When Robert Rossen filmed Robert Penn Warren's brilliant political drama back in 1949, he had no idea that how it would turn out. He had a cast of unknowns led by Broderick Crawford who prior to that was usually playing big blustery heavies on the screen. But Crawford, sensing this could be his watershed part , threw himself into the character of Willie Stark(based on real life Huey Long).
What emerged was a full dimensional portrait of what began as an honest politician who rose up from itenerance and poverty to become a currupt political leader elected governor of his state and had it not been for an assassin's bullet, could have run for president.
Crawford makes Stark's transition from country hick to Machine boss believable. He shines in a scene where he learns he is being used to split the hick vote, and instead of speaking the party line he gives an emotional rallyng cry. the rally gave Stark his stepping stone into the big arena.
Similarly, the role of Willie Stark gave Crawford his jump to stardom. He richly deserved the best actor Oscar he won. While he was the focal point of the film(and an Oscar winner as well) he was supported by Mercedes McCambridge, herself an unknown who also won an Academy Award for best supporting Actress. Her interpertation of Sadie Burke the hard boiled assistant is right on the mark. John Ireland who never got credit for being as good an actor as he was made a good Jack Burden, a man trying to escape from his wealth but never succeeding. Ireland was nominated for an Oscar as well. Finally Joanne Dru, married to Ireland at the time , was Ann Stanton, the antithesis of Sadie, and one of the many illicit flings in Stark's life.
While the success of "All The King's Men" was a major surprise, what has become even more amazing is the fact that a half a century later the story and plot is still topical.
One has to wonder if the 1970s political thriller "All The President's Men" owes more than just it's titular resemblance to this film. In fact it is just a more sophisticated retelling of the story of a longtime incurable disease called Politics.
What emerged was a full dimensional portrait of what began as an honest politician who rose up from itenerance and poverty to become a currupt political leader elected governor of his state and had it not been for an assassin's bullet, could have run for president.
Crawford makes Stark's transition from country hick to Machine boss believable. He shines in a scene where he learns he is being used to split the hick vote, and instead of speaking the party line he gives an emotional rallyng cry. the rally gave Stark his stepping stone into the big arena.
Similarly, the role of Willie Stark gave Crawford his jump to stardom. He richly deserved the best actor Oscar he won. While he was the focal point of the film(and an Oscar winner as well) he was supported by Mercedes McCambridge, herself an unknown who also won an Academy Award for best supporting Actress. Her interpertation of Sadie Burke the hard boiled assistant is right on the mark. John Ireland who never got credit for being as good an actor as he was made a good Jack Burden, a man trying to escape from his wealth but never succeeding. Ireland was nominated for an Oscar as well. Finally Joanne Dru, married to Ireland at the time , was Ann Stanton, the antithesis of Sadie, and one of the many illicit flings in Stark's life.
While the success of "All The King's Men" was a major surprise, what has become even more amazing is the fact that a half a century later the story and plot is still topical.
One has to wonder if the 1970s political thriller "All The President's Men" owes more than just it's titular resemblance to this film. In fact it is just a more sophisticated retelling of the story of a longtime incurable disease called Politics.