Power (1986)

Pete St. John is a powerful and successful political consultant, with clients spread around the country. When his long-time friend and client Ohio senator Sam Hastings decides to quit ... See full summary »

Director:

Sidney Lumet

Writer:

David Himmelstein

Stars:

Richard Gere, Julie Christie, Gene Hackman

1 win & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Richard Gere	...	Pete St. John
Julie Christie	...	Ellen Freeman
Gene Hackman	...	Wilfred Buckley
Kate Capshaw	...	Sydnet Betterman
Denzel Washington	...	Arnold Billing
E.G. Marshall	...	Senator Sam Hastings, Ohio
Beatrice Straight	...	Claire Hastings
Fritz Weaver	...	Wallace Furman, New Mexico Gubernatorial Candidate
Michael Learned	...	Governor Andrea Stannard, Washington
J.T. Walsh	...	Jerome Cade, Ohio Senatorial Candidate
E. Katherine Kerr	...	Irene Furman
Polly Rowles	...	Lucille DeWitt
Matt Salinger	...	Phillip Aarons, Independent Ohio Senatorial Candidate
Tom Mardirosian	...	Sheikh
Omar Torres	...	Roberto Cepeda, Presidential Candidate

Storyline

Pete St. John is a powerful and successful political consultant, with clients spread around the country. When his long-time friend and client Ohio senator Sam Hastings decides to quit politics, he is rapidly drafted to help with the campaign of the man destined to succeed him, unknown and mysterious businessman Jerome Cade. In parallel and unaware of the potential dangers, he proceeds to unravel the mystery surrounding Hastings dropping out with the aide of his ex-wife, a prominent Washington-based journalist. But interests more powerful than local arm wrestling are at stake and things start getting awry.

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Plot Keywords:

senator | political advertisement | political campaign | spin doctor | corruption | 

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Taglines:

More seductive than sex... More addictive than any drug... More precious than gold. And one man can get it for you. For a price.

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Genres:

Drama

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Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

31 January 1986 (USA)

Also Known As:

Moc

Filming Locations:

Armonk, New York, USA

Box Office

Gross:

$3,800,000 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Lorimar Productions, Polar Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

111 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Writer David Himmelstein said that one day, he saw a row of television monitors playing political commercials for different candidates. He said the spots all looked the same to him, so he did research to find out why and what he discovered he put into the script.

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Quotes

Ellen Freeman: [talking about Senator Hastings] How much do you know about Sam, financially?
Pete St. John: He's never had that much, it's a salary.

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Connections

Featured in At the Movies: Power/Down and Out in Beverly Hills/Hannah and Her Sisters/The Best of Times (1986)

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Soundtracks

"SING, SING, SING"
By Benny Goodman
Courtesy of RCA Records

User Reviews

Not A Galvanizing Political Thriller, But OK For A Popcorn Movie

There is a reason this political film flies under the radar; I doubt it's up for rediscovery, either. A power cast and a power director (Sidney Lumet--director of Dog Day Afternoon and Network) should somehow add up to more than this limp media expose, but once in a while a movie is just an entertainment, and with Richard Gere in thoughtful mode (without much of a character or a script), Julie Christie as a concerned ex-spouse, and Denzel Washington cast against type, this is an OK two hours that don't demand much from the viewer, and, while predictable, certainly meant well.

It was the script, Sidney, and someone should have told you. Wag The Dog is the political gem that works; The Candidate or even better, the original Manchurian Candidate with Sinatra are more persuasive--but if you like the stars, this one passes the time pleasantly.