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:

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 Spanish Yiddish

Release Date:

31 January 1986 (USA)

Also Known As:

El precio del poder

Filming Locations:

Armonk, New York, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$16,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$1,854,200, 2 February 1986, Wide Release

Gross USA:

$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

Did You Know?

Trivia

Film debut of D.B. Sweeney.

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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: [about Pete and Ellen, slamming phone down] They are now in his room fucking.

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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

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

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.