I actually did a speech about The Magnificent Dope @ Toastmasters. The theme being "Selling Yourself." I strongly believe this movie is first and foremost a sales movie, and the best of it's type. Henry Fonda's character Thaddeus Winsome Page ( Tad) from Vermont is considered the "laziest person in the county" and is offered a free sales course worth $500 ( a lot of money in 1942), by Dwight Dawson ( Don Ameche), to prove his aggressive sales method works with anyone. He does not want it, until he meets Ameche's fiancée Claire ( Lynn Bari) and falls for her. Of course, he does not know they have been engaged for six years. Besides that, she is a sophisticated New York woman, and way out of his league. Spoilers ahead: Although he has no sophistication, the one thing Tad is able to do is sell himself. First he goes over to an old man in a restaurant, someone alone and everyone is afraid of, but not Tad. It turns out he is a powerful Wall Street Executive, and by actually talking to him, finds out there is one thing in his life that he enjoyed ( besides making money), and that was fishing as a boy. He convinces the man to retire and go fishing. He then has to sell an insurance policy to someone considered uninsurable ( which he does not know). Why? So he can buy a fire engine to bring back to his home town. He brings Claire along, and it turns out Claire's Uncle was a Fire Chief in New Jersey, so she knows all about them ( something that not only Tad but Dawson did not know ( despite being engaged to her for six years)). Towards the end he finds out about Claire and Dawson and gives up on her, but still needs the fire engine. He meets the man and finds out the truth. But he was able to get him relaxed, so he passed a medical examination and the man was so happy he gladly took the most expensive policy and Tad was able to buy the fire engine. He then went over to Dawson's to have it out with him, but he heard Claire arguing with him, and admitting she loves Tad. As soon as he heard that he went to the fire engine and when Claire left the building he said "Going my way"? Of course, he ended up taking her back to Vermont with him. Meanwhile Dawson copied Tad's technique and started selling it as his own. Of course, the keys to sales are no fear, being willing to face rejection, and when the opportunity to close the sale arises to take it. The failure to close the sale ( marrying Claire), is the mistake that Dawson made, allowing Tad the opportunity to come in and take her away. Again my favorite sales movie. ps. I did get Best Speaker that day. 10/10 stars
Review of The Magnificent Dope
