As a woman who has witnessed six decades of Hollywood and political history unfold, I find myself deeply moved by the journey depicted in “Kisses for My President.” Having lived through the struggle for women’s rights and seen the glass ceiling finally shatter with Vice President Kamala Harris, this film holds a special place in my heart.
Back in 1964, when a U.S. female president was still a joke, the film “Kisses for My President” made its debut. Directed by Curtis Bernhardt and produced by Warner Bros., the movie features Polly Bergen as President Leslie McCloud, dealing with diplomatic issues with the Soviets and a Central American dictator. At home, her husband Thad (played by Fred MacMurray) grapples with accepting his new role. Coincidentally, as we celebrate its 60th anniversary this year, it happens during the Democratic National Convention where Vice President Kamala Harris aims to become America’s first female president.
The film “Kisses for My President” was labeled as a “humorous political satire” by THR. The plot revolves around the challenges faced by a female president, not just her, but also her spouse who assumes the role traditionally held by the ‘first lady’. In the movie’s conclusion, Leslie discovers she is pregnant following an incident at the White House and decides to resign. This scenario is interpreted as emphasizing male superiority by the character Thad, who sarcastically remarks, “Did you know it took 40 million women to get you into the White House, and just one man to get you out.” The authors of the book “Madam President: Shattering the Last Glass Ceiling” published in 2000, Eleanor Clift and Tom Brazaitis, discuss the film’s ending, stating that viewers in 1964 likely felt relieved that traditional social norms had been reinstated. When “Kisses for My President” was broadcast on Turner Classic Movies in 2014 to mark its 50th anniversary, host Ben Mankiewicz acknowledged the outdated nature of the story. He explained, “As you might expect from the title, this isn’t a serious examination of anyone’s views on gender equality. Instead, the premise was more about imagining a female president and considering what it would be like to be her husband.”
However, the subject was not taken lightly by Bergen. This actress, who portrayed Geena Davis’ U.S. president’s mother on ABC’s Commander in Chief, and actively supported Hillary Clinton in reality, had expressed her view that a female president in real life was long past due. As stated by Bergen’s manager Jan McCormack upon the actress’ passing in 2014, “She believed it was high time for a woman to hold the presidency.”
Originally published in the August 7 edition of The Hollywood Reporter magazine, you can find more such stories by subscribing here.
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2024-08-11 21:25