The Cat's-Paw (1934)

Plot

Ezekial Cobb, a well-meaning but naive man raised by his missionary father in China, returns to America with hopes of finding a wife. However, corrupt politicians manipulate him into running for mayor as a figurehead with no real chance of success. To their surprise, he unexpectedly wins the election and seizes the opportunity to launch a campaign for reform. What begins as a misguided ploy transforms into a genuine movement for change, as Ezekial challenges the very system that sought to exploit him.