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22 out of 22 people found the following review useful: mutually assured destruction, 8 December 2005 Author: mgrindberg from Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico
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.
20 out of 22 people found the following review useful: The Great Lee Tracy Actually Gets To Curse On screen, 22 February 2006 Author: David (Handlinghandel) from NY, NY
What a pleasure to see Lee Tracy in his later years! He plays a President who is terminally ill-- not that Conservative, mudslinging candidate Cliff Robertson cares about his health.The movie has some weird, faux cinema verite angles. It may not be great art as a movie. But what a screenplay, courtesy of Gore Vidal! Rarely are audiences treated to such literate dialogue and politic insight and wisdom.Henry Fonda is very good as the upright candidate in a primary. Margaret Leighton, whom I love, is charming as his wife, though it's odd that a senator would have a British-accented wife.Robertson, not a particular favorite generally, is superb as his rival. His tactics make the flesh crawl.Kevin McCarthy as Fonda's aid is very good. Edie Adams as a political hostess is a scream -- and she seems just right.And Tracy. He is both funny and touching. What a splendid actor that man was! In so many early movies, he delivered long, elegant bits of dialogue in what seemed to be a single take. That guy was load with talent. What a shame he self-destructed. But here he was, back again.This is one of a kind and most definitely worth a visit.
18 out of 22 people found the following review useful: To Hell with both of you!, 19 February 2006 Author: krorie from Van Buren, Arkansas
Gore Vidal was a TV fixture during the Vietnam War era using his wild wit to lay low conservatives such as William F. Buckley Jr. Vidal was also one of the most gifted and talented political playwrights of the period. "The Best Man" is one of his best works. Obviously Henry Fonda as Presidential hopeful William Russell represents the "egghead" Adlai Stevenson. Fonda even physically resembles Stevenson. Cliff Robertson as Presidential hopeful Joe Cantwell is a dead ringer for Richard Milhous Nixon. Ironically Robertson would use Hollywood politics to snatch the Oscar a few years later for "Charly." There are several outstanding performances in this film. Fonda and Robertson have already been mentioned. Lee Tracy was deservedly nominated for an Oscar for best supporting actor for his performance as former President Art Hockstader who controls the nomination process at the party's national convention until cancer brings him down. This picture represented somewhat of a comeback for Tracy. While filming "Viva Villa!" in Mexico a drunk Tracy urinated from a balcony onto the heads of Mexican soldiers parading below leading to an international incident. It gave a whole new meaning to raining on someone's parade. Tracy, a truly distinguished actor, himself died of cancer a few years after "The Best Man" was released. A few of the cast members noted for their comic talents give splendid dramatic readings. Shelley Berman plays a confused ex-soldier who accuses Joe Cantwell of having done a degenerate act while serving with him in the Aleutian Islands. Ann Sothern has the role of a busy body who thinks she's a king maker. Sexy Edie Adams (Ernie Kovac's widow) appears as Joe's wife hoping to be the future First Lady. And the great John Henry Faulk who was blacklisted in the 50's because of persons like Joe, fought and won, plays a corn pone Southern politician.Don't miss the heavenly Mahalia Jackson, perhaps the best gospel singer of the 20th century, belting out an old spiritual at the opening of the convention. Her time on the screen is much too brief. Howard K. Smith doesn't have an acting problem since he plays himself but his appearance makes the convention seem more realistic. The entire cast makes a good showing. However, Kevin McCarthy is virtually wasted in the thankless role of Russell's campaign manager.Gore Vidal writes with much wit and wisdom. There are subtle hints of humor from time to time that require the viewer's devout concentration. This is definitely not escapist type fare. The film analyzes American politics not just from the standpoint of 1960/64 but from the Republic's 200 plus year history. The revelations presented in "The Best Man" are just as true in the year 2006 and will be rerun to some extent during the Presidential conventions in the summer of 2008.The ex-President Art Hockstader refers to the results of the convention as putting a king in the castle, a far cry from George Washington's views that being President was a civic duty. When asked if he should be called King, Washington replied, "No, Mr. President will do." We haven't had a Washington in the President's house since.
