IMDb RATING
7.6/10
3.9K
YOUR RATING
The two front runners for their party's presidential nomination, one principled and the other ruthless, vie for the former president's endorsement.The two front runners for their party's presidential nomination, one principled and the other ruthless, vie for the former president's endorsement.The two front runners for their party's presidential nomination, one principled and the other ruthless, vie for the former president's endorsement.
- Nominated for 1 Oscar
- 1 win & 5 nominations total
Penny Singleton
- Mrs. Claypoole
- (scenes deleted)
Anne Newman Bacal
- Janet
- (as Anne Newman)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaScreenwriter and the film's source playwright Gore Vidal cheerfully admitted that he meant the character of William Russell (Henry Fonda) to remind people of Adlai Stevenson and that Joe Cantwell (Cliff Robertson) was based on Richard Nixon. Stevenson and Nixon were, of course, in different American political parties, Democrat and Republican respectively. Similarly, the character of former President Art Hockstader played by Lee Tracy, bore resemblances to both former Republican U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower and former Democrat U.S. President Harry S. Truman.
- GoofsDuring the roll call, the chairman of the Pennsylvania delegation begins his announcement by saying "Mr Chairman, the State of Pennsylvania....". Pennsylvania is actually a Commonwealth, and any leading politician would refer to it as such.
- Quotes
Joe Cantwell: I don't understand you.
William Russell: I know you don't. Because you have no sense of responsibility toward anybody or anything. And that is a tragedy in a man, and it is a disaster in a president.
- Crazy creditsDuring the opening credits, a picture of every single U.S. President appears in order, from George Washington to Lyndon Johnson.
Featured review
The more politics changes the more it remain the same..
I work at a movie theatre and in a time of one-week wonders ( yes, one film with an action star lasted 3 days in our chain !) it is refreshing to see a film again where the acting is good and the story keeps your interest.
I am watching this movie after not seeing it for 30 years. It made an impression on me and I started listening to both Gore Vidal and William F Buckley because of it.
Henry Fonda's character is clearly based on Adlai Stevenson. Cliff Robertson echoes Richard Nixon so much it is scary. His arrogance is such that he gives the former President orders !
People decried the smoke-filled room politics of this era but I wonder if we got better leaders back then. They seemed to make decisions based on the courage of their convictions and not what the latest poll says. Fonda's character comments on his ignoring polls, whereas now, politicians can't seem to brush their teeth without worrying about public opinion and not what is best for the country.
The actors in this movie didn't need special effects and could ACT unlike so many of the baby-faced wanna-bes of today.
This movie reflects sex, immorality, infidelity, integrity. God and judgement day are even mentioned, something that is anathema today. And what's shown in here shows that times change but one could replace current politicians for these actors and see them immediately.
Lee Tracy is great in this movie and it could be easily watched for just his performance.
Of note, is the glad-handing by William Russell at a public pool. No security guards, no secret service people.
And mention of a nervous breakdown by Fonda's character. Remember Thomas Eagleton?
If you haven't seen this movie, see it and Seven Days In May afterward. It will give you an idea of how poliiics was looked upon in a totally different era.
George Senda Concord, Ca.
I am watching this movie after not seeing it for 30 years. It made an impression on me and I started listening to both Gore Vidal and William F Buckley because of it.
Henry Fonda's character is clearly based on Adlai Stevenson. Cliff Robertson echoes Richard Nixon so much it is scary. His arrogance is such that he gives the former President orders !
People decried the smoke-filled room politics of this era but I wonder if we got better leaders back then. They seemed to make decisions based on the courage of their convictions and not what the latest poll says. Fonda's character comments on his ignoring polls, whereas now, politicians can't seem to brush their teeth without worrying about public opinion and not what is best for the country.
The actors in this movie didn't need special effects and could ACT unlike so many of the baby-faced wanna-bes of today.
This movie reflects sex, immorality, infidelity, integrity. God and judgement day are even mentioned, something that is anathema today. And what's shown in here shows that times change but one could replace current politicians for these actors and see them immediately.
Lee Tracy is great in this movie and it could be easily watched for just his performance.
Of note, is the glad-handing by William Russell at a public pool. No security guards, no secret service people.
And mention of a nervous breakdown by Fonda's character. Remember Thomas Eagleton?
If you haven't seen this movie, see it and Seven Days In May afterward. It will give you an idea of how poliiics was looked upon in a totally different era.
George Senda Concord, Ca.
- Falkenberg2006
- Sep 8, 2006
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Details
- Runtime1 hour 42 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 1.66 : 1
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