THE PRESIDENT'S MYSTERY (1936) Henry Wilcoxon, Betty Furness & Sidney Blackmer | Drama | B&W

The President's Mystery is a 1936 American film directed by Phil Rosen. The film is also known as One for All in the United Kingdom.

SYNOPSIS
A millionaire with a crumbling personal life comes up with an idea on how he can disappear, start a new life without anyone knowing who he is and be able to take all his money with him.

The film deals with a "problem Mr. Roosevelt submitted . . . whether it was possible for a man, weary of faithless friends and a wasted life, to convert a $5,000,000 estate into cash, disappear and start anew in some worth-while activity." (cited from The New York Times – Monday, April 16, 2012)

Disillusioned attorney James Blake is engaged by his friend George Sartos to lobby on behalf of the National Cannery against a bill that would've empowered smaller businesses. After James is successful, he encounters Charlotte Brown, who runs a cannery that is the main livelihood of the small town of Springvale; the cannery has been forced to close because of the bill. James listens to the townsfolk and is inspired to help them.

James liquidates his assets, closes his bank accounts, and stages a failed business venture to make it seem that he's gone bankrupt. Once ready, he leaves his estranged wife, Ilka, to fake his death in a car accident. Ilka tries to inform George, who is also her lover, about James's strange behavior but is accidentally killed by George's manservant, Andrew. James learns about Ilka's death through the radio, and how James is blamed for it but the case is considered closed since his "body" was found by the police.

Some months later James, using his new name James Carter, is in a relationship with Charlotte and has turned her cannery into a success. They are visited by George, who wants to buy out their business. George recognizes James and tries to blackmail him into compliance. When James refuses, George informs the police and James is arrested for Ilka's murder.

While James is held in the town jail, George plants agents provocateurs to cause a riot to destroy the cannery.

CAST & CREW
Henry Wilcoxon as James Blake
Betty Furness as Charlotte Brown
Sidney Blackmer as George Sartos
Evelyn Brent as Ilka Blake
Barnett Parker as Roger
Mel Ruick as Andrew
Wade Boteler as Sheriff
John Wray as Shane
Guy Usher as Police Lieutenant
Robert Homans as Sergeant
Si Jenks as Earl
Arthur Aylesworth as Joe Reed

Directed by Phil Rosen
Written by Franklin Delano Roosevelt (story concept), Lester Cole (screenplay), Nathanael West (screenplay)
Produced by Nat Levine
Cinematography Ernest Miller
Edited by Robert L. Simpson
Music by Hugo Riesenfeld
Release date September 28, 1936
Running time 80 minutes
53 minutes (edited US version)
Country United States
Language English