Tuesday, February 25, 2014

Warner Brothers: The Candidate (1972) Starring Robert Redford


Source:Warner Brothers- Robert Redford, as U.S. Senate candidate Bill McKay (Democrat, California)
"OSCAR WINNER:Best Original ScreenplayMore powerful today than at the time of its 1972 release, The Candidate is a timeless tale of contemporary politics; expertly written by Oscar winner Jeremy Larner. Robert Redford plays Bill McKay, an idealistic California attorney running for office in this marvelous, biting, satire on media-age political campaigns. The stellar cast includes Peter Boyle and Melvyn Douglas, who also give memorable performances."

From Warner Brothers

I love the movie The Candidate for several reasons.  Perhaps the main one is that it has given me an idea for a book about an anti-establishment liberal candidate or perhaps a John McCain Conservative Republican. They face each other in the general election with the anti-establishment candidate beating the establishment, talking point, sound-bite, candidate who always plays it safe in hopes of offending the fewest.

The Candidate is a movie about a little guy running against big time politicians and the big time political establishment in the Democratic Party. He's Bill MacKay, played by Robert Redford, running against his own party and against Mr. Establishment,  U.S. Senator Crocker Jarman played by Don Porter. 

McKay's campaign manager played by Peter Boyle is part of that Democratic establishment but wants to run an outsiders campaign without allowing the outsider MacKay to get too far out in left field. You see these two men fighting  against each other in the campaign.

The outsider Bill MacKay runs his campaign based  on his beliefs.  He gives voters a  good idea of who he is and speaks his mind.  He probably doesn't use a speechwriter for the whole campaign.  

McKay's opponent, three-term incumbent U.S. Senator Crocker Jarman just tries to be likable expressing traditional America values, speaking mostly to older voters.  He says you should reelect me because I stand up for America, etc.

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John F. Kennedy Liberal Democrat

John F. Kennedy Liberal Democrat
Source: U.S. Senator John F. Kennedy in 1960