DVD available at Amazon.com
Writer-Director:
Robert Rossen
Cast:
Broderick Crawford”¦”¦”¦.Willie Stark
John Ireland”¦”¦”¦.Jack Burden
Joanne Dru”¦”¦”¦.Anne Stanton
Mercedes McCambridge”¦”¦”¦.Sadie Burke
Raymond Greenleaf”¦”¦”¦Judge Monte Stanton
Anne Seymour”¦”¦”¦.Lucy Stark
John Derek”¦”¦”¦.Tom Stark
Columbia Pictures presents Robert Rossen’s All the King’s Men. Based upon the Pulitzer Prize novel by Robert Penn Warren. Running time: 109 minutes. Not Rated. DVD release date: September 5, 2006. MSRP: $19.94.
Every year Hollywood releases hundreds of movies. Few good, some entertaining, others God-awful. Then, the following year, the industry gives itself a congratulatory pat on the back by dishing out those golden statuettes named Oscar. Like voting the king and queen of a high school prom, oftentimes it boils down to a popularity contest. Though, aberrations are bound to happen.
Take Broderick Crawford. To look at him you wouldn’t think much of the man. Stout and boisterous, he didn’t look like a movie star. A dependable actor that would get typecast as the leading man’s sidekick or the occasional dimwitted henchman, he catapulted to movie stardom with his portrayal as Willie Stark, a country bumpkin turned incensed demagogue. In what can best be described as the performance of his career, Crawford earned the 1949 Academy Award for Best Actor.
Adapted from Robert Penn Warren’s Pulitzer Prize-winning 1947 novel, which is loosely based on the life of corrupt Louisiana politico Huey “Kingfish” Long, All the King’s Men tells the story of an honest man wanting to right the wrongs of a corrupt bureaucracy. It is a cautionary tale we’ve seen before, in which a populist hero becomes a leader.
The old adage is that absolute power corrupts absolutely. Which fits Willie Stark to a tee. A stubborn commoner fed up with the payola amongst the powerful — instead of being spread to the rural folk — he was inspired to run for public office. His cries and exclamations get a lot of people talking. Even the attention of Jack Burden (John Ireland), a newspaper reporter for some unnamed city Chronicle in some unnamed state. Burden is assigned to cover an election for county treasurer. There he meets Willie Stark, the challenger, a bear of a man who is determined but doesn’t quite have the know-how to get the votes he needs. Shadowing the campaign, Jack interviews Willie and meets and speaks with his wife Lucy (Anne Seymour). He likes them immensely. Though affable in defeat, Willie’s ambitions remain untarnished. Soon after he earns a law degree, as well as a reputation of being defender of the little man.
A successful lawyer — he won a key victory that found the stubborn politicians guilty of mishandled funds — Willie Stark sets his sights on being governor. But little does he know he’s being played for a fool. He’s a decoy, as his participation amounts to splitting the rural vote, while Harrison, another candidate, wins the election with an overwhelming majority in city votes.
Willie may have been duped, and shame on him. But lightning doesn’t strike twice in this tale. During the election this hefty man has an awakening. Almost overnight he becomes a man who exudes confidence. Amazing what a swig of whiskey can accomplish. Inhibitions are lost; Willie goes off script and speaks his mind. The people love it. The transformation comes too late in the campaign to amount to anything, however. He loses to Harrison, but not the people, as he wins the governorship a few years later.
Jack Burden is there to witness it all. It is through him that we see Willie Stark’s rise to prominence. Along the way, the road paved with good intentions forks into two different directions. One road is in dire need of repairs; the other is yet to be finished. Rather than apply some elbow grease and finish the road, Stark would rather wheel-and-deal, collecting monies from a number of under-the-table contributors. With each deal made down the road of imperfections it drives him further away from those good intentions he promised.
Surrounding himself with friends and sweet-talkin’ supporters, including Jack and Sadie (Mercedes McCambridge), Stark’s campaign manager, the governor is your atypical anti-hero. Worshiped and glorified, proponent of the have-nots while at the same time corrupt. Perhaps that is why a newsreel touts him “Willie Stark: Messiah or Dictator?”
As the novel-to-screen adaptation plays out, we see Willie Stark slip farther and farther away from the plain-speaking simple man the people fell in love with to becoming an overzealous wielder of power and authority. Broderick Crawford is a powder keg in the performance that won him an Oscar. Watching him deliver his speech to an overwrought populace — the speech that ignites the spark to becoming governor — is a study in how to be voracious and doing it well. An appetite for power without limitations. The supporting cast tries to hold its own against Crawford’s portrayal, but can’t contend. Well, maybe Mercedes McCambridge as Sadie. A lass who could easily flap her gums and take no guff, her first movie performance netted her a Best Supporting Actress statuette. Not too many have that distinction.
Robert Rossen pulls triple duty as writer, producer and director of All the King’s Men. His filmmaking style is direct and not too subtle. It may appear dated without television cameras or news reporters covering the developments of Willie Stark’s gubernatorial gluttony at all hours of the day. But the attitudes of this 57-year-old film are as prevalent now as they were then. Maybe more so.
THE VIDEO
(Presented in 1.33:1 full screen)
The film is presented in its original aspect ratio. Considering the age of All the King’s Men, the print is in good condition, aside from the noticeable scratches, nicks and other imperfections that are prevalent throughout. It’s a shame that Sony Pictures thought fit to re-release this DVD to capitalize on director Steve Zaillian’s remake. Even so, they should have improved the transfer.
THE AUDIO
(English Dolby Digital 2.0)
The audio track is pretty much unremarkable, but that is to be expected from a classic that gets a bad release from the studio that has given us needless double-dips of Resident Evil and 13 Going on 30, among others. Still the dialogue is clear and free of distortion. Optional English subtitles are also available.
SPECIAL FEATURES
And what can one except in the special features department? A retrospective on the making-of All the King’s Men? A commentary by Turner Classic Movies film historian Robert Obsborne, maybe? I don’t think so. Try a sneak preview of the Steve Zaillian remake as well as it’s theatrical trailer. Pitiful.
THE INSIDE PULSE
In the age of self-aggrandizing news anchors who swing left or right, or politicians who exclaim about constitutional issues, like flag burning, when more important things are at stake, it’s easy too easy to see why Robert Roseen’s All the King’s Men is as prevalent now as when it was released. Too bad Sony Pictures has given us a no-frills DVD release. Nothing but a quick buck attempt at promoting the remake. Guess they figured the original wasn’t worth honoring. Forget the paltry extras, and find solace in Broderick Crawford’s once-in-a-lifetime performance as Willie Stark.
