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.

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Plot Keywords:

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

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Taglines:

You have the ballot. But who has the power?

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Genres:

Drama

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Certificate:

R

Did You Know?

Trivia

Denzel Washington and Gene Hackman appeared in Crimson Tide (1995).

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Goofs

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

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Quotes

Arnold Billings: Look, we hired you to do a job, Mr. St. John, and it wasn't to investigate me and my company and it sure wasn't to exchange information with your ex-wife.

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Connections

Referenced in Knots Landing: The One to Blame (1990)

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Soundtracks

Sing, Sing, Sing
Written by Louis Prima
Performed by Benny Goodman
Courtesy of RCA Records

User Reviews

Wrong title for a great movie

The box cover and the title for the movie are wrong. This is not a movie about power, but the power of the media. The cover shows a little figure of a man (Gere) standing in the center of the title: Power. Almost as timeless as Network, Power is also the story of the media and the power it has over the world. Gere is the star of the film, but Gene Hackman and Denzel Washington carry the film with their great supporting roles. Although the plot of the South American candidate disappears somewhere in the middle of the movie, the story of the 3 other candidates in Washington, Ohio and New Mexico is what keeps the movie going. An interesting and very true look into the world of the media in politics, Power is a shelved classic that is worth the watch.

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