The Best Man (1964)

Director:

Franklin J. Schaffner

Writers:

Gore Vidal (play)
Gore Vidal (screenplay)

Release Date:

5 April 1964 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama

Tagline:

Does The Best Man Always Get To The White House?

Plot:

The other party is in disarray. Five men vie for the party nomination for president. No one has a majority...

Plot Keywords:

Smear | Brassiere | Petticoat | Homosexuality | Cancer

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 1 win & 3 nominations

US TV Schedule:

Mon. Aug. 25

12:00 AM

TCM

Cast

Henry Fonda	...	William Russell
Cliff Robertson	...	Joe Cantwell
Edie Adams	...	Mabel Cantwell
Margaret Leighton	...	Alice Russell
Shelley Berman	...	Sheldon Bascomb
Lee Tracy	...	President Art Hockstader
Ann Sothern	...	Sue Ellen Gamadge
Gene Raymond	...	Don Cantwell
Kevin McCarthy	...	Dick Jensen
Mahalia Jackson	...	Herself
Howard K. Smith	...	Himself
John Henry Faulk	...	Gov. T.T. Claypoole
Richard Arlen	...	Sen. Oscar Anderson
Penny Singleton	...	Mrs. Claypoole (scenes deleted)
George Kirgo	...	Speechwriter

Also Known As:

Gore Vidal's The Best Man (USA) (complete title)

Runtime:

102 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound Recording)

Certification:

Canada:PG (Ontario) | Australia:PG | USA:Approved | Finland:S | West Germany:16 (f)

Filming Locations:

Ambassador Hotel - 3400 Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Millar/Turman Productions

Trivia:

George Furth's first movie.

Quotes:

President Art Hockstader: Power is not a toy we give to good children. It is a weapon. And the strong man takes it and uses it. If you don't go down there and beat Joe Cantwell to the floor with this very dirty stick, then you've got no business in the big league. Because if you don't fight, the job is not for you. And it never will be.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "What's My Line?: (1964-04-12)" (1964)

mutually assured destruction

A sharp as nails look at US politics, maybe a bit old fashioned, but in a good way, with great performances and writing, and very well put together. It pits the packaged candidate of "the people", a scary Cliff Robertson against the principled liberal played by Henry Fonda, with Lee Tracy as the dying ex-president whose endorsement both vie for. While he favors Robertson for his decisiveness, he fears his utter lack of principles, but can't support the wavering Fonda. Sex, mental illness, shady characters dredged up by political operatives (in this case a great part by Shelley Berman), the fabulous portrayals of both of the wives (especially a cute and dangerous Edie Adams), the film transcends the characters, and hits home as much today as when it came out in 1964.