Director Franklin J. Schaffner tackled ruthless political campaigning with his 1964 film The Best Man. Starring Henry Fonda and Cliff Robertson, the film takes its inspiration from a screenplay written by political writing giant Gore Vidal. Two men vying for the endorsement of the former president, one will stop at nothing, while the other is determined to retain his dignity, The Best Man illustrates the journey of both. The Best Man is an engaging political drama revealing a behind-the-scenes look at the depths some will take to attain the highest power in the land.
Two men of the same party, William Russell (Henry Fonda) and Joe Cantwell (Cliff Robertson) have engaged in a political in-fight to gain the endorsement of their party's former president. Both men are not without their faults; William Russell has a reputation for being a philanderer, Joe Cantwell is a ruthless politician who is determined to not let anyone impede his way to the top. Nearing their party's convention, it is crucial for one of the two, the top contenders, to gain the endorsement of the aging president. The president, however, hasn't made any indication of who he will support, even at a dinner in which he would have typically announced his endorsement, he remains neutral. As the convention draws near, the stakes rise and both men are tested to their limits; how far will they go for power?
The Best Man has a wonderful opening montage in which the audience meets the two candidates, instantly learning their tendencies toward decency. Henry Fonda is, of course, the one the audience wants to side with, has he ever played a character that was anything less than lily-white? I have an interesting relationship with Henry Fonda, I always adore him when I happen to see him in something, yet have never sought out any films because he was in them. I have a mind that tends towards the obsessive in that when I see someone I enjoy watching, I seek out everything they've ever done. Anyway, Henry Fonda was as wonderful in this film as he is in every other role I've enjoyed of his. Also, a welcome surprise was seeing Kevin McCarthy in this film so soon after seeing him and enjoying his role in Invasion of the Body Snatchers (mental note: must check out more of his work). Having done all my undergraduate work in Political Science and being aware of copious amounts of polling data, I found it interesting that the names they chose for the film "CANTwell" and MerWIN. On a surface level, when only thinking about the film, it becomes clear that the subtext establishes that Cantwell will not win, and Merwin, will, in fact, emerge the victor. Many cues clearly indicate that this film was written by a political insider. First of all, It is rare for a political film to address in-fighting between members of the same party. Typically, the main crux of political films deals with the ultimate battle between the members of the opposite party. Likewise, it is interesting to see a film where the action of the film is centered around a party convention rather than an election. The Best Man is a wonderful film dealing with a political theme; it has aged incredibly well, with communism being the only outdated concept, which is easily substituted for the woeful group of the time. The Best Man is a wonderful puzzle all the way to the end, with the President's ultimate goal being realized in the end. A film that keeps the audience engaged all the way through the increasingly suspenseful and exciting final act, The Best Man is a film to see for political enthusiasts and novices alike.
Two men of the same party, William Russell (Henry Fonda) and Joe Cantwell (Cliff Robertson) have engaged in a political in-fight to gain the endorsement of their party's former president. Both men are not without their faults; William Russell has a reputation for being a philanderer, Joe Cantwell is a ruthless politician who is determined to not let anyone impede his way to the top. Nearing their party's convention, it is crucial for one of the two, the top contenders, to gain the endorsement of the aging president. The president, however, hasn't made any indication of who he will support, even at a dinner in which he would have typically announced his endorsement, he remains neutral. As the convention draws near, the stakes rise and both men are tested to their limits; how far will they go for power?
The Best Man has a wonderful opening montage in which the audience meets the two candidates, instantly learning their tendencies toward decency. Henry Fonda is, of course, the one the audience wants to side with, has he ever played a character that was anything less than lily-white? I have an interesting relationship with Henry Fonda, I always adore him when I happen to see him in something, yet have never sought out any films because he was in them. I have a mind that tends towards the obsessive in that when I see someone I enjoy watching, I seek out everything they've ever done. Anyway, Henry Fonda was as wonderful in this film as he is in every other role I've enjoyed of his. Also, a welcome surprise was seeing Kevin McCarthy in this film so soon after seeing him and enjoying his role in Invasion of the Body Snatchers (mental note: must check out more of his work). Having done all my undergraduate work in Political Science and being aware of copious amounts of polling data, I found it interesting that the names they chose for the film "CANTwell" and MerWIN. On a surface level, when only thinking about the film, it becomes clear that the subtext establishes that Cantwell will not win, and Merwin, will, in fact, emerge the victor. Many cues clearly indicate that this film was written by a political insider. First of all, It is rare for a political film to address in-fighting between members of the same party. Typically, the main crux of political films deals with the ultimate battle between the members of the opposite party. Likewise, it is interesting to see a film where the action of the film is centered around a party convention rather than an election. The Best Man is a wonderful film dealing with a political theme; it has aged incredibly well, with communism being the only outdated concept, which is easily substituted for the woeful group of the time. The Best Man is a wonderful puzzle all the way to the end, with the President's ultimate goal being realized in the end. A film that keeps the audience engaged all the way through the increasingly suspenseful and exciting final act, The Best Man is a film to see for political enthusiasts and novices alike.