In Good Standing

I recently watched Princess O'Rourke, a 1943 comedy starring Olivia de Havilland (who's still alive at 103, by the way) and Robert Cummings.  It's another one of those stories about royalty secretly hanging out with commoners and falling in love.  And it's yet another lackluster wartime comedy from Hollywood (though the concept would be handled much better in Roman Holiday (1953)).  Surprisingly, it was well-regarded in its day, even winning an Oscar for its screenplay.

I don't have much to say about it, but something interesting happened near the end.  The plot takes the main couple into the White House.  Apparently the Roosevelt administration allowed the film limited access so some scenes were shot there.  They even used Fala, the Roosevelt's dog.

After various plot devices keeping them apart, (spoiler) the couple get married in a secret ceremony at a room in the White House.  On the way out, Cummings bumps into a man standing outside, guarding the door.  In the next (and final) scene he discovers that was FDR himself.

I can see why FDR granted them access. Who wouldn't want to be portrayed as the man who helps a young couple get married? (Actually, something similar happens in the stage musical I'd Rather Be Right (1937).)

What fascinates me is Roosevelt was standing outside the door. The real Roosevelt couldn't stand.  Not on his own.  But this is how he wanted to be portrayed. He'd been President over a decade at this point, and the public at large still didn't know.  Don't think he could get away with this today.  Is that a good thing?