Something For The Birds (1952)

• Director
  • Robert Wise
• Writers
  • Alvin M. Josephy(story and screenplay)
  • Joseph Petracca(story and screenplay)
  • Boris Ingster(story and screenplay)
• Stars
  • Victor Mature
  • Patricia Neal
  • Edmund Gwenn

  Something for the Birds is a toothless satire of Washington, filmed during the McCarthy era. For lack of a political target that wouldn't get them labeled as Communists, the producers decided to go after lobbyists. Patricia Neal comes to Washington on behalf of the preservation of the California Condor; she finds herself the object of ridicule for almost everyone, including leading man Victor Mature, a lobbyist for the oil interests who threatens a large bird sanctuary. Edmund Gwenn is one of the few Washingtonians willing to financially back Neal's cause; unfortunately he turns out to be a charlatan with nary a nickel to his name. Eventually Mature is made to realize that the plight of the Condor is worthy worrying about, and he is able to dissuade the agreeable oil executives from drilling on the bird's territory.