All the King's Men (1949)

Writer-director Robert Rossen and character actors Broderick Crawford and Mercedes McCambridge (in her film debut) took home Oscars (for Best Picture, Best Actor, and Best Supporting Actress, respectively) for this excellent adaptation of Robert Penn Warren's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel. Crawford stars as Willie Stark, a charismatic populist Southern politician (inspired by the real Louisiana Governor Huey Long) who belies his "man of the people" roots as he ruthlessly maneuvers, lies, and deals his way into the halls of power. John Ireland is his right-hand man, Jack Burden, a newsman turned political flack who hangs on to Stark's early idealism even in the face of Stark's most reprehensible acts of corruption. McCambridge is Stark's cool mistress come calculating assistant. The immediacy of the drama is due in part to a documentary-like style, notably in the scenes on the campaign trail where Stark sways crowds with his folksy rhetoric and estimable charm. Joanne Dru and John Derek also costar. Rossen's savage screenplay and firm direction give the film a powerful punch, but it's Crawford's blustery charm and oversized performance that carry the picture. --Sean Axmaker Amazon.com

More things change

...the more they stay the same. A classic film that's a little raw in its telling, but is still a film with a lot to say. Broderick Crawford gives a great performance of a 'Hick' lawyer that pulls himself through the muck with good intentions, but soon finds out how much mud can stick to you and sling onto others. There are elements in this film that is still true and relevant to our political officials to this day. A man is born in sin and raised in corruption, after all. A good film that all movie lovers should see.

July 27, 2008

Willie Stark is more gutsy than Bush or Clinton

Although this film is about corruption and politics, Willie Stark has
more 'guts' than anybody running today in the year, 2008.
And Sadie Burke(Mercedes McCambridge) could blow Hillary Clinton back
to Arkansas along with her wimpbag husband, Bill.
All said and done, this film is fantastic, better than the novel--too trashy, salty language(who needs it!)
Great cast, screenplay and director. John Ireland SHOULD have gotten
the OSCAR for best supporting actor--he could wipe the floor with Sadie and 'Ann'(Joanne Dru)both together. And a young John Derek was very good as the football player brother, Tom.
An excellent film. Didn't know about it until I saw it on TCM! March 9, 2008

LOUISIANA LONGS FOR LONG

This film is seemingly an old black and white throwaway,hopelessly lost in time.Think again! This is a lightning paced multiple Academy Award winner that is really a timeless movie of both man and politics.Crawford gives the performance of his life portraying Willie Stark, whom everyone assumes is the long ago buried Huey Long, former governor of Louisiana. Enraged by backroom politics that cost him his first election, Stark appeals directly to the people,and never loses another election. In the process, he becomes what future president Truman labeled a law unto himself,someone who has put himself above the law,not an executor of it. The entire cast has sins, albeit McCambridge seems above the fray, calling things as she sees them (and winning an Oscar). If the ending is surprising, remember that politicians like Stark evoke strong, even beastial, feelings from the public. But it's a game that shows no signs of relenting, 59 years after the film's production. February 20, 2008

Didn't Do It For Me

This morality tale, based in large part, of course, on the rise and fall of Louisiana's Huey Long, seemed shallow to me and needed more in the way of an emphasis on the back room dealings that placed the abruptly corrupted Willie Stark in power. This was a film that rushed along without ever giving its characters time or room to develop. I didn't care about anyone in the movie, start to finish, and don't think this is the great classic it's regarded to be. As for the novel on which it's based, or the recent re-make, I haven't read or seen those, and hope they're a little better. August 19, 2007

Powerful movie

This was one one of the best movies I have ever seen. The acting is powerful and dramatic - and thoroughly believable. I had recently read the book and was worried the movie would not do justice to the book. I needn't have worried. The movie moved along at a fast pace and was very emotion packed. I recommend it to everyone! July 26, 2007

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