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:

Smart woman

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Genres:

Drama

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Certificate:

R

Did You Know?

Trivia

The film cast includes four Oscar winners: Denzel Washington, Julie Christie, Beatrice Straight, and Gene Hackman.

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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 The Golden Child (1986)

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Soundtracks

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

User Reviews

See "The Candidate"

Everyone involved (and the audience) should seek out "The Candidate" to see how good this movie could have been. What happened the South American story? What were Julie Christie and Kate Capshaw thinking to allow their roles to be cardboard cut-outs. Up to now I have liked every Gene Hackman performance and/or movie. He was either disinterested (which I can hardly believe) or dreadfully miscast. I have also liked and defended Richard Gere (and been vilified for it). But here he had no "power". He was never intimidating and only occasionally persuasive. All in all I was very disappointed. I really expected much more from this director and cast. If you can't find "The Candidate" watch "Wag the dog" again or even "Bulworth".

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