The Best Man (1964 film)

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The Best Man
Directed by Franklin J. Schaffner
Produced by Stuart Millar
Lawrence Turman
Written by Gore Vidal
Starring Henry Fonda
Cliff Robertson
Lee Tracy
Margaret Leighton
Edie Adams
Ann Sothern
Kevin McCarthy
Music by Mort Lindsey
Distributed by United Artists
Release date(s) 5 April 1964
Running time 102 min.
Language English
IMDb profile

The Best Man (1964) is a 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, the film (and play) lays bare the seamy political maneuverings behind the nomination of a presidential candidate. Tracy was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor.

Contents

[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 (believed to be based partly upon Richard Nixon and 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). The pragmatic Hockstader (a character clearly based on Harry Truman, particularly his comments on "striking a blow for freedom" whenever he drinks a bourbon) 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. In fact, Hockstader had intended to publicly support Cantwell, but the candidate blunders badly. When the two speak privately, Cantwell attacks Russell with illegally-obtained psychological reports, mistakenly assuming that Hockstader was for the more liberal man. The former president tells Cantwell that he doesn't mind a "bastard", but objects to a stupid one, and switches to Russell. However, in his opening-night speech, he endorses neither.

One of Russell's aides digs up Sheldon Bascomb (Shelley Berman). He served in the military with Cantwell, and is willing to link him to homosexual activity while stationed in Alaska during World War II. Hockstader and Russell's closest advisors press Russell to grab the opportunity, but he resists. As the first round of voting begins, he arranges to meet Cantwell privately, to let his rival know what he can do. However, Cantwell confronts Bascomb and refutes his slander. Russell threatens to use the allegation anyway, but though Cantwell does not understand what makes his opponent tick, he knows this much - Russell does not have the stomach for tactics that dirty. In the end, Russell shocks him by throwing his support behind a third, relatively unknown candidate, ending both their chances.

[edit] Cast

  • Gore Vidal made an uncredited cameo appearance as a delegate.
  • Future President Ronald Reagan was rejected for a part due to "not having the presidential look".

[edit] References

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[edit] External links