The Candidate **** (1972, Robert Redford, Peter Boyle, Melvyn Douglas, Don Porter, Allen Garfield) – Classic Movie Review 4,014

Robert Redford in his golden boy era is perfectly cast as the prospective candidate for California senator in the insightful Oscar-winning 1972 political drama film The Candidate.

‘Too Handsome. Too Young. Too Liberal. Doesn’t have a chance. He’s PERFECT!’

Director Michael Ritchie’s insightful 1972 political drama film The Candidate won the 1973 Oscar for Best Original Story and Screenplay, and Writers Guild of America award for Best Drama Written Directly for the Screen, reflecting the brilliant screen-writing.

Robert Redford in his golden boy era is perfectly cast as Californian lawyer Bill McKay, the kind of right-on, civil-rights worker you would rush out to vote for as the prospective candidate for California senator.

The irony is that he can afford ideals in his campaign because he assumes that he is going to lose. But soon he is corrupted by the lure of power and his party’s machine, for this is an un-American tale of cynicism, disillusion and compromise.

Jeremy Larner’s beautifully premised and honed script deservedly won him the best story and screenplay Oscar and it gives Redford the room he needs to shine. It offers great roles too for Peter Boyle as Marvin Lucas, Melvyn Douglas as John J McKay, Don Porter as Senator Crocker Jarmon, and Allen Garfield as Klein, who respond eagerly and accurately.

Political films are not usually winners at the box office, but when they are as incisive as this, they deserve to be.

Also in the cast are Karen Carlson, Quinn Redeker, Morgan Upton, Kenneth Tobey, Michael Lerner, Chris Prey, Jenny Sullivan, Jason Goodrow and Leslie Allen.

Robert Redford originated the project and hired Michael Ritchie to direct. 

Having worked together on Downhill Racer (1969), Redford and Ritchie approached Jeremy Larner to make a movie about ‘a candidate who sold his soul’.

Larner wrote political speeches for 1968 presidential candidate Eugene McCarthy. Ritchie had worked as a technical adviser on various political campaigns.

James Stewart turned down the role of Senator Crocker Jarmon because he thought  it was derogatory to conservative politicians.

Robert Redford (August 18, 1936 – September 16, 2025) 

© Derek Winnert 2016 Classic Movie Review 4,014

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