Preston Sturges's first film as writer-director was this hilarious political satire. Though uneven, it's still filled with remarkable insight and some incredibly apt barbs about political corruption and susceptibility. Akim Tamiroff is hysterically funny as "The Chief," especially when he's marvelling at McGinty (Brian Donlevy) because of McGinty's audacity in being so obstinate. "He thinks he's me," is Tamiroff's line. Sturges himself was acclaimed for his audacity in being a writer-director, paving the way for other Hollywood writers (including John Huston and Billy Wilder) to graduate to directing.
Review of The Great McGinty
