Wikipedia article
'It's a Joke, Son!' is a 1947 American comedy film directed by Benjamin Stoloff (in his final directorial role in a film) featuring radio comedian Kenny Delmar as Senator Beauregard Claghorn, the inspiration for the cartoon character Foghorn Leghorn.[p. 712 Sterling, C. 'Encyclopedia of Radio' Taylor & Francis, 01/12/2003] The film was the first American production for Eagle-Lion Films[p.23 Balio, Tino 'United Artists: The Company That Changed the Film Industry', Univ of Wisconsin Press, 1987] and although it was produced on a very small budget compared to other Hollywood films,[ it was a box-office disappointment; one theater chain removed the film after less than a week after it only drew $1,000 in ticket sales.]["[https://archive.org/stream/variety165-1947-03#page/n81/mode/1up 'It's a Joke, Son' did a folderoo...]", at Variety (magazine), 12 March 1947. p.19, column 5]
The film contributed to a multimillion-dollar loss for Eagle-Lion in 1947, and Arthur B. Krim later stated that the studio had overpaid for Delmar and overestimated his bankability.[Balio, Tino. 'United Artists: The Company That Changed the Film Industry' Univ of Wisconsin Press, 1987. p. 24] It is in the public domain.
Plot
When the Daughters of Dixie nominate Magnolia Claghorn as a candidate for state senator, the local political machine run by northerners fears that its candidate will be defeated. Through the Claghorns' daughter's boyfriend Jeff, the members of the machine concoct a plan to run Magnolia's husband Beauregard in order to split the anti-machine vote. However, when Beauregard attracts great popularity, they must seek to stop him.
Cast
'
*Kenny Delmar as Senator Beauregard Claghorn
*Una Merkel as Mrs. Magnolia Claghorn
*June Lockhart as Mary Lou Claghorn
*Kenneth Farrell as Jefferson "Jeff" Davis
*Douglass Dumbrille as Big Dan Healey
*Jimmy Conlin as Senator Alexander P. Leeds
*Matt Willis as Ace, Healey's Henchman
*Ralph Sanford as Knifey, Healey's Henchman
*Daisy as Daisy
*Vera Lewis as Hortense Dimwitty
*Margaret McWade as Jennifer Whipple
*Ida Moore as Matilda Whipple
Soundtrack
* 'Dixie'
* 'The Bonnie Blue Flag'
Notes
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