The Dark Horse (1932) in Color — Starring Bette Davis & Warren William

The Dark Horse (1932) — Buy This Classic in Color

Experience the razor-sharp pre-Code political satire The Dark Horse (1932), now available as a professionally colorized digital download for only €15.00. Directed by Alfred E. Green and starring Warren William, Bette Davis, and Guy Kibbee, this fast-paced comedy skewers American electoral politics with a cynicism and wit that feels remarkably contemporary. Download instantly in DRM-free MP4 format and enjoy this sparkling pre-Code gem in vivid color.

Plot Summary

The Progressive Party is in crisis. Deadlocked at their state convention between two qualified candidates for governor, the party bosses reach a desperate compromise — they will nominate Hicks, a dim-witted, bumbling cipher played with lovable stupidity by Guy Kibbee, reasoning that a candidate who stands for absolutely nothing can offend absolutely no one. The only problem is making a man who can barely string a coherent sentence together appear gubernatorial to the voting public.

Enter Hal Samson Blake, a fast-talking, brilliantly manipulative campaign manager played with electrifying confidence by Warren William. Blake is currently in jail for non-payment of alimony — a detail that does not concern the party bosses, who spring him from prison and hand him the impossible task of turning their hapless nominee into a governor. Blake accepts with the cheerful amorality of a man who views democracy as a confidence game and voters as marks waiting to be fleeced.

Blake’s first act is to hire Kay Russell, a sharp, attractive young campaign worker played by an impossibly young Bette Davis in one of her earliest significant roles. Kay is intelligent and idealistic enough to be uncomfortable with Blake’s cynical methods, but drawn to his irresistible charm and razor-sharp mind. Their sparring romantic chemistry crackles through every scene they share, with Davis already displaying the fierce intelligence and luminous screen presence that would make her the biggest female star in Hollywood.

Blake’s campaign strategy is a masterclass in political manipulation. He coaches the hopelessly inarticulate Hicks to answer every question with a single phrase — “Yes… and again I say, yes!” — which the public interprets as decisive leadership rather than vacant repetition. He stages elaborate photo opportunities, manufactures crises that make Hicks appear heroic, and feeds the press a steady diet of carefully crafted illusions. The satire is devastating precisely because the methods Blake employs are recognizable as the actual machinery of political campaigns.

Complications arise when the opposition party hires a beautiful woman to compromise Hicks in a honey trap scheme — a pre-Code plot device that later censorship would have prohibited. Blake must rescue his candidate from scandal while simultaneously fending off his vengeful ex-wife, who threatens to expose his shady past and derail the entire campaign. The film careens through a series of increasingly frantic set pieces as Blake’s various deceptions begin to collide, building toward a climactic election night that resolves the political, romantic, and legal threads with breakneck efficiency.

The film’s satire extends beyond politics to skewer the press, the legal system, and the American electorate itself, all delivered at the velocity that made Warner Bros. pre-Code comedies the most exciting entertainment of the early 1930s.

Cast & Crew

Director: Alfred E. Green

Stars: Warren William, Bette Davis, Guy Kibbee, Vivienne Osborne, Frank McHugh, Sam Hardy, Harry Holman, Charles Sellon

Warren William dominates the film with his trademark combination of silky charm and ruthless intelligence, creating one of the great screen con men of the pre-Code era. Bette Davis, though still early in her career, brings an irresistible combination of wit and warmth to Kay that hints powerfully at the legend she would become. Guy Kibbee’s cheerfully stupid Hicks is a comic creation of inspired absurdity.

Why Buy This Classic in Color?

This professionally colorized restoration brings fresh visual energy to the film’s crackling Depression-era comedy. The smoke-filled backrooms of party headquarters, the bunting-draped rally stages, and the glamorous campaign events all spring to life with period-accurate color that enhances the film’s satirical energy. The pre-Code fashions and Art Deco interiors gain their full stylistic impact, while Bette Davis’s luminous early screen presence achieves new warmth in color. Now also available in colour.

Buy now for €15.00 — instant DRM-free digital download, compatible with all MP4-capable devices.

Historical Significance

Released in 1932 during the depths of the Depression and a presidential election year, The Dark Horse captures the irreverent spirit of pre-Code Hollywood at its most bracingly cynical. The film is part of Warner Bros.’ remarkable cycle of topical, fast-paced social comedies that fearlessly satirized contemporary American life. It holds particular historical interest for featuring a young Bette Davis in one of her first substantial roles at Warner Bros., the studio where she would reign as Hollywood’s most powerful actress for the next two decades. Through colorization, this sharp-witted pre-Code classic is preserved for modern audiences who can enjoy its timeless political satire in vivid new color.

Technical Details

• Format: MP4
• Resolution: HD 720p
• Colorized: Yes, frame-by-frame restoration
• Audio: Original English mono
• Runtime: 75 minutes
• DRM-free: Yes
• Instant download: Yes
• Price: €15.00

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Movie-Specific Questions

Q: Is The Dark Horse based on real political events?
A: While not based on a specific campaign, the film draws directly from the cynical machinery of real American politics, particularly the practice of nominating inoffensive compromise candidates and manufacturing their public images through media manipulation.

Q: How significant is Bette Davis’s role in this film?
A: Though not the lead, Davis makes a strong impression as the intelligent campaign worker Kay Russell, demonstrating the screen charisma and acting intelligence that would soon make her the biggest female star in Hollywood.

Q: What makes this a pre-Code film?
A: Released before the strict enforcement of the Production Code in 1934, the film freely depicts political corruption, marital infidelity, and sexual manipulation without moral punishment, giving it a frankness and cynicism that would disappear from Hollywood films for decades.

Digital Download Questions

Q: What format is the download?
A: The film is delivered as a high-quality MP4 file in HD 720p resolution, playable on virtually any modern device.

Q: Is this download DRM-free?
A: Yes, the download is completely DRM-free for your personal, non-commercial use.

Q: How quickly will I receive my download?
A: You will receive a secure download link on the confirmation page immediately after purchase, with a backup link sent to your email.

Related Colorized Classics

• The Mouthpiece (1932)
• The Nanny (1965)
• Hush… Hush, Sweet Charlotte (1964)
• The Mind Reader (1933)
• The Cabin in the Cotton (1932)