This is a lavish, borderline hagiographic biopic of President Woodrow Wilson (Alexander Knox) that follows his political career from President of Princeton University to Governor of New Jersey to President of the United States, but also as a Wife Guy and a Girl Dad. Turns out having three daughters amply prepares you to stand against Congressional hawks and foreign military engagement. But Wilson is no mere shrinking violet. He only wants what's best for the country, in a sternly paternal and professorial way.
I don't know if I can adequately express how bizarre this movie feels. It's so morally upright and virtuous it's almost a miracle Knox didn't achieve apotheosis during filming. Between the tearful martyrdom of his first wife (Ruth Nelson) and the whither-thou-goest puppy eyes of his second (Geraldine Fitzgerald), there's enough stand-by-your-man energy to power Tammy Wynette like a dynamo. And the inspiring stump speeches! Hope you don't get sick of hearing "Hail to the Chief" every 15 minutes. But it is surprisingly progressive for 1944. There's Black people in it! One of them even has a speaking role! He's a butler waxing nostalgic about how his family served the First Lady's family, but you know. You can't have everything.
This won five Oscars, which makes sense, but it didn't win Best Picture (lost to Going My Way) and according to Wikipedia, producer Daryl F. Zanuck was livid. Apparently, he spent a fortune on promotion only to see it lose out to Bing Crosby in a Roman collar.
Watching this in the Year of Our Dumpster Fire 2025 is especially surreal. Every single one of Nobel Peace Prize-winner Wilson's policies, ideals, and principles has been eroded, gutted, or sold to the highest bidder. It's funny in a ha-ha-we're-all-going-to-die kind of way.
Anyway, it's a cool 2 hrs and 33 minutes long so pack a snack but it's free on YouTube if you want to absorb some great costumes and righteous propaganda.
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