Based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by Robert Penn Warren, All the King's Men is a roman à clef inspired by the career of Louisiana governor Huey Long. Broderick Crawford won an Academy Award for his portrayal of Willie Stark, a backwoods Southern lawyer who wins the hearts of his constituents by bucking the corrupt state .. Read more
| Starring | Broderick Crawford, John Ireland, Joanne Dru, John Derek |
|---|---|
| Director | Robert Rossen |
| Genres | Drama |
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Based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by Robert Penn Warren, All the King's Men is a roman à clef inspired by the career of Louisiana governor Huey Long. Broderick Crawford won an Academy Award for his portrayal of Willie Stark, a backwoods Southern lawyer who wins the hearts of his constituents by bucking the corrupt state government. Journalist Jack Burden (John Ireland) is impressed by Willie's seeming sincerity, and aids Stark on the road to political power. Once he's reached the governor's mansion, however, Willie proves himself to be as dishonest and despotic as the crooks whom he's replaced. He also cheats shamelessly on his wife with both his campaign manager (Mercedes McCambridge, another Oscar winner) and with Anne Stanton (Joanne Dru), the sister of idealistic doctor Adam Stanton (Sheppard Strudwick). Fiercely protective of his power, Willie organizes a fascistic police force and arranges for accidents to befall those who oppose him; even so, he retains the love of the voters by lowering the poverty level, improving the school system, and financing building projects. Even when Willie all but orchestrates the suicide of Anne's uncle, a highly respected judge (Raymond Greenleaf), those closest to him are unable to escape his power and the charismatic hold he has over people. Stockton, CA, stands in for the unnamed state capitol where most of the film's action occurs. In addition to its Oscars for Crawford and McCambridge, All the King's Men won the Best Picture prize. Warren's novel would later be adapted into a stage play, a TV special, and even an opera.~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
| Starring | Broderick Crawford, John Ireland, Joanne Dru, John Derek, Mercedes McCambridge |
|---|---|
| Director | Robert Rossen |
| Studio | COLUMBIA TRI-STAR HOME VIDEO |
| Run time | DVD: 1 hr 45 mins |
| Certificate |  |
| Collections | Best Picture Oscar Winners |
| Genres | Drama |
| Language | DVD: English |
| Dubbed | French, German, Italian, Spanish |
| Subtitles | DVD: Arabic, Bulgarian, Croatian, Czech, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, German, Greek, Hebrew, Hindi, Hungarian, Icelandic, Norwegian, Polish, Swedish, Turkish |
| Released | Production year: 1949 To Rent: DVD: 09 Jul 2001 |
Archetypal American political melodrama based on the life of southern senator Huey Long. The background is well sketched in and there are excellent performances, but the overall narrative is occasionally flabby.
- 4
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I'll be damned
I liked it, a good portrayal, of a man gone wrong. Some nice touches and a cracking lead performance make this quite enjoyable viewing. Some out of place bits ... read more »
[Highly rated reviewer]
- 0
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All the kings men
Very powerful but quite busy in places. Worth a look.
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- 0
Changing Guard
I was pleased to eventually see the performances and story that won so many accolades in 1949.
Of course it is dated and the ending came on a bit ... read more »
[Highly rated reviewer]
- 1
- 0
quality all round
The original novel ‘All the Kings Men’ won the Pulitzer prize and the writer, Robert Penn Warren, was Americas first poet laureate. Director Robert ... read more »
Jude Law looks likely to star in a remake of the 1949 classic "All the King's Men". Law is set to play Jack Burden - first played by "Spartacus" star John Ireland - in the re-make. The first version of the film won the "big three" Academy awards, best actor in a leading role, best actress in a leading role and best picture. In the film Law's character is a journalist who falls under the spell of populist politician Willie Stark. Sean Penn is expected to play Stark, Read more
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