Quiz Show Movie Review 1994

Redford's intelligent, entertaining, and morally complex film about the TV game show scandals of the late '50s is his most accomplished work to date. At the center of the film is Charles Van Doren (Fiennes), an intellectual, golden boy who dethrones Herbert Stempel (Turturro), the reigning champion of the rigged "Twenty-One." The program's sponsor felt Stempel, a nerdy Jewish grad's everyman qualities were wearing thin and wanted a more polished image, which they found in handsome, sophisticated Van Doren. Federal investigator Goodwin (Morrow) suspects Van Doren's reign is a sham and sets out to expose him as a fraud. Acting is of the highest caliber with Fiennes, Turturro, and Morrow all giving beautiful performances. Notable among supporting cast is Scofield as Van Doren's Pulitzer prize-winning father. With strong script and gorgeous lensing, this modern Faust story is a brilliant reflection on corporate greed, class rivalry, and the powers of television. Based on the book "Remembering America: A Voice From the Sixties" by Richard N. Goodwin.

Distribution

Hollywood Pictures Home Video, Fairmont Bldg. 526, 500 S. Buena Vista St., Burbank, CA 91505-9842, Phone: (818)562-3560

Available on VHS, DVD
Running time 133 minutes.

Cast and Crew

Genres

Game Shows, Mass Media, Period Piece: 1950s, Scams, Stings & Cons, Ethics & Morals, Family Ties, 4 Bones

Screenplay

Paul Attanasio

Cast

John Turturro, Rob Morrow, Ralph Fiennes, Paul Scofield, David Paymer, Hank Azaria, Christopher McDonald, Johann Carlo, Elizabeth Wilson, Mira Sorvino, Griffin Dunne, Martin Scorsese, Barry Levinson

Cinematography

Michael Ballhaus

Director

Robert Redford

Music

Mark Isham

Producer

Robert Redford, Julian Krainin, Hollywood Pictures, Buena Vista

Awards

British Acad. 1994: Adapt. Screenplay; N.Y. Film Critics 1994: Film.