Home Town Story

After a failed state senate re-election campaign, Blake Washburn returns to his home town of Fairfax a broken man. A war hero elected in a patriotic frenzy with no real aptitude for politics, Washburn was easily kept from second term by the wealthy son of factory owner John McFarland.Washburn dreams of finding a public crusade that will foster his reemergence in public life as "The People's Choice." Scheming to topple McFarland and his son, Blake takes over the editorship of The Fairfax Herald and begins an editorial campaign against gross corporate profits. Having specifically targeted the McFarland Factory for ecological crimes, the staff of "The Herald" is aghast when Washburn's insane, personal lust for public office both ignites cries for his reelection and brings the unhealthy mechanics of the United States' capitalist economy into active public debate.

Featuring Marilyn Monroe in an early screen appearance as Washburn's beautiful secretary, Home Town Story also presents a suave Alan Hale, Jr., long before he starred as the Skipper on "Gilligan's Island." Produced by The General Motors Corporation as big business propaganda, Home Town Story was never released theatrically and finally emerged on television only after Monroe's ascension to stardom.

• drama