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The Candidate (1972)
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Overview
User Rating:
Director:
Writer:
Jeremy Larner (writer)
Release Date:
23 August 1972 (France)
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Tagline:
Too Handsome. Too Young. Too Liberal. Doesn't have a chance. He's PERFECT! more
Plot:
Bill McKay is a candidate for the U.S. Senate from California. He has no hope of winning, so he is willing to tweak the establishment. full summary | add synopsis
Plot Keywords:
Candidate
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California
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Cynicism
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Wheelchair
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Politician
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Awards:
Won Oscar.
Another 1 win
&
1 nomination
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NewsDesk:
(8 articles)
DVD: Review:Downhill Racer
(From The AV Club. 17 November 2009, 10:01 PM, PST)
Top Ten Movies About U.S. Politics
(From CinemaSpy. 3 November 2009, 9:45 PM, PST)
(From The AV Club. 17 November 2009, 10:01 PM, PST)
Top Ten Movies About U.S. Politics
(From CinemaSpy. 3 November 2009, 9:45 PM, PST)
User Comments:
The Candidate
more (48 total)
Cast
(Cast overview, first billed only) | Robert Redford | ... | Bill McKay |
 | Peter Boyle | ... | Marvin Lucas |
 | Melvyn Douglas | ... | John J. McKay |
 | Don Porter | ... | Senator Crocker Jarmon |
| Allen Garfield | ... | Klein |
| Karen Carlson | ... | Nancy McKay |
| Quinn K. Redeker | ... | Rick Jenkin (as Quinn Redeker) |
| Morgan Upton | ... | Wally Henderson |
 | Michael Lerner | ... | Paul Corliss |
| Kenneth Tobey | ... | Floyd J. Starkey |
| Chris Prey | ... | David |
| Joe Miksak | ... | Neil Atkinson |
| Jenny Sullivan | ... | Lynn |
| Tom Dahlgren | ... | Pilot |
| Gerald Hiken | ... | Station Manager |
Additional Details
Parents Guide:
Runtime:
110 min
Country:
Language:
Color:
Color (Technicolor)
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Certification:
Brazil:14 |
Canada:PG (Ontario) |
UK:A (1972) |
UK:PG (1988) |
West Germany:12 |
Finland:K-3 (new rating: 2001) |
Spain:T (video rating) |
Finland:S |
Spain:13 |
Sweden:Btl |
USA:PG |
Australia:PG
Filming Locations:
Company:
Fun Stuff
Trivia:
Groucho Marx has an uncredited walk-on cameo in what would be his last screen appearance.
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Goofs:
Continuity: The red convertible driven by Marvin Lucas (Peter Boyle) has three different license plates during the opening credits: "677 EIY", "185 ENV", and "772 DYD". All are from the 1972 era in California.
more
Quotes:
Bill McKay:
So vote once, vote tuh-wice, for Bill McKay... you middle-class honkies.
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Movie Connections:
Referenced in Abby Singer (2003)
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FAQ
This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.more (48 total)
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Robert Redford, in one of his unjustly overlooked films from 1972, stars as a lawyer and the son of the former governor of the state of California in an election year where the senatorial incumbent has no competition. Peter Boyle convinces Redford to run, fully expecting and anticipating to lose, therefore being able to run on a platform of pure integrity to show how out of touch the current senator has become. But suddenly the public realizes that some fresh, younger blood with an idealistic eye might be what they truly want rather than another in a long succession of terms by the same old huckster. Melvyn Douglas also stars as Redford's father. Even though this film is almost 30 years old, the Oscar-winning screenplay by Jeremy Larner shows just how timeless the same old issues the candidate has to decide where he stands upon (abortion, the environment, health care) actually are. The script really is eye-opening, because it underlines very well the point that even if, say, Jesus Christ were to run for office today, what He would say is not as important as how and when He'd say it. Directed by Michael Ritchie (Smile, The Bad News Bears, Semi-Tough), one of the few American directors who has been able to successfully show the black humor of the strange, fetid underbelly of competition in this society. Blink and you'll miss Natalie Wood at a fund-raiser. Completely climatized to the Seventies, she looks like Donovan's aide-de-camp.