MovieChat Forums > The Hasty Heart (1949) Discussion > This One Made Ronald Reagan a Conservati...

This One Made Ronald Reagan a Conservative?

posted 16 years ago by jimmygude
10 replies | jump to latest

This is not a political missive--I just read somewhere that the making of this film somehow changed Ronald Reagan from political New-Dealer to conservative.

Politics aside, I loved this movie and don't intend to mix politics with art. I am astounded that fewer than 300 people have rated this film on IMDB. Could only a few hundred have seen it? If so, they have missed a wonderfully touching story complete with top-notch dramatic performances by Richard Todd, Patricia Neal and Ronald Reagan.

Ronald Reagan may have not touched me with his politics in his maturing years, but his acting performance in this movie did. Quite possibly this was his best --with the possible exception of his work in "Kings Row."

[–] thbryn 15 years ago

Two things "changed" Reagan. Marrying Nancy and violence and hard feelings among his fellow members of the SAG in the '50's.

[–] 15 years ago

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[–] AnnChovie 14 years ago

Reagan claimed that, while filming in the UK, he was turned off by the bureaucratism of the British welfare state. But I think he hated the taxes on his fat paycheck, and hated them even more after his career in Hollywood took a nosedive.

[–] 14 years ago

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[–] youngian67 12 years ago

Reagan also helped do the British film industry a big favour with his involvement in the UnAmerican activities committee. Alleged blacklisted 'commies' Edward Dmytryk, Jules Dassin, Jospeh Losey and Cy Ryder all made great films in the UK. Not to mention Larry Adler's unique musical scores in films like Genevieve.

So high taxes put Reagan off staying. It didn't stop real US artists working here or settling; Jimi Hendrix, Terry Gilliam, Bill Hicks, Paul Robeson,

Reagan's performance in Hasty Heart is one of the best of his career, in which he never turned in bad work just often mediocre and indifferent.

[–] 12 years ago

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[–] marktayloruk (2375) a year ago

He had no.intention of settling in Britain. His Rightward shift was for many reasons looking at austerity Britain being one of them.

[–] Echo_in_big_sky 12 years ago

Lol, you nailed it! Where's the 'like' button?

Always the officiant, never the bride. http://www.withthiskissitheewed.com

[–] battlebot 12 years ago

His career did not "take a dive." It was deliberately torpedoed by studip heads after he took an active role in the SAG. Once he became a Hollywood labor leader, he was deliberately blackballed from better projects.

[–] marktayloruk (2375) 2 years ago

He wasn't a very good actor although a very good President.