1949·Drama·1h 49m
7.0
★
A man of humble beginnings and honest intentions rises to power by nefarious means. Along for the wild ride are an earnest reporter, a heretofore classy society girl, and a too-clever-for-her-own-good political flack.
Directed by Robert Rossen
newspaper
governor
based on novel or book
southern usa
politics
politician
rise and fall
reporter
black and white
political assassination
corrupt politician
hick
gubernatorial candidate
run for governor
demagogue
huey long
Trailer
IMDB
N/A
Where to Watch
Cast
John Ireland
Jack Burden
Broderick Crawford
Willie Stark
Joanne Dru
Anne Stanton
John Derek
Tom Stark
Mercedes McCambridge
Sadie Burke
Shepperd Strudwick
Adam Stanton
Ralph Dumke
Tiny Duffy
Anne Seymour
Mrs. Lucy Stark
Katherine Warren
Mrs. Burden
Raymond Greenleaf
Judge Monte Stanton
Walter Burke
Sugar Boy
Will Wright
Dolph Pillsbury
Crew
Robert Rossen
Director
Robert Rossen
Screenplay
Robert Rossen
Producer
Don Siegel
Second Unit
Morris Stoloff
Music Director
Don Siegel
Second Unit Director
Robert Parrish
Editorial Consultant
Jean Louis
Costume Design
Popular Reviews
64 reviews
Erik Jaman
8.0★ · 02/11/26
JD Vance if he had charisma
JD Vance if he had charisma
Matthew Huff
6.0★ · 02/07/26
I loved this book in college, but I feel like Trump really makes it a lot more potent and less fun.
I loved this book in college, but I feel like Trump really makes it a lot more potent and less fun.
Apollo
6.0★ · 04/24/25
Ben Shapiro said this is one of his favorite movies, yet fails to see the resemblance of a adulterer politician who uses his loud nonsense speeches to rally the public against any accusation thrown his way…
Ben Shapiro said this is one of his favorite movies, yet fails to see the resemblance of a adulterer politician who uses his loud nonsense speeches to rally the public against any accusation thrown his way…
Giliard
6.0★ · 11/14/24
Starks can’t stop dying since 1949 until GOT
Starks can’t stop dying since 1949 until GOT
Danny Sheahan
6.0★ · 08/31/24
A rather straightforward telling about a populist demagogue. I enjoyed the watch, but this morning when I woke up I could barely remember it. The film did strike me as poignant in that Willie Stark's playbook is almost exactly the same as Donald Trump's. So the movie clearly has some relevance even in modern times, but it still felt a bit too straightforward for me. I feel like I watched a bunch of events without a ton of B-story or depth to really make it stick in my head.
A rather straightforward telling about a populist demagogue. I enjoyed the watch, but this morning when I woke up I could barely remember it. The film did strike me as poignant in that Willie Stark's playbook is almost exactly the same as Donald Trump's. So the movie clearly has some relevance even in modern times, but it still felt a bit too straightforward for me. I feel like I watched a bunch of events without a ton of B-story or depth to really make it stick in my head.