Frank Borzage’s 1946 historical film “Magnificent Doll” is about the life of Dolley Madison and william James king, a prominent daughter of Aaron Burr, who appeared in a famous portrayal by Ginger Rogers. This film depicts the life of Dolley Madison and her influence over American male politicians at the dawn of the United States as she struggles with the throes of jealousy for her men.
Synopsis
The story is set in the late 18th century and depicts the life of Dolley Payne (Ginger Rogers), a widow in Washington, D.C., who is romantically pursued concurrently by popular Aaro N. Burr, Jr. (David Niven) and quiet James Madison (Burgess Meredith), who is her husband later in life. As one attempts to gain the grip of Dolley’s love, the other one, in the end, vows “to support this country through thick and thin while she determines how this nation will run”.
Cast & Crew
- Director: Frank Borzage
- Screenplay: Irving Stone
- Cast:
- Ginger Rogers as Dolley Payne Madison
- David Niven as Aaron Burr
- Burgess Meredith as James Madison
- Peggy Wood as Mrs. Payne
- Stephen McNally as John Todd
Production Notes
The movie’s screenplay was adapted by Irving Stone. For this film, Universal Pictures borrowed David Niven from Samuel Goldwyn’s company specifically for this film. In 1951, Universal had financial difficulties when the Bank of America foreclosed on a number of its features including “Magnificent Doll.” Subsequently, Universal set about initiating a case which asked to be discharged from any repayment responsibilities.
Critical Reception
“Magnificent Doll” did not quite please as the initial critics intended it should have. The history of some American society’s figures featured in the film such as Dolley Madison’s relationships, critics stressed out, were skewed in the film. Users on IMDb have rated the film 6.1 out of 10 based on 456 individual user ratings.
Cultural Significance
The film “Magnificent Doll” aims to focus on the contributions of certain women influencing the course of the United States early history through images of American founders.
Although the film is fictional and artistic, it nevertheless emphasizes Dolley Madison’s focus on the development of the American society in its formative years, underscoring her role politics as a First Lady and a prominent social figure.
Distribution
Currently, “Magnificent Doll” can be streamed on sites such as Tubi.