Mr. Ace (1946)

An ambitious congresswoman (Sylvia Sidney) connives to lure a political boss (George Raft) into giving his help to get her elected. But he's not convinced a woman can be elected governor or should even be in politics. Directed by Edwin L. Marin (TALL IN THE SADDLE), the film is terribly dated in its sexist attitude toward women in politics. Sylvia Sidney's political ambition is deemed unnatural for a woman and Raft even says she's too beautiful for politics. The film's barely subtle subtext seems to be that only when she surrenders to love will she become a "real" woman. Of course, if her character were a male, her ambitions would be admirable. If one can put that all aside, it's actually a fairly entertaining movie with a look at societal attitudes toward female politicians. Raft gives his usual enervated performance which puts the burden on Sidney to carry the picture which she does nicely. With Stanley Ridges, Sara Haden and Jerome Cowan.