The Best Man (1964 film)
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| The Best Man | |
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| Directed by | Franklin J. Schaffner |
| Produced by | Stuart Millar Lawrence Turman |
| Written by | Gore Vidal |
| Starring | Henry Fonda Cliff Robertson Lee Tracy |
| Music by | Mort Lindsey |
| Running time | 102 min. |
| Language | English |
| IMDb profile | |
The Best Man is a 1964 film based on the Broadway play of the same name, both of which are written by Gore Vidal. Starring Henry Fonda, Cliff Robertson, and Lee Tracy, it lays bare the seamy political maneuverings behind the nomination of a Presidential candidate. Tracy was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor.
[edit] Plot
William Russell (Henry Fonda) and Joe Cantwell (Cliff Robertson) are the two leading candidates for the Presidential nomination of an unspecified political party. Both have potentially fatal vulnerabilities. Russell is a principled intellectual (believed by many critics and fans to be based on Adlai Stevenson). A sexual indiscretion has alienated his wife Alice (Margaret Leighton). In addition, he has a past nervous breakdown to live down. Cantwell (likely modelled on Richard Nixon or possibly Joseph McCarthy) portrays himself as a populist "man of the people", but is a ruthless opportunist, willing to go to any lengths to get the nomination. Neither man can stand the other; neither believes his rival qualified to be President.
They clash at the nominating convention and lobby for the crucial support of dying former President Art Hockstader (Lee Tracy) (likely modelled on Harry Truman). The pragmatic Hockstader prefers Russell, but worries about his indecisiveness and overdedication to principle; he despises Cantwell, but appreciates his toughness and willingness to do what it takes.
One of Russell's aides digs up Sheldon Bascomb (Shelley Berman). He served in the military with Cantwell and is willing to expose his homosexuality. Hockstader and Russell's closest advisors press him to grab the opportunity, but he resists. As the first round of voting begins, he arranges to meet Cantwell privately, to let him know that he knows his rival's darkest secret. But though Cantwell doesn't understand what makes his opponent tick, he knows this much - Russell doesn't have the stomach for dirty tactics. In the end, Russell surprises Cantwell by throwing his support behind a third, relatively unknown candidate, ending both their chances.
[edit] Trivia
- Gore Vidal made an uncredited cameo appearance as a delegate.
- Future US President Ronald Reagan was rejected for a part due to "not having the presidential look".
[edit] External links
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