13 out of 13 people found the following review useful: An inside look at what goes on behind the scenes at political conventions, 10 September 2006 Author: blanche-2 from United States
Henry Fonda and Cliff Robertson are neck and neck for the Presidential nomination in "The Best Man," a 1964 film based on the play by Gore Vidal, who also wrote the screenplay. The film sports an outstanding cast including Margaret Leighton, Kevin McCarthy, Edie Adams, Lee Tracy, Edie Adams, Ann Sothern, Shelley Berman, Gene Raymond and Howard K. Smith.Fonda is William Russell, a wealthy man of principle, though he cheats on his wife; Robertson is Joe Cantwell, who chases Communists, is a "man of the people," and plays dirty. At one point, each candidate has something on the other that could lose them the nomination. Nowadays, of course, these items would have come out long, long before the convention. "One word from me and Joe Cantwell is out of politics," Russell muses to his wife (Leighton). But can he say the word? This is a fascinating look at the machinations of getting a President nominated, and asks the question, can a man retain his integrity and still be a politician? Vidal's answer comes as not much of a surprise.Fonda played presidents and politicians throughout his career. As Russell, he has reserve and dignity. He keeps you guessing. Robertson does a great job as a disloyal sleaze. Lee Tracy, who started in silents, is fantastic as the current, ill President, repeating the role he played on Broadway. The rest of the cast is uniformly good.So much of what is stated in "The Best Man" remains true today. I doubt these races are handled much differently now. The more things change, the more they remain the same. Especially in politics.
14 out of 15 people found the following review useful: The more politics changes the more it remain the same.., 9 September 2006 Author: Falkenberg2006 from United States
I work at a movie theatre and in a time of one-week wonders ( yes, one film with an action star lasted 3 days in our chain !) it is refreshing to see a film again where the acting is good and the story keeps your interest.I am watching this movie after not seeing it for 30 years. It made an impression on me and I started listening to both Gore Vidal and William F Buckley because of it.Henry Fonda's character is clearly based on Adlai Stevenson. Cliff Robertson echoes Richard Nixon so much it is scary. His arrogance is such that he gives the former President orders !People decried the smoke-filled room politics of this era but I wonder if we got better leaders back then. They seemed to make decisions based on the courage of their convictions and not what the latest poll says. Fonda's character comments on his ignoring polls, whereas now, politicians can't seem to brush their teeth without worrying about public opinion and not what is best for the country.The actors in this movie didn't need special effects and could ACT unlike so many of the baby-faced wanna-bes of today.This movie reflects sex, immorality, infidelity, integrity. God and judgement day are even mentioned, something that is anathema today. And what's shown in here shows that times change but one could replace current politicians for these actors and see them immediately.Lee Tracy is great in this movie and it could be easily watched for just his performance. Of note, is the glad-handing by William Russell at a public pool. No security guards, no secret service people.And mention of a nervous breakdown by Fonda's character. Remember Thomas Eagleton?If you haven't seen this movie, see it and Seven Days In May afterward. It will give you an idea of how poliiics was looked upon in a totally different era.George Senda Concord, Ca.
12 out of 13 people found the following review useful: Politics In The Convention Era, 5 February 2007 Author: bkoganbing from Buffalo, New York
The Best Man in a sense was dated before it ended its Broadway run of 520 performances in the 1960-1961 season. John F. Kennedy with his string of primary victories had the nomination almost decided before the Democrats met in Los Angeles that year to nominate him. After that, money raised and spent wisely in primaries decided nominations in both parties long before the conventions met. The last convention where there was a semblance of a contest was the 1976 Republican convention where it was not certain until the balloting that Gerald R. Ford would be the GOP candidate. This film takes us back to the era of the smoke filled room although candidate Cliff Robertson pointedly tells former president Lee Tracy that he does not smoke. We've got two candidates at this fictional Democratic convention circa the sixties. One is Henry Fonda former Secretary of State, an intellectual in politics modeled on Adlai E. Stevenson and Cliff Robertson a no nonsense street fighter of a U.S. Senator that Joe McCarthy was the prototype.By the way back in those days Joe McCarthy could easily have been a Democrat. Note that Robertson has the support of the lily white south in the era before the civil rights revolution. Minor candidate John Henry Faulk, a southern governor, is most concerned about mandated integration of his state's public schools. Back then the Dixie part of this country had a big influence in the Democratic party, the Republicans were almost moribund in many southern states. But they were a growing force.Neither Fonda or Robertson really understands the motivations of the other. They're both courting the support of Lee Tracy a former Truman like president. In actual fact, Truman counted for very little once he was out of the White House. He anointed no successor in 1952 and in 1956 and 1960 his candidates were W. Averill Harriman and Stuart Symington respectively and both came up very short.Fonda and Robertson both have dirt of varying degrees on the other. Fonda's dirt is supplied by former army buddy of Robertson's Shelley Berman who says that Robertson was gay. As it turns out Robertson ratted out a bunch of gay men in the service and got smeared in retaliation with the label. That sad to say has not changed even with don't ask don't tell in the Defense Department.Fonda and Robertson's roles on Broadway were played by Melvyn Douglas and Frank Lovejoy. Lee Tracy who was the only carry over from Broadway, won a Tony Award and was nominated for an Oscar, but lost to Peter Ustinov for Topkapi. Tracy's is a finely etched portrayal of a bitter old man now out of real power and seeing his power to control events slipping by. Made even more bitter by the fact that he reads the characters of Fonda and Robertson very well, but can't influence either.Gore Vidal aided in the transition of his play to the screen and it survived the journey from Broadway none the worse for wear. It's a fascinating look at a bygone era of politics when the national conventions meant something as opposed to being the media shows they are today. In which we hope then as now that The Best Man will win out.
