Hometown Story

Although she did not get it at the time, Marilyn Monroe now gets top billing for "Hometown Story". The barely remembered Jeffery Lynn plays Blake Washburn a World War II hero, who became a state senator, but has now been returned home by a vote of the people.

Blake was obviously a bit of a demagogue while in office. When I first started watching "Hometown Story", I thought he had idealist written all over him, the kind of idealist who is not afraid to use underhanded means to accomplish what he thinks of as altruism. This altruism is also mixed up with an egomania that has been fostered by adulation from those he has favored. But he is brought down a peg or two by his homecoming, which proves to be entertaining, as in the well-choreographed taxi ride from the airport to his home.

It turns out that he is slated to take over editor duties of the local newspaper from his uncle who is ready for a long vacation. Blake Washburn then uses the paper to dredge up some issue - any issue - that might demagogue him back into office. He finally settles on big profits from big corporations as his issue. But he soon finds out that without profits, the economy could not function and we would be living in the stone-age. I would be spoiling the plot if I went any further along these lines.

Alan Hale Jr. (Skipper on Gilligan's Island) is Jeffrey Lynn's old friend and chief reporter. He plays the part with gusto, and he even has a couple scenes with Marilyn that are quite delightful. Marilyn plays a secretary and even in the short amount of screen-time that she is given shows why she was such a sensation in Hollywood during and after her lifetime.

I have read in other reviews that this movie was actually made by money provided by General Motors to promote capitalism. If so, they got excellent writers and acting for their money and came up with a credible and entertaining script that does make the viewer think about economics in a pragmatic light. It is also interesting to contrast this movie with the many blatantly socialist paeans that were produced in this period - supposedly presenting an objective perspective.

All in all, "Hometown Story" is worth watching on several levels, intellectual, historical, entertainment and not least of all for the brief scenes with Marilyn Monroe.

Check out my thoughts on the Communist Manifesto!