The Dark Horse is a 1932 film starring Warren William

Warren William

Warren William was a Broadway and Hollywood actor, popular during the early 1930s, who was later nicknamed the "king of Pre-Code". He was born Warren William Krech in Aitkin, Minnesota to parents Freeman E. and Frances Krech. He had a certain physical resemblance to John Barrymore. He attended the...

 and Bette Davis

Bette Davis

Ruth Elizabeth "Bette" Davis was an American actress of film, television and theater. Noted for her willingness to play unsympathetic characters, she was highly regarded for her performances in a range of film genres, from contemporary crime melodramas to historical and period films and occasional...

. The movie was directed by Alfred E. Green.

Synopsis

The Progressive Party convention is deadlocked for governor, and so both sides nominate the dark horse Zachary Hicks (Guy Kibbee). Kay Russell (Bette Davis) suggests they hire Hal Blake as campaign manager; but first they have to get him out of jail for not paying alimony. Blake (Warren William) organizes the office and coaches Hicks to answer every question by pausing and then saying, "Well yes, but then again no." Blake will sell Hicks as dumb but honest. Russell refuses to marry Blake, while Joe (Frank McHugh) keeps people away from Blake's office. Blake teaches Hicks a speech by Lincoln. At the debate when the conservative candidate Underwood recites the same speech, Blake exposes him as a plagiarist. Hicks is presented for photo opportunities and gives his yes-and-no answer to any question, including whether he expects to win.

Joe puts off Blake's ex-wife Maybelle (Vivienne Osborne) by saying he inherited a farm and asking her to wait a week; but Hicks makes eyes at her and takes her into Blake. She demands money or will send Blake back to jail. Blake asks Kay for $400 and pays Maybelle. Discovering its purpose, Kay grabs the money but gives it back after receiving a necklace from Blake. Underwood's manager Black meets with Maybelle, who has been seeing Hicks. Blake is expecting a $50,000 bonus for winning the election and gets Kay to agree to marry.

Hicks tells Maybelle how he got away from Joe to go with her to a cabin. Black brings the sheriff; but Blake and Joe get there first to remove Hicks, who has been playing strip poker with Maybelle. The sheriff tries to arrest Blake for crossing a state line for immoral purposes. Blake tries to say they are married but has to wed Maybelle again to prove it. Kay walks out on Blake; but after Hicks wins the election, Blake gets Kay arrested for abandoning a child, him. They decide to head for Nevada to manage another campaign, while arranging another divorce and marriage.

Cast (in credits order)

• Warren William
  Warren William
  Warren William was a Broadway and Hollywood actor, popular during the early 1930s, who was later nicknamed the "king of Pre-Code". He was born Warren William Krech in Aitkin, Minnesota to parents Freeman E. and Frances Krech. He had a certain physical resemblance to John Barrymore. He attended the...
  
   as Hal Samson Blake
• Bette Davis
  Bette Davis
  Ruth Elizabeth "Bette" Davis was an American actress of film, television and theater. Noted for her willingness to play unsympathetic characters, she was highly regarded for her performances in a range of film genres, from contemporary crime melodramas to historical and period films and occasional...
  
   as Kay Russell
• Guy Kibbee
  Guy Kibbee
  Guy Bridges Kibbee was an American stage and film actor.Born in El Paso, Texas, Kibbee began his entertainment career on Mississippi riverboats and eventually became a successful Broadway actor...
  
   as Zachary Hicks
• Vivienne Osborne
  Vivienne Osborne
  Vivienne Osborne was an American stage and film actress known for her work in Broadway theater and in silent and sound films.-Career:...
  
   as Maybelle Blake, Hal's Ex-Wife
• Frank McHugh
  Frank McHugh
  Francis Curray "Frank" McHugh was an American film and television actor.Born in Homestead, Pennsylvania, McHugh came from a theatrical family. His parents ran a stock theatre company and as a young child he performed on stage...
  
   as Joe
• Sam Hardy as Mr Black
• Harry Holman
  Harry Holman
  Harry Holman was an American character actor. He appeared in approximately 130 films between 1923 and 1947....
  
   as Mr Jones
• Charles Sellon
  Charles Sellon
  Charles Sellon was an American stage and film actor. He appeared in 108 films and stage acts between 1901 and 1935. He was born in Boston, Massachusetts and died in La Crescenta, California. His grave is located in Valhalla Memorial Park Cemetery.-Selected filmography:-External links:...
  
   as Mr Green
• Robert Emmett O'Connor as Sheriff
• Berton Churchill
  Berton Churchill
  Berton Churchill was a Canadian actor.Born in Toronto, Ontario. As a young man interested in the theater, he appeared in stock companies as early as 1903 and later headed to New York City where he began an acting career that soon put him on the Broadway stage...
  
   as William A. Underwood
• Robert Warwick as Mr Clark