere that they will never get there. Some folks, run Smack-Dab into their destiny on the same road they use to get away from it.