Robert Rossen directed this Academy Award winning(best picture) film that stars Broderick Crawford(Academy Award winning best actor) as Willie Stark, an ambitious local politician who prides himself on honesty and being in touch with the common people. John Ireland plays newspaper reporter Jack Burden, who is sent to cover Willie, and stays for his whole rise and fall from power. Mercedes MacCambridge(Academy Award winning best supporting actress) plays Sadie Burke, an acerbic woman if ever there was one! Willie at first does challenge the corrupt parties that tried to keep him out, but ends up falling into the same trap of preserving his own power, no matter the cost.
Based on the real-life Huey Long, this well-acted and written film pulls few punches in its cynicism, making viewer wonder if politics is inherently corrupt, or it just attracts corrupt people. Story is predictable and obvious to a point, but still just as timely as ever.
Based on the real-life Huey Long, this well-acted and written film pulls few punches in its cynicism, making viewer wonder if politics is inherently corrupt, or it just attracts corrupt people. Story is predictable and obvious to a point, but still just as timely as ever.