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Bill McKay - Der Kandidat

Original title: The Candidate
  • 1972
  • 12
  • 1h 50m
IMDb RATING
7.0/10
12K
YOUR RATING
Bill McKay - Der Kandidat (1972)
Theatrical Trailer from Warner Bros. Pictures
Play trailer3:05
1 Video
41 Photos
ComedyDrama

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.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.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.

  • Director
    • Michael Ritchie
  • Writer
    • Jeremy Larner
  • Stars
    • Robert Redford
    • Peter Boyle
    • Melvyn Douglas
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    7.0/10
    12K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Michael Ritchie
    • Writer
      • Jeremy Larner
    • Stars
      • Robert Redford
      • Peter Boyle
      • Melvyn Douglas
    • 86User reviews
    • 53Critic reviews
    • 66Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Won 1 Oscar
      • 3 wins & 1 nomination total

    Videos1

    The Candidate
    Trailer 3:05
    Watch The Candidate

    Photos41

    Bill McKay - Der Kandidat (1972)
    Bill McKay - Der Kandidat (1972)
    Robert Redford in Bill McKay - Der Kandidat (1972)
    Robert Redford in Bill McKay - Der Kandidat (1972)
    Robert Redford in Bill McKay - Der Kandidat (1972)
    Robert Redford and Don Porter in Bill McKay - Der Kandidat (1972)
    Robert Redford in Bill McKay - Der Kandidat (1972)
    Robert Redford and Peter Boyle in Bill McKay - Der Kandidat (1972)
    Robert Redford and Susan Damante in Bill McKay - Der Kandidat (1972)
    Bill McKay - Der Kandidat (1972)
    Robert Redford and Don Porter in Bill McKay - Der Kandidat (1972)
    Robert Redford and Don Porter in Bill McKay - Der Kandidat (1972)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Robert Redford
    Robert Redford
    • Bill McKay
    Peter Boyle
    Peter Boyle
    • Marvin Lucas
    Melvyn Douglas
    Melvyn Douglas
    • John J. McKay
    Don Porter
    Don Porter
    • Senator Crocker Jarmon
    Allen Garfield
    Allen Garfield
    • Klein
    Karen Carlson
    Karen Carlson
    • Nancy McKay
    Quinn K. Redeker
    Quinn K. Redeker
    • Rick Jenkin
    • (as Quinn Redeker)
    Morgan Upton
    Morgan Upton
    • Wally Henderson
    Michael Lerner
    Michael Lerner
    • Paul Corliss
    Kenneth Tobey
    Kenneth Tobey
    • Floyd J. Starkey
    Christopher Pray
    • David
    • (as Chris Prey)
    Joe Miksak
    • Neil Atkinson
    Jenny Sullivan
    Jenny Sullivan
    • Lynn
    Tom Dahlgren
    Tom Dahlgren
    • Pilot
    Gerald Hiken
    • Station Manager
    Leslie Allen
    • Mabel
    Jason Goodrow
    • Boy in Commercial
    Robert De Anda
    • Jaime
    • Director
      • Michael Ritchie
    • Writer
      • Jeremy Larner
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

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    • Trivia
      Bill McKay - Der Kandidat (1972) was released a month prior to the 1972 California Presidential primary. Promotional sheets were put up in southern California resembling political posters. They had simply a photo of Robert Redford, with the slogan, "McKay: The Better Way!" - "McKay" got write-in votes in the June election.
    • Goofs
      When McKay has his first "press the flesh" event at the factory, the same woman with short blonde hair and a brown coat passes him walking out the gate twice.
    • Quotes

      [last lines]

      Bill McKay: What do we do now?

    • Connections
      Edited into La classe américaine (1993)
    • Soundtracks
      A Better Way
      Music by John Rubinstein

      Lyrics by David Colloff

    User reviews86

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    9/10
    One of the best political movies
    Political scientists and political film buffs need to watch The Candidate. It's one of the greatest classic political films ever made. I've studied dozens of political campaigns, conducted mock elections during my undergraduate and graduate courses, and volunteered for real campaigns when I was old enough. This movie is very realistic; the only other film that comes close in realism is 2015's Our Brand is Crisis.

    Peter Boyle is a Democrat campaign manager, and in the California Senate election, the Republican sitting senator Don Crocker is a shoe-in. Whoever the Democrat candidate is doesn't stand a chance, so no one wants to ruin their career that way. Boyle approaches Robert Redford, the son of former Californian governor Melvyn Douglas. He's handsome, charismatic, and has name recognition—but he's a guaranteed loss so there's no consequence to anything he says or does. With the freedom to run as an honest politician, he becomes a very interesting and alluring candidate.

    Even though the movie is about an election, it doesn't take too much of a stand about which party is right and which is wrong. Yes, it's the 1970s and Robert Redford is the lead, so there will be some environmental and "look out for the little guy" messages, but mostly, the film comments on the politics in general. It's really funny and sarcastic in the nicest way possible, and it has one of the most memorable last lines ever!
    helpful•13
    0
    • HotToastyRag
    • Sep 25, 2017

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    FAQ19

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • January 26, 1973 (West Germany)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official site
      • Warner Bros.
    • Languages
      • English
      • Spanish
    • Also known as
      • The Candidate
    • Filming locations
      • King City, California, USA
    • Production companies
      • Redford-Ritchie Productions
      • Wildwood Enterprises
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

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    • Budget
      • $1,500,000 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

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    • Runtime
      1 hour 50 minutes
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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