4 out of 4 people found the following review useful: MUDSLINGING!, 11 February 2000 Author: yenlo from Auburn, Me
60's flick about political mudslinging between two candidates who are vying for their party's nomination for president. The action takes place at the convention as both Henry Fonda and Cliff Robertson dig up the dirt about each other. Compared to today's politics this 64 film actually seems tame. Fun to watch especially during a presidential election year.
15 out of 27 people found the following review useful: Time Capsule, 1 July 2002 Author: telegonus from brighton, ma
The movie version of Gore Vidal's play The Best Man is an excellent time capsule of its period, the sixties, when political conventions still mattered, getting one's picture on the cover of Time magazine was the best thing that could happen to a national politician's career, and when hints of mental illness and sexual peccadilloes were still whispered about rather than discussed openly. Franklin Schaffner directs energetically, and the film has an air of urgency to it that make it seem like it's saying something of great importance. It does have something to say, and while I wouldn't call it trivial the movie and its writing is nowhere near as good as it's been cracked up to be. A good deal of one's appreciation of this film will depend on one's opinion of Gore Vidal's literary status. If one rates him as great, the movie a splendid interpretation of his work and his ideas. But if one doesn't, and I don't, then it's a different kettle of fish. First to the movie.The story revolves around a power struggle that is going on behind the scenes at a national political party's convention (it isn't made clear what the party is, but one can safely assume it's the Democrats). Leading candidate for the presidential nomination William Russell is a former secretary of state, intellectual, writer of books, deep thinker, and liberal conscience. To anyone familiar with the period the character is obviously based on Adlai Stevenson. His chief opponent for the nomination, Joe Cantwell, is a somewhat younger man, a ruthless opportunistic conservative more or less in the Nixon mould. What Nixon or someone like Nixon is doing seeking the Democratic nomination is never made clear, but no matter. That bachelor Cantwell has a skeleton or two in his closet is indicated by rumors of his homosexuality. But Russell has his problems, too, womanizing, an apparent nervous breakdown, and worst of all for a politician, indecisiveness. Both men seek the support of ailing former President Art Hockstader, a pragmatic diamond in the rough politician of the old school, and clearly based on Harry Truman, who, though he leans toward and agrees with liberal Russell, has his doubts about him personally. He'd like to stop Cantwell from getting his party's nomination and isn't sure that Russell is the man to do it. A former officer in Cantwell's unit from the war is willing to squeal on him regarding the homosexual issue. Russell hears the man out, and takes an instant dislike to him. He wants to stop Cantwell, but not that badly. There is a confrontation between Russell and Cantwell. Russell equivocates. Ex-president Hockstader is disgusted with him for not using the "dirt" on Cantwell, and chaos ensues at the convention.This is a perfectly respectable play and movie, and I have no problem with it except that its insight into people is skin-deep. The actors are not to be blamed. Henry Fonda is appropriately dignified as Russell, Lee Tracy, in his last screen role, is salty as Hockstader, and Cliff Robertson is correctly one-dimensional as the venal Cantwell. The outstanding supporting cast, which includes Ann Sothern, Kevin McCarthy and Gene Raymond, is flawless. What Vidal has to say, which is that politics is an often ugly business, has been said before. He has nothing new to add but the sexual angle, which is mildly interesting. There's little imagination in The Best Man. It's never inspired. The dialogue is adequate, yet never brilliant; and the characters credible without being dynamic. During the course of the film I felt like I was watching a reasonably well-thought out essay. It was never boring, and often skillfully done, and yet I was never drawn into it emotionally, or cared for the people it was about. There's something lacking in Vidal here and in all his work. Maybe it's a contempt for humanity, or maybe just a lack of caring. I find it hard to take anyone seriously who opines as often as Vidal does on a variety of issues, who cares so little for the people those issues ultimately concern.
