What is the movie "The Candidate" about?

The Candidate , released in 1972, is an American film that examines Bill McKay's U.S. Senate campaign in California. It contrasts heroic depictions of political leaders, adopting a cynical view of politics. McKay, an idealistic young lawyer, compromises his beliefs for victory, reflecting post-1960s American pessimism toward government. Initially, McKay pursues office with noble intentions, but as his polling numbers rise, he mistrusts his instincts and depends on his campaign manager and media consultants. The film highlights how modern campaigns market candidates like advertisers sell products. McKay wins but feels disconnected from his original motivation. Jeremy Larner's screenplay, informed by his experience in Eugene McCarthy's 1968 presidential campaign, captures the public's desire for better government and the loss of faith during the contentious early 1970s.

Who directed "The Candidate" and who stars in it?

The Candidate , released in 1972, was directed by Michael Ritchie and stars Robert Redford . The film provides a look at political campaigning in the United States during the television age. The Candidate follows Bill McKay, an idealistic young lawyer running for U.S. Senate in California. McKay, initially noble, compromises his beliefs for victory, reflecting post-1960s American pessimism toward government.

What is the main plot or story of "The Candidate"?

In The Candidate , Bill McKay, an idealistic young lawyer, runs for the United States Senate in California. Initially driven by noble intentions, McKay is unafraid to speak his mind, but as his campaign gains traction, he compromises his beliefs for victory. Under the guidance of his campaign manager and media consultants, McKay's positions become vague to avoid alienating voters. He realizes that image trumps substance in the television era. The film depicts how modern campaigns market candidates like products, using coached responses, edited videos, and celebrity endorsements. McKay wins an upset victory but feels disconnected from his original motivations, reflecting the film's cynical view of politics and the public's disillusionment with government.

What political issues or themes does "The Candidate" explore?

The Candidate explores themes of political compromise, the impact of media on elections, and post-1960s American cynicism toward government. The film portrays Bill McKay, an idealistic young lawyer, who gradually compromises his beliefs for victory in a U.S. Senate race. As McKay's campaign progresses, his positions become vaguer to avoid antagonizing voters, and he increasingly relies on media consultants. The film highlights how image-based campaigns prioritize marketing candidates over substantive platforms, reflecting a loss of faith in political leaders during a contentious period in American history.

How does the film show the challenges of running for political office?

The Candidate (1972) illustrates the challenges of political campaigning, particularly the compromises required for victory. Bill McKay, an idealistic lawyer, enters the U.S. Senate race in California and confronts the realities of modern, image-based campaigns. Initially, McKay is unafraid to express his views, but as his popularity increases, he begins to dilute his stances to avoid alienating voters. He increasingly relies on his campaign manager and media consultants, highlighting the growing importance of image over substance in the age of television. The film depicts how political staffers coach McKay, stage televised debates, and use video clips to portray him positively. Despite winning, McKay feels disconnected from his original motivations, reflecting a cynical view of American politics and the public's disillusionment with government.

Why is "The Candidate" considered an important political film?

The Candidate is considered an important political film because it offers a behind-the-scenes look at political campaigning in the United States during the age of television. The film adopts a cynical view of politics, reflecting post-1960s American pessimism toward government. The Candidate provides critical insight into how a modern image-based campaign is run, where platforms are no longer as important as image. The film captured the loss of faith and mirrored the public’s wish for better government.

The Candidate

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Robert Redford as Bill McKay stands at a microphone in a suit and striped tie, with a large campaign poster of himself in the background, in the film The Candidate.

The Candidate

film by Ritchie [1972]

Written by

William Renkus

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Britannica Editors

History

Top Questions

What is the movie "The Candidate" about?
The Candidate, released in 1972, is an American film that examines Bill McKay's U.S. Senate campaign in California. It contrasts heroic depictions of political leaders, adopting a cynical view of politics. McKay, an idealistic young lawyer, compromises his beliefs for victory, reflecting post-1960s American pessimism toward government.

Initially, McKay pursues office with noble intentions, but as his polling numbers rise, he mistrusts his instincts and depends on his campaign manager and media consultants. The film highlights how modern campaigns market candidates like advertisers sell products. McKay wins but feels disconnected from his original motivation. Jeremy Larner's screenplay, informed by his experience in Eugene McCarthy's 1968 presidential campaign, captures the public's desire for better government and the loss of faith during the contentious early 1970s.
1 Britannica Source
1. The Candidate
Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
Who directed "The Candidate" and who stars in it?
The Candidate, released in 1972, was directed by Michael Ritchie and stars Robert Redford. The film provides a look at political campaigning in the United States during the television age. The Candidate follows Bill McKay, an idealistic young lawyer running for U.S. Senate in California. McKay, initially noble, compromises his beliefs for victory, reflecting post-1960s American pessimism toward government.
2 Britannica Sources
1. The Candidate
2. Michael Ritchie: Later work
Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
What is the main plot or story of "The Candidate"?
In The Candidate, Bill McKay, an idealistic young lawyer, runs for the United States Senate in California. Initially driven by noble intentions, McKay is unafraid to speak his mind, but as his campaign gains traction, he compromises his beliefs for victory.

