All the King's Men (1949)

Written & Directed by Robert Rossen

We close out the 40’s in this marathon with a film that, perhaps more than any of the others so far, really makes the viewer think. It’s taken me a little bit to write this review, simply because there’s so many modern ways to interpret the film. Conversely, this review is going to be a little short, as there’s some cans of worms here that I prefer not to (fully) open.

Willie Stark (Broderick Crawford) at the height of his power

First, one could analyze the film from the journey of the main subject, Willie Stark. Stark begins the film’s journey as an idealistic young(er) politician, who tries to run against a corrupt local government. It’s an inspiring start, but the film slowly devolves the character into a self-serving antagonist, who becomes the very thing he fought to overthrow in the first place. It’s very Animal Farm (so I was all for it, because I love that novel). It makes the viewer uneasy after a while, as this character becomes someone to root against, but making that shift is difficult for people, a phenomenon that occurs in real life, as well. How often has it taken one an incredibly long time to see what everyone else has seen for as equally a long time? After all, the mind sees what it chooses to see. Stark’s progression from hero to villain is like a train wreck: mesmerizing and horrific, all at once.

Some terrifying parallels to today…

There’s also a couple of modern-day parallels that this film (unintentionally) showcases. First, is the link between Stark’s stoking of the passions of the “hicks” and the “Occupy” movement. In both, the “lowly” masses come together to fight the corrupt 1%, creating a battle between the haves and the have-nots. Unfortunately, the more immediate parallel is between Stark and President Trump. They both speak to those folks who, at least in their own mind, have been ignored, and both are able to, somehow, cultivate a following that turns a blind eye to the terrible things they do. There begins to be a sense in the film that the abnormal is the new normal, and it’s unsettling to see the same happening now. Stark even creates his own private police force, which feels very Nazi Germany, and honestly, would anybody be surprised if we saw the same thing happen today?

Broderick Crawford, Mercedes McCambridge, and John Ireland

As far as the technical side of the film, it’s pretty well made, with some great performances. Broderick Crawford as Willie Stark is really excellent, and his gradual progression from hero to villain is captivating to watch. John Ireland and Mercedes McCambridge as his right hand man and woman are equally great, (although I spent a lot of the film focusing on listening to McCambridge, as she would later voice the central demon in The Exorcist). Ireland is a little bit under utilized, but his role functions primarily as the viewers window into the action.

Overall, I liked this film, although it feels very politically charged for today’s day and age. That isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but when your film is about a corrupt politician, it’s a bad sign when it feels relevant, especially for as relevant as it does now. It’s really a bad sign.

FINAL GRADE: B