All the King's Men

All The Kings Men – All Class Note: this is for the original 1949 production: When the name Robert Rossen appears associated with a film you can rest assured it will have more than a decent level of professional interest and integrity. This is no exception; winner of Three Academy Awards of its year, this unusual movie follows the career of a man from the sticks, a hick, destined to make his mark on the world of power politics. Crawford is a powerhouse as Willie Stark, backwoods lawyer on a steamroller trail to the front line – a man you stand in the way of at your peril. Willie has honourable intentions of correcting wrongs but can he hold fast to the challenge? A strong cast under the guidance of Rossen turn in bravura performances, with Mercedes Cambridge bringing remarkable touches to this work – and, it’s all captured on film by master cinematographer Burnett Guffey (The Harder They Fall ’56) from Robert Penn Warrens Pulitzer Prize-winning novel. This is about as good as this genre of film-making gets as we follow the vast assortment of fascinating characters through twisted trials and tribulations – on the way to absolute power (and we know what they say about ‘absolute’ power!) Expect one hard-hitting situation following another as the road to the top casts aside both good and bad as they struggle to survive in Willies inside-out world. Not to be missed by all lovers of fine Noir dramas. The Columbia DVD release is from a clear negative transfer.

[SPOILER ALERT: This review contains spoilers.]