The People vs. Larry Flynt (1996)

User Rating:

7.2/10   

Director:

Milos Forman

Writers (WGA):

Scott Alexander (written by) &
Larry Karaszewski (written by)

Release Date:

25 December 1996 (USA)

Genre:

Biography | Drama

Tagline:

You may not like what he does, but are you prepared to give up his right to do it?

Plot:

A partially idealized film of the controversial pornography publisher and how he became a defender of free speech for all people.

Plot Keywords:

Magazine | Hustler Magazine | Hustler | Pornography | Courtroom

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 20 wins & 9 nominations

Cast

Woody Harrelson	...	Larry Flynt
Courtney Love	...	Althea Leasure Flynt
Edward Norton	...	Alan Isaacman
Brett Harrelson	...	Jimmy Flynt
Donna Hanover	...	Ruth Carter Stapleton
James Cromwell	...	Charles Keating
Crispin Glover	...	Arlo
Vincent Schiavelli	...	Chester
Miles Chapin	...	Miles
James Carville	...	Simon Leis
Richard Paul	...	Reverend Jerry Falwell
Burt Neuborne	...	Roy Grutman
Jan Triska	...	The Assassin
Cody Block	...	10-Year-Old Larry
Ryan Post	...	8-Year-Old Jimmy

Also Known As:

Larry Flynt (Canada: French title)

MPAA:

Rated R for strong sexual material, nudity, language and drug use.

Runtime:

129 min

Country:

Canada | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

SDDS | Dolby SR

Certification:

Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:14 (Nova Scotia) | Canada:AA (Ontario) | Canada:R (Manitoba) | Iceland:16 | Argentina:16 | South Korea:18 | Philippines:R-18 | USA:R (certificate # 34339) | France:U | Australia:MA | Austria:12 | Chile:18 | Finland:K-16 | Germany:12 | Hong Kong:III | Italy:VM14 | Netherlands:16 | Peru:18 | Portugal:M/16 | Singapore:R(A) (cut) | Spain:18 | Sweden:15 | UK:18

Filming Locations:

Abandoned train station, Memphis, Tennessee, USA

Company:

Columbia Pictures Corporation

Trivia:

Larry Flynt originally wanted Ashley Judd to play Althea.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: In the opening scene in 1953, the boys are paid with $1 bills with the words "In God We Trust" printed on the back. The bills in 1953 did not have that phrase, which was added to the bills much later.

Quotes:

Larry Flynt: You don't want to quit me, I'm your dream client: I'm the most fun, I'm rich, and I'm always in trouble.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "High Chaparall: (#2.8)" (2004)

Soundtrack:

Selections from 'Stabat Mater'

Not Your Typical Patriot.

Idealized biography of Hustler magazine mogul Larry Flynt (played superbly by Oscar nominee Woody Harrelson) which finally ends up focusing on his legal battles to publish his pornography via the free speech laws of this land. Along the way he marries a bisexual wild woman (Courtney Love) who shares his unconventional views on free love, priced pornography and drug abuse. The character also survives an assassin's bullet, paralysis, imprisonment, endless court battles against the Reverend Jerry Falwell and even his own destructive nature. Edward Norton (a relative newcomer when this was released) shines as Harrelson's young attorney who tries to overlook and overcome his client's tirades. Director Milos Forman (Oscar-nominated) does a good job creating a cinematic story about a man who is hard for most in mainstream society to understand or relate to. Flynt is humanized and so are those who cross his path throughout the picture. The movie is not as wild and crazed as one would think. Instead Forman uses well-timed comedy with drama to get the major points across effectively. Overall one of the better films of 1996. 4 stars out of 5.