Keeper Of The Flame 1942

 A somewhat  shocking and unusual film for the period. Spencer Tracy plays a newspaper reporter just back from Europe after seeing the early atrocities of the Nazi’s up close and personal. On his return the first news jolt he’s following is in a small town in Connecticut where a charismatic political leader and industrialist Robert Forrest has just died under very mysterious circumstances. This is big news. The film directed by the usual droll and sophisticated George Cukor has some nice early frantic scenes that take place in the lobby of a fully booked small town hotel run by the great Donald Meek. He is overrun by pushy clichéd wise ass reporters including the rarely seen Audrey Christie as a wise cracking dame of a reporter who is an old buddy of Tracy’s. They trade barbs and sexual innuendos but it soon gets very serious when Tracy tries to get a lead on the “great man’s” widow played by Katharine Hepburn in strange solemn mode her cheek bones never more hollowed and her hair very long and wavy. She looks great in her Adrian clothes, and Tracy is pushy with her trying to get the story on this dead “hero” who served in World War I. Little by little clues about him are dropped, his youth clubs, his America first policies, getting the drift? It’s all very deju vu all over again and will surely bring up images of the real defeated fat orange slob and his legions of fascist followers. That this screaming thriller was made at the height of the war warning us of Nazi sympathizers and fascist leading right wing agitators in America is really quite amazing coming out of Hollywood and starring high end movie stars who aren’t pulling any punches. Unfortunately it falls apart in spite of the gleaming M.G.M. look and high end production values, but for about half its running time it’s pretty scary and engrossing especially for its time. Its also remarkable that it played at Radio City Music Hall which had a patriotic rah rah rah red white and blue stage show saluting our armed forces, Rockettes included to go with the film. The script was by Donald Ogden Stewart who was mostly known for light hearted comedies and romances so the whole thing was a big departure for all involved. There is plenty of background scenic paintings and studio sets lavish and complex including forests and big fortress like walls protecting mansions and secrets. The film doesn’t stretch the acting chops of the stars, and some of Stewart’s screenplay is hokey at best, but the plot of an America first dictator coming to power is riveting and disturbing. There are elements of an old dark house in the background with a crazy mother very well acted by the great Margaret Wycherley who is bossed around by a strict housekeeper played by Blanche Yurka and a nice turn by the child actor Darryl H

ickman as a troubled kid who lives in the mansion with his father who served with Forrest in war and now serves as the gatekeeper of the estate.  There is also a not very happy ending which in itself was not common for Hollywood movies at the time. With  a good supporting cast and lush cinematography by the great William Daniels.