It was strange to see at least 2 references to Republicans in this movie. The first was Barrymore saying so long as a person is a good Republican, or an elk, or a mason he's okay. Later, the Sherrif decides he's seen enough and will resign his office come morning "Let a democrat take over" As this film was made in the second term of FDR I really wonder what they were driving at.
shareHi Alg,
I believe its a US Civil War reference. Grandpa (was probably from the North) definitely served with the Union Army - the vast majority of the North were Republicans. Hence Republicans = old war buddies = good
And it was meant to be quaint, I think, a joke. It suggests they are New England yankees (only Maine and Vermont went Republican in the 1936 presidential election). I think on Broadway in this movie in 1939, people would've laughed at how old-fashioned these people were.
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