Quiz Show
1994
In 1958 when television quiz shows ruled the airwaves, Charles Van Doren was the wildly popular champion of a successful TV show called Twenty-One. A national celebrity who appeared on the covers of both Time and Life magazines, Van Doren was an American folk hero--the intellectual's answer to Elvis Presley. Week after week .. Read more
| Starring | Ralph Fiennes, Paul Scofield, Rob Morrow, John Turturro |
|---|---|
| Director | Robert Redford |
| Genres | Drama |
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Quiz Show
In 1958 when television quiz shows ruled the airwaves, Charles Van Doren was the wildly popular champion of a successful TV show called Twenty-One. A national celebrity who appeared on the covers of both Time and Life magazines, Van Doren was an American folk hero--the intellectual's answer to Elvis Presley. Week after week audiences tuned in to watch as Van Doren, a popular English instructor at Columbia University and the product of one of America's most renowned literary families, seemed to draw from his vast knowledge the correct answers to obscure questions. His charming presence seduced 50 million people into believing him. But the truth is, viewers were fooled and saw only what the network and program's producers wanted them to see. Then someone pulled the plug. When disgruntled contestant Herbie Stempel charged that the quiz game was a fraud, Congressional investigator Richard Goodwin uncovered the facts that exposed the deception, and sent shock waves reverberating across America.
| Starring | Ralph Fiennes, Paul Scofield, Rob Morrow, John Turturro, Calista Flockhart, Ethan Hawke |
|---|---|
| Director | Robert Redford |
| Studio | WALT DISNEY STUDIOS HOME ENTERTAINMENT |
| Run time | DVD: 2 hrs 7 mins |
| Certificate | |
| Genres | Drama |
| Language | DVD: English |
| Released | DVD: 15 Jun 2006 Production year: 1994 |
| Format | DVD |
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Critics' reviews (6)
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Intelligently crafted by director Robert Redford, this drama is a riveting account of a true-life scandal in 1950s America, in which the winning contestant of the popular Twenty-One television game show was exposed as a fraud. Week after week, millions of viewers tuned in to watch a handsome and debonair professor (another memorable performance from Ralph Fiennes) flex his intellectual muscle, but it was later revealed he was given the answers in advance by a corrupt network seeking sponsorship dollars. John Turturro matches Fiennes as the show's deposed champion, while Rob Morrow plays the lawyer investigating the scam. It says everything about American ethics, manners and morals, revealing the true price of fame during the days of TV's innocence.
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A smart and gripping drama of media corruption, based on fact and revealing inequities of class and culture that retain their power today.
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Most helpful member's review
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9 out of 9 people found this review helpful
Quiz Show Cheater
This is a very odd subject for a film. It is a true story based on the 1950's scandal of NBC's quiz show rigging.
In the early days of Television, the quiz shows offered a unique chance for viewers to experience large volumes of cash exchanging hands, and make heros of the quiz show contestants. With this in mind, the quiz show producers thought it would make good television to rig the shows, and allow popular good ole' Amercian college boys to win the quiz shows.
Anyway, word got out and scandal followed. The film follows the story of one unlucky contestant who wasnt deemed worthy of being gifted the answers, and decided to take the matter further.
The film in intriguing, in a 'The Firm' kind of way. The acting is very authentic 1950 TV, and works well. This is a film well worth watching, but probably not one to watch over and over. -
Most recent members' review
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1 out of 1 person found this review helpful
Interesting and absrbing
A good film, about quite a strange subject matter. The film centres around the rigging of a 1950's Quiz Show in order to get more ratings and therefore more advertising revenue for the network. The ending is a little too Americanised, though the acting is solid through out, and Redford's directing is simple but strong. Well worth a watch.
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News and features
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Speculation over whether a movie version of New York drama series Sex and the City increased today as it was claimed the project is due to start filming this autumn. Mario Cantone - who played gay stylist Anthony Marantino in the show but previously starred in Mousehunt and Quiz Show - told MTV that director Michael Patrick King had asked him whether he was available for the film later in the year. The movie could be widely successful if it does come to fruition, given the series' popularity... Read more
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