Under the guidance of his campaign manager and media consultants, McKay's positions become vague to avoid alienating voters. He realizes that image trumps substance in the television era. The film depicts how modern campaigns market candidates like products, using coached responses, edited videos, and celebrity endorsements.

McKay wins an upset victory but feels disconnected from his original motivations, reflecting the film's cynical view of politics and the public's disillusionment with government.
1 Britannica Source
1. The Candidate
Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
What political issues or themes does "The Candidate" explore?
The Candidate explores themes of political compromise, the impact of media on elections, and post-1960s American cynicism toward government. The film portrays Bill McKay, an idealistic young lawyer, who gradually compromises his beliefs for victory in a U.S. Senate race. As McKay's campaign progresses, his positions become vaguer to avoid antagonizing voters, and he increasingly relies on media consultants. The film highlights how image-based campaigns prioritize marketing candidates over substantive platforms, reflecting a loss of faith in political leaders during a contentious period in American history.
1 Britannica Source
1. The Candidate
Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
How does the film show the challenges of running for political office?
The Candidate (1972) illustrates the challenges of political campaigning, particularly the compromises required for victory. Bill McKay, an idealistic lawyer, enters the U.S. Senate race in California and confronts the realities of modern, image-based campaigns.

Initially, McKay is unafraid to express his views, but as his popularity increases, he begins to dilute his stances to avoid alienating voters. He increasingly relies on his campaign manager and media consultants, highlighting the growing importance of image over substance in the age of television. The film depicts how political staffers coach McKay, stage televised debates, and use video clips to portray him positively. Despite winning, McKay feels disconnected from his original motivations, reflecting a cynical view of American politics and the public's disillusionment with government.
1 Britannica Source
1. The Candidate
Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
Why is "The Candidate" considered an important political film?
The Candidate is considered an important political film because it offers a behind-the-scenes look at political campaigning in the United States during the age of television. The film adopts a cynical view of politics, reflecting post-1960s American pessimism toward government.

The Candidate provides critical insight into how a modern image-based campaign is run, where platforms are no longer as important as image. The film captured the loss of faith and mirrored the public’s wish for better government.
1 Britannica Source
1. The Candidate
Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

The Candidate, American film drama, released in 1972, that offered a behind-the-scenes look at political campaigning in the United States in the age of television. The film examines the candidacy of an idealistic young lawyer, Bill McKay, who is running for the United States Senate from the state of California. In contrast to the heroic depiction of political leaders in such classic Hollywood films as Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939), The Candidate adopts a more cynical view of politics. In the film, McKay, albeit reluctantly, eventually compromises his beliefs in exchange for victory. The film’s depiction of political expediency is reflective of post-1960s American pessimism toward government.

Director Michael Ritchie and leading actor Robert Redford envisioned The Candidate to be part of a trilogy that they would produce on the American obsession with winning. In the film, McKay initially pursues political office with noble intentions and little chance of success. He is unafraid to speak his mind on the issues. As the campaign proceeds and his polling numbers increase, McKay realizes that he might indeed stand a chance at victory. Unwilling to antagonize potential voters, his positions on issues become more vague, and he begins to mistrust his political instincts. McKay becomes increasingly dependent on the advice of his campaign manager and media consultants. He comes to realize that, in the television era, platforms are no longer as important as image.

The Candidate provides critical insight into how a modern image-based campaign is run. Political staffers coach McKay on how best to answer reporters’ questions, the candidate practices canned responses for supposedly spontaneous televised debates, film editors piece together video clips designed to portray McKay in the most positive light, and influential party leaders hobnob with celebrities at campaign dinners. Above all, campaigning is laborious work designed to market the candidate as advertisers would sell a bar of soap. Thanks to his media-driven campaign, McKay wins an upset victory in the senatorial election but is left with a sense that he has lost touch with his motivation to run for office in the first place.

Publicity still from the motion picture film "The Terminator" (1984); directed by James Cameron. (cinema, movies)

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Jeremy Larner, who won an academy award for the film’s screenplay, was active in politics. In 1968 he worked as a speechwriter for the presidential campaign of Senator Eugene McCarthy, and his political experience provided the film with a great amount of authentic detail. Larner was deeply committed to the McCarthy campaign but was ultimately disappointed with the experience, finding campaign coworkers to be petty and McCarthy indecisive. Larner’s frustration at the political process set the tone for the film and mirrored the public’s wish for better government.

The early 1970s were a contentious time in the United States. Domestic and foreign policy conflicts polarized the country and eroded public confidence in the credibility of its leaders. The Candidate captured that loss of faith.

William Renkus

Production notes and credits

Studio: Redford-Ritchie Productions and Wildwood Enterprises
Director: Michael Ritchie
Writer: Jeremy Larner
Music: John Rubinstein
Running time: 110 minutes

Cast

Robert Redford (Bill McKay)
Peter Boyle (Marvin Lucas)
Melvyn Douglas (John J. McKay)
Don Porter (Senator Crocker Jarmon)
Allen Garfield (Klein)
Karen Carlson (Nancy McKay)

Academy Award nominations (* denotes win)

Screenplay*
Sound

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The Candidate

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Production notes and credits

Cast

Academy Award nominations (* denotes win)