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Want More Political Stuff? Try A Movie

Susan King Los Angeles Times

The elections are just around the corner. And while you’re deciding just whom to vote for, why not head to your local video store and check out these political comedies?

Peter Sellers is endearing in the 1979 satire “Being There” (FoxVideo, $20), as a simple-minded gardener who knows the world only through what he’s seen on television. He finds himself - through bizarre circumstances - the toast of the Washington political scene. Melvyn Douglas won the best supporting Oscar for his memorable turn as the elderly president. Shirley MacLaine also stars in Jerzy Kosinski’s adaptation of his novel.

Kevin Kline, one of contemporary cinema’s best clowns, is an utter delight in Ivan Reitman’s 1993 hit “Dave” (Warner, $20). Kline plays a regular Joe who is the dead ringer for the president. After the Prez suffers a stroke, Dave is enlisted to masquerade as the commander in chief. Sigourney Weaver, Frank Langella and Ben Kingsley also star.

Tim Robbins stars in, wrote and directed the scathing 1992 satire “Bob Roberts” (Paramount, $20). Robbins plays a right-wing folk singer battling liberal incumbent (Gore Vidal) for a Pennsylvania Senate seat.

Jeremy Larner won an Oscar for his intelligent and witty 1972 comedy “The Candidate” (Warner, $20), starring Robert Redford as an idealistic young lawyer who learns the political ropes when he runs for senator.

Loretta Young received the best actress Oscar for her charming turn in 1947’s “The Farmer’s Daughter” (FoxVideo, $60). Young plays a Swedish woman who becomes a maid to a handsome congressman (a winning Joseph Cotten) and ends up running for office herself. It was later turned into a popular TV series.

Screenwriter Preston Sturges made his directorial debut with the sharp, insightful 1940 comedy “The Great McGinty” (MCA/ Universal, $15), starring a perfectly cast Brian Donlevy as a bum who becomes governor thanks to a well-oiled political machine. McGinty runs into problems, though, when he tries to go legit. Akim Tamiroff is equally fine as the party boss.