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The Candidate

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Robert Redford was behind the entertaining political movie "The Candidate" (1972), which goes a long way towards explaining how the game works. This film is really not a liberal one, which is what makes it worthwhile even after 30 years. It is supposed to be based on Edmund "Jerry" Brown, former California Governor Pat Brown's son. Jerry Brown at the time was a youthful Secretary of State who would go one to two terms as Governor. He was a new kind of pol, attractive, a bit of swinger who dated rock star Linda Rohnstadt, and representative of the Golden State image of the 1970s. They called him "Governor Moonbeam".
Redford plays the son of the former Governor of California, played by Melvyn Douglas. The old man is old school all the way, having schmoozed his way up the slippery slope through implied corrupt deals with labor unions and other Democrat special interests. Redford is a young man who played football at Stanford and is now a social issues lawyer of the pro bono variety, helping Mexicans in Central California. Peter Boyle knew him at Stanford and is now a Democrat political consultant who recruits Redford to run for Senator against Crocker Jarman, an entrenched conservative Orange County Republican. Jarman could be Reagan, but he is as much a composite of the traditional Republican: Strong on defense, down on affirmative action and welfare, a real "up by the bootstraps" guy who emerged from the Depression and World War II to make up our "greatest generation."
The film does an about-face on perceptions that, in many cases, turn out to be true. Redford is the rich kid with connections. Jarman beat the Depression like the rest of the U.S., without a social worker.
"How did we do it?" he mocks.
Redford's film wife is played by Karen Carlson, pure eye candy (but what happened to her career I cannot say?). She has ambitions of her own, and pushes him to do it because he has the "power," an undefined sexual charisma of the JFK variety. Redford plays a caricature of himself, handsome but considered an empty suit. His deal is he can say any outrageous thing because he cannot win anyway, and in so doing shows he has the brains. When he creeps up in the polls, the idealism gives way to standard politicking, complete with deals with his old man's crooked labor buddies. He wins, demonstrating the power of looks and TV advertising. In the end he expresses that he is not prepared for the task.

STEVEN TRAVERS

AUTHOR OF "BARRY BONDS: BASEBALL'S SUPERMAN"
STWRITES@AOL.COM

"The Candidate" is liberal Hollywood's wet dream of the "realities" of a political campaign.

Robert Redford (looking purposely Kennedyesque) is Bill McKay, a young crusading liberal attorney who's persuaded by political operative Marvin Lucas (Peter Boyle in a terrific performance) to run for the U.S. Senate against conservative Republican icon, Crocker Jarmon (even the name shows what a stacked deck the picture is), played by 50's TV sitcom star, Don Porter.

Handsome and hip McKay is depicted as pro busing, pro welfare and pro choice...while stodgy old Jarmon is shown mouthing tired old conservative attitudes about Americans working hard and picking themselves up by their own bootstraps.

The cast is uniformly excellent, especailly the great Allen Garfield as Mc Kay's media consultant whose shtick is breaking bags of lollipops with a hammer and sucking on the smashed pieces. Redford gives a slyly appealing movie star performance and is especially superb in one scene in which, completely burned out from campaigning, begins to satirize the platitudes his speechwriters have given him ("when the greatest country in the world can't feed the foodless!").

One wonders what kind of movie "The Candidate" would have been if Mc Kay's opponent was as equally young and hip and spoke with the same fervor as McKay without the tired old right wing cliches.

Michael Ritchie directs in docudrama style from a script by Jeremly Larner who suposedly based the material on the Tunney-Murphy campaign in California.

"The Candidate" was released in the appropriate year of 1972, when Richard Nixon was reelected, using the media to present himself as a solid, trusted leader who was being challenged by liberal elitists operating in concert with the Eastern media establishment. When the full force of Watergate buried Nixon in scandal shortly thereafter, resulting in his resignation in 1974, the messages presented in "The Candidate" became all the clearer as Nixon's hollow facade lay fully exposed.

