Power (1986)

After a close friend drops out of politics, a political consultant helping to find a replacement finds a web of corruption and deceit as well.

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	...	Sydney Betterman
Denzel Washington	...	Arnold Billings
E.G. Marshall	...	Senator Sam Hastings
Beatrice Straight	...	Claire Hastings
Fritz Weaver	...	Wallace Furman
Michael Learned	...	Governor Andrea Stannard
J.T. Walsh	...	Jerome Cade
E. Katherine Kerr	...	Irene Furman
Polly Rowles	...	Lucille DeWitt
Matt Salinger	...	Phillip Aarons
Tom Mardirosian	...	Sheikh
Omar Torres	...	Roberto Cepeda

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 going awry.

---

Plot Keywords:

politician | cover up | conspiracy | political corruption | corruption | 

---

Taglines:

ex wife

---

Genres:

Drama

---

Certificate:

R

Did You Know?

Trivia

Paul Newman was supposed to star in the film, but asked director Sidney Lumet if he could delay filming for a few months. Newman wanted to focus on his race-driving career during the summer, and did not want filming a movie to conflict with that. Lumet refused.

---

Goofs

The character portrayed by Denzel Washington has the surname Billings. In the end credits, the character's surname is spelled Billing.

---

Quotes

Pete St. John: No, you explain it to me. He's with you except on solar energy. It's like saying he's with Gloria Steinem except on women.

---

Connections

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

---

Soundtracks

The Stars and Stripes Forever
Written by John Philip Sousa
Performed by the Boston Pops Orchestra (as The Boston Pops)
Conducted by Arthur Fiedler
Polygram Special Projects
A division of Polygram Records, Inc.

User Reviews

What makes Dick Gere run? Sing-Sing-Sing!

I don't know what Cy Coleman concocted for this otherwise good picture, but the reason I never stop watching it again is the music in which it is soaked from the beginning to the end, i.e.unending recollections of SING SING SING, as played by Benny Goodman and his band in the late thirties. Benny had passed more than ten years when the film was finished, so they skipped him from the credentials, together with Louis Prima, who composed the famous standard. Revolting. henry caraso

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English Spanish Yiddish

Release Date:

31 January 1986 (USA)

Also Known As:

Power

Filming Locations:

Agua Dulce, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$16,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$1,854,200, 2 February 1986

Gross USA:

$3,800,000

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$3,800,000

Company Credits

Production Co:

Lorimar Productions, Polar Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

111 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1