The Dark Horse
“Hilarity is just around the corner, in this screaming burlesque on the political parade! You'll Vote For Every Star!”
Synopsis
The Progressive Party convention is deadlocked for governor, so both sides nominate the dark horse Zachary Hicks. Kay Russell suggests they hire Hal Blake as campaign manager; but first they have to get him out of jail for not paying alimony. Blake organizes the office and coaches Hicks to answer every question by pausing and then saying, "Well yes, but then again no." Blake will sell Hicks as dumb but honest. Russell refuses to marry Blake, while Joe keeps people away from Blake's office. Blake teaches Hicks a speech by Lincoln. At the debate when the conservative candidate Underwood recites the same speech, Blake exposes him as a plagiarist. Hicks is presented for photo opportunities and gives his yes-and-no answer to any question, including whether he expects to win.
Top Cast
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Bette Davis
Kay Russell
Warren William
Hal Samson Blake
Guy Kibbee
Zachary Hicks
Vivienne Osborne
Hal's Ex-Wife Maybelle Blake
Frank McHugh
Joe
Sam Hardy
Mr. Black
Harry Holman
Mr. Jones
Charles Sellon
Mr. Green
Robert Emmett O'Connor
Sheriff
Berton Churchill
William A. Underwood
Robert Warwick
Mr. Clark
Louise Beavers
Kay's Maid Levinnia
Harry C. Bradley
Blue Ribbon Man
Harrison Greene
Delegate Next to Hicks
Harry Leroy
Delegate
Wilfred Lucas
Debate Chairman
Wilbur Mack
Conservative Party Man
Tom McGuire
Conservative Party Man
Release History & Theatrical Window
New York City, New York
Festival / Special Debut
June 16, 1932
Wide Cinema Exhibition
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Alfred E. Green
- Screenplay & Story
- Joseph Jackson, Wilson Mizner, Courtney Terrett, Darryl F. Zanuck
- Original Title
- The Dark Horse
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 1h 15m
- Production Studios
- First National Pictures
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Alfred E. Green
Joseph Jackson, Wilson Mizner, Courtney Terrett, Darryl F. Zanuck
Sol Polito
George Marks
Darryl F. Zanuck
Department Leadership Roster
Joseph Jackson
Writer
Alfred E. Green
Director
Wilson Mizner
Writer
George Marks
Editor
Darryl F. Zanuck
Producer
Sol Polito
Director of Photography
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
NR: Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.
International Certification Matrix
Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for The Dark Horse.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring The Dark Horse.
Pre-Code Hollywood
Pre-Code Hollywood films, 1929 to 1934.
leftist movies
from ptp
MovieLens[20K:30K]
Bette Davis
Bette Davis
*Unfinished list, sorted by release year.*
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Frequently Asked Questions About The Dark Horse
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is The Dark Horse about?
The Progressive Party convention is deadlocked for governor, so both sides nominate the dark horse Zachary Hicks. Kay Russell suggests they hire Hal Blake as campaign manager; but first they have to get him out of jail for not paying alimony. Blake organizes the office and coaches Hicks to answer every question by pausing and then saying, "Well yes, but then again no." Blake will sell Hicks as dumb but honest. Russell refuses to marry Blake, while Joe keeps people away from Blake's office. Blake teaches Hicks a speech by Lincoln. At the debate when the conservative candidate Underwood recites the same speech, Blake exposes him as a plagiarist. Hicks is presented for photo opportunities and gives his yes-and-no answer to any question, including whether he expects to win.
Who directed The Dark Horse?
The Dark Horse was directed by Alfred E. Green.
Who stars in The Dark Horse?
The principal cast of The Dark Horse includes Bette Davis, Warren William, Guy Kibbee, Vivienne Osborne, Frank McHugh.
When was The Dark Horse released and how long is it?
The Dark Horse was released in 1932 with a total runtime of 1h 15m.
What is the age rating and content advisory for The Dark Horse?
The Dark Horse holds official age classifications: US: NR (Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.).