2 out of 2 people found the following review useful: Powerful Political Convention Drama; Lee Tracy Steals the Show, 18 May 2007 Author: mrb1980 from Arizona
*** This review may contain spoilers ***
Folks unfamiliar with early 1930s movies probably wonder who that old guy playing ex-Pres. Art Hockstader is, because he's so good. It's Lee Tracy, of course, and he makes "The Best Man" well worth watching.The setting is a national presidential convention, with the two leading candidates played well by Henry Fonda and Cliff Robertson. The film shows the rituals followed during these events, and really shows the viewer the backroom deals and personal attacks that are part of the game.Fonda plays the upstanding, honorable, and somewhat cynical candidate, who is trying to play by the rules and win on his own merits. Robertson, who made a living playing slightly wacko, off-center type characters, is the venal, win-at-any-cost candidate who will stop at nothing to destroy Fonda and capture the nomination. In the end, Fonda tires of the entire ordeal and throws all his support behind an unknown candidate, who is assured of nomination.A better-cast movie would be very hard to find. Besides Fonda and Robertson, Shelley Berman as a wimpy informer, Kevin McCarthy as Fonda's hustling top aide, plus Ann Sothern and Edie Adams, this film is packed with great talent. Howard K. Smith even plays himself!However, the movie is stolen by Lee Tracy, as the curmudgeonly ex-Pres. Art Hockstader, who is terminally ill with cancer but determined to support the right candidate. In the early 30s, Tracy had a corner on Hollywood's fast-talking wise-guy characters, and rightly so. His star fell rapidly after the 1934 self-destruction of his reputation, but he's back 30 years later in a simply magnificent and commanding performance, just a few years before his death.Try to catch "The Best Man" to see Tracy in action and for a true mid-1960s experience, frozen in time.
3 out of 4 people found the following review useful: ..just a little saner than Huey P. Long..., 5 October 2007 Author: fimimix from United States
"The Best Man" shows only A PART of the shenanigans that politicians use to win, at all costs. I can't, at this minute, remember the title of the film based-on Gov Huey P. Long of Louisiana; I do, because I'm from that part of the country and knew some of the Long family."Wm. Russell" (Henry Fonda) is a rarity, the unknown character of honest men involved in government since Jimmy Carter. If you know anything about his administration, you'll remember he was powerless because he would not deal with crooked politicians. "Joe Cantwell" (Cliff Robertson) is the epitome of corruption and scandal-mongering. Kevin McCartney's role as the "whistle-blower" who's attempting to provide evidence that "Cantwell" was involved with soldiers being discharged for homosexual activity, is right-on. You just know that "Cantwell" was guilty, too; "Mabel Cantwell's" (Edie Adams) reaction to the possibility the situation was about to be exposed should tell the story. Lee Tracy as former President Art Hockstader was brilliantly played, a wily ole fox. That "Russells" refused to get involved with mud-slinging (and throwing his influence behind one of the 2nd-tier candidates) is a testament of how desperate this country is for a moral government, and seems unable to achieve it. FDR knew how to get results, but his drawing this country from the dregs of The Depression and leading the USA to become the greatest country yet, is a testament to how beloved he was. I recall seeing him in an open jeep (in a parade), with no security-guards....There must be politicians like "Russell," but they don't seem to be able to become known to the voters. All the hype on the current (2007) presidential campaign is a prime example. "The Best Man" was heart-warming. I enjoyed every role, especially Ann Sothern and Mahalia Jackson. Let's have more of these enlightening films. Everyone should see it.
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