Jeremy Larner, a former speechwriter for presidential candidate Senator Eugene McCarthy in 1968, used his political savvy to craft a script based on the realism of campaigning in the television age, in which, to use Marshall McLuhan's apt phrase, "the medium is the message." Larner copped a Best Original Screenplay Oscar for his effort. Robert Redford plays Bill McKay, who runs a poverty law center and has no ambitions to seek political office. He is urged to do so as the Democrats in California seek an opponent for a solidly entrenched incumbent U.S. Senator played by Don Porter. Redford, whose father, played by Melvyn Douglas, is a former California governor, agrees to run after being told that he can address topics on his own terms. The idea is that he is expected to make a decent run but is not expected to win. Redford articulates ideas near and dear to him that are not embraced by the broad spectrum of California voters. When he runs poorly in the primary, however, he is informed that he needs to make changes or risk being humiliated in the general election by Porter, a prospect he does not relish.

Redford's ensuing frequent turnabouts on major issues make him anything but the refreshingly candid candidate he sought to become. As the polls close and there is possible light at the end of the long campaign tunnel, Redford becomes more of a blurry media creation and loses the old image of refreshingly solid commitment he had previously displayed.

Eventually Redford upsets Porter. By the time the long race ends he is immersed in a total blur. The film's closing line is a gem. After winning the race Redford, seated in his hotel room with his campaign staff, asks, "What do we do now?"

"The Candidate" was one of director Michael Ritchie's finest efforts. The pacing becomes gradually stepped up as the campaign moves into its important stretch run. By the end the viewer is immersed in the same kind of non-stop, frenzied blur as are the candidates and their staffs, providing a graphic display of political realism via the camera's all-seeing eye.

I believe it was the Italian political theorist Niccolò Machiavelli who said, "The end justifies the means." Not only does this concept epitomize the American political process, but it also attributes to the corruption often associated with the workings of elected officials. One such instance of this corruption was depicted through the character of Bill McKay(Robert Redford): a sound, idealistic lawyer enticed by the opportunity for political power. McKay was introduced as the underdog in his race against incumbent Crocker Jarmon for the U.S. Senate seat for the state of California. In the beginning, McKay-with little interest in actually achieving victory-was determined to defend local issues, such as the problem with California's polluted beaches and the rate of unemployment plaguing inner-city areas. It becomes apparent, however, that McKay unap lacks a defined platform and is oblivious of certain controversial issues after stating in a press conference that he was in support of "bussing" without actually knowing what it was. Even with McKay's lack of interest and knowledge, the sly persuasion of eager campaign managers and Bill's wife causes McKay to believe that he will be more influential upon obtaining the seat in the Senate and begins to take his campaign "seriously." As McKay slowly gains a following, the issues he once stood for were pushed aside as his campaign managers attempt to reinvent his image in order to jump ahead in the polls. McKay's speeches become repetitive and reflect not his own personal beliefs, but only what appeals to the voters. McKay's fatigue and level of seriousness are shown in the scenes where McKay is overcome with laughter and unable to film a television spot and as McKay humorously rewords his one memorized speech, in a way, mocking the way he has sold out. Even though McKay feels his actions are a complete surrender to what he believes in, he feels that he must compromise and put all his faith into his campaign managers to do what is right in order to become elected. Is "selling out" really worth the win? I liked the fact that the film, no matter how old, speaks volumes about the current political process. Whether you are a fan of politics or not, this movie will leave you thinking as the credits role.

This was a very good film. Robert Redford plays a young man attempting to get elected to the U.S. Senate. In this movie Redford is the son of a former political figure. He makes the decision to seek election to the U.S. Senate against a well entrenched incumbent. This movie shows the role that media handlers and campaign managers as a whole play in the election process.His many travels around the state of California seeking election are interesting as well. The movie, made in 1972 taps into some of the political rhetoric that was going on at the time.This is a must see film. Redford does a good job. Buy it, You will not be dissapointed.

Filmed close to 30 years ago, "The Candidate" is a mirror to the politics of 2000. Nothing has changed, with the exception of more money being spent nowadays. The scheme of how things are orchestrated are the same, as demonstrated in the film, such as the role of media, the impact of being connected to certain people, the schmoozing of voters, and the list goes on and on.

