THE PRESIDENT VANISHES (DVD for Sale) '34 Edward Arnold Rosalind Russell

Prepare yourselves.
Craig Stanley (Arthur Byron), President of the U. S., has been kidnapped.

An almond-eyed agitator named Lincoln Lee is mobilizing an army of "grey shirts."

A group of powerful malefactors are trying desperately to plunge the U. S. into a European war.

The President's wife (Janet Beecher) is wringing her hands, and his secretary (Osgood Perkins) is in jail, accused of the kidnapping.

At this juncture, a young secret service man (Paul Kelly) punches his fiancee (Peggy Conklin) on the jaw. "If you will just keep quiet for five minutes, Baby," he says, "everything will be O. K."

The young secret service man knows what he is talking about. His girl obeys him....

Based upon a novel anonymously written by Rex Stout, The President Vanishes has as its title character a peace-loving man with distinct anti-interventionist views. As the picture opens, President Stanley Craig (A.S. Byron) finds himself in a bit of a bind: he fervently believes that the United States should stay out of the war in Europe, but the tide of public opinion seems to be turning against him, influenced by a loud and demonstrative fascist group (the Gray Shirts), influential arms manufacturers and powerful pro-war publishers. Congress seems to be unflinchingly pro-war, and is about to meet to "discuss" whether America should get involved in the deadly conflict. Suddenly, a surprise announcement is made: the President has been kidnapped. Overnight, public opinion regarding the war reverses. The American people, knowing of the President's strong anti-war stance, believe that the pro-war forces are behind the abduction, resulting in rioting and national unrest. Eventually, after the nation comes to back the President's view, he is found -- and the audience discovers that the kidnapping was staged by..well let's not reveal that.

By the time the picture ends, the agitator is dead, the jingo lobbyists are routed, the President's secretary is enjoying a crooked grin and President Stanley is back on the radio, explaining approximately what has happened. An ancient one of a kind print of this lost film, complete and miraculously, uncut! Amazing, even to me, that one exists!

Cast:

Paul Kelly Chick Moffat
Peggy Conklin Alma Cronin
Rosalind Russell Sally Voorman
Sidney Blackmer D.L. Voorman
Douglas Wood Roger Grant
Walter Kingsford Drew
DeWitt Jennings Cullen
Charles Grapewin Richard Norton
Charles Richman Corcoran
Jason Robards, Sr. Kilbourne
Paul Harvey Skinner
Robert McWade Vice President Molleson
Edward Arnold Secretary of War Wardell
Osgood Perkins Harris Brownell
Edward Ellis Lincoln Lee
Andy Devine Val Orcott
Harry Woods Kramer
Irene Franklin Mrs. Orcott
Tom Dugan Nolan
Clara Blandick Mrs. Delling