Robert Redford, as usual, is an actor extraordinare. His performance in "The Candidate" was strong, considering it was one of his earlier films. Redford's character and philosophy, throughout the movie, was similar to that of Robert Kennedy. Perhaps that is why I enjoyed watching it, because Redford's character was one who truly cared about the ideals of America and the fundamental rights human beings have.

It was interesting to note, (not a surprise, though, I should add), how Redford's character changed throughout the campaign, as a result of the way the political operations - or rather, the political monster - function.

An enjoyable movie for all who are interested in politics and the process of campaigning! Though you can expect what you see in this movie is no different than what you see happening nowadays.

I would expect the 1-star granting MST-y fan to know this (with MST3K, sadly, headed for oblivion, "What DO we do now?"). This one is quite popular for use in college courses. The fact that it still resonates with students of American politics more than a quarter-century after its release, and does so with enough style and humor to appease the apolitical folks among us, is testament to its well-executed vision. Redford's disturbingly justifiable limo-ride meltdown is a keeper!

12. THE CANDIDATE (drama, 1972) Lawyer Bill McKaye (Robert Redford) heads his own public law firm. He's an idealistic man who comes from a wealthy-political family. Marvin Lucas (Peter Boyle) heads a political committee looking for a 'young, fresh face' to go up against the present Senator of California, Croker Jarmon (an old And experienced war-horse). Lucas believes that McKaye has the potential to upset the Senator in the next elections. Though McKaye he hates the political arena (one of the reasons he drifted from his father, who was once governor), Lucas convinces him, telling him that he has nothing to lose and everything to gain. Setting up a McKaye committee, Lucas sets out to shape McKaye into a political weapon. His rise (though not meteoric) is nonetheless slowly felt in the polls. Becoming a surprising contender, he thinks about quitting (scared at the thought of winning). Nevertheless, Lucas tells him its too late, since the finish line is close. With the campaign taking a toll on his homelife, his decision is a difficult one.

Critique: Serio-documentary, The Candidate is one of those films that should be shown to students seeking a political career. Its precise depiction of a normal person into a beauracratic tool is almost too real. Director Michael Ritche recreates the sometimes absurd, complicated and superficial world of political inner workings to perfection. Robert Redford is also perfect as a 'wholesome', naïve underdog champion (you can almost feel a JFK-esque aura around him). The film's wonderful parades and interviews further reinforce the sense of a documentary. An excellently written, 'illuminating' experience.

QUOTE: Pete: "I saw something up there tonight. Believe me this is effective. You can do it, you can go all the way. Look, you and I know this is all bull, but the point is they'll believe In it."

I watched this just before the recent US election, and was amazed at how relevant it still is, especially as a counterpoint to 8 years of Bush and co"s skullduggery. Redford as always is convincing and the resonance of the issues, honesty, integrity and the need for courageous and just leadership are as inspiring now as they were when this film came out amidst the slime of the Nixon presidency. Really great and sadly little known film.

Political fantasy in which Robert Redford discovers that mounting a successful campaign for an "important" office -- in this case, a U.S. Senate seat representing California -- requires the candidate to be shallow, media-friendly, etc. The gist of the thing is that he loses his naivety, the poor baby. Give me a break. I suppose the movie succeeds as fantasy, and there are some moments and characters that elicit chuckles during the campaign trail. There's the occasional telling detail that suggests the screenwriters -- who had actually worked for real-life politicians -- have been there and done that. But it must again be stressed that *The Candidate* is mostly fantasy. Indeed, Redford's character is fantasy: he never existed, doesn't exist now, and will not exist in the future. And the screenwriters -- the liars -- KNOW this. Politics is a dirty business that attracts dirty people, like a horse-apple attracts flies. The desire to be a big-time American politician comes with having a sheer, unrelenting hatred of all that is good and decent. The producers and writers of *The Candidate* understood this (even if their liberal, golden-boy Hollywood star did not), and yet they chose to waste our time with a beddy-bye story of a potential hero who ends up corrupted. The TRUTH is that anybody who wants to be a Senator is by definition corrupted already; anybody with any sense knows this.