The Candidate

1972

The Candidate

Critics Consensus

The Candidate may not get all the details right when it comes to modern campaigning, but it captures political absurdity perfectly -- and boasts typically stellar work from Robert Redford to boot.

87%

TOMATOMETER

Total Count: 31

74%

Audience Score

User Ratings: 4,971

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The Candidate Photos

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Movie Info

Robert Redford stars in this gritty, documentary-like tale of an idealistic, good-natured attorney whose high standards are soiled by his run for political office. Having seen all the dirt in politics as a young man -- his father (Melvyn Douglas) was once governor of California -- Redford's Bill McKay has no interest in getting into the game himself. But a political operative named Luck (Peter Boyle) taps McKay to run against the seemingly undefeatable Senator Crocker Jarmon (Don Porter), a classic gasbag. McKay reluctantly agrees, but only if his father is not involved and he is allowed to say exactly what he wants, free of political or party constraints. As his candor causes his popularity to rise, the stakes become greater for McKay and the pressure to sell out grows. Jeremy Larner's adapted screenplay won an Academy Award and Redford delivers one of his best performances in a movie that, when viewed in the age of soundbite-and-poll-driven politicians, seems more timely than ever.
  • Rating:
    PG (adult situations/language)
  • Genre:
    Classics, Drama
  • Directed By:
    Michael Ritchie
  • Written By:
    Jeremy Lerner, Jeremy Larner
  • In Theaters:
     wide
  • On Disc/Streaming:
  • Runtime:
  • Studio:
    Warner Bros. Pictures

Cast

Robert Redford
as Bill McKay
Peter Boyle
as Marvin Lucas
Melvyn Douglas
as John J. McKay
Allen Garfield
as Howard Klein
Don Porter
as Sen. Crocker Jarmon
Michael Lerner
as Paul Corliss
Karen Carlson
as Nancy McKay
Broderick Crawford
as Jarmon Narrator
Morgan Upton
as Henderson
Kenneth Tobey
as Starkey
Christopher Pray
as David
Joseph Miksak
as Neil Atkinson
Jenny Sullivan
as Lynn
Tom Dahlgren
as Pilot
Gerald Hiken
as Stationmaster
Terry McGovern
Leslie Allen
as Mabel
Susan Demott
as Groupie
Jason Goodrow
as Boy in Commercial
Robert De Anda
as Jaime
Robert Goldsby
as Fleischer
Michael Barnicle
as Wilson
Barry Sullivan
as McKay Narrator
Lois Fraker
as Large Girl
David Moody
as Watts Heckler
George Meyer
as Man in Urinal
Dudley Knight
as Magazine Editor
Natalie Wood
as Herself
Hubert H. Humphrey
as Himself
George McGovern
as Himself
John V. Tunney
as Himself
Quinn K. Redeker
as Rich Jenkin
Sam Yorty
as Himself
Howard K. Smith
as Himself
Gene S. Cantamessa
Van Amberg
as Himself
Jesse Birnbaum
as Himself
Alan Cranston
as Himself
Maury Green
as Himself
Lu Hurley
as Himself
Walter Krabien
as Himself
Robert H. Moretti
as Himself
Rollin Post
as Himself
Bill Stout
as Himself
Dick Whittington
as Himself
Richard Bergholtz
as Himself
Ken Cory
as Himself
Judy Hayward
as Herself
Cedrick Hardman
as Himself
Fred Harris
as Himself
Ken Jones
as Himself
Grover Lewis
as Himself
Terence McGovern
as Himself
Harvey Orkin
as Himself
Jerry Waldie
as Himself
Jesse M. Unruh
as Himself
Pat Harrington Jr.
as Dinner M.C.
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Critic Reviews for The Candidate

All Critics (31) | Top Critics (7) | Fresh (27) | Rotten (4)

  • Neither the authentic political atmosphere nor canny performances by Redford, Boyle and Porter go far to cut through the basic glibness of the film.

    June 29, 2018 | Full Review…

    Jay Cocks

    TIME Magazine
    Top Critic

  • Much of it has a pleasing air of accuracy. But Redford's inability to suggest any irony about himself finally sinks it -- it's the only sanctimonious satire you'll ever see.

    June 29, 2018 | Full Review…

    Dave Kehr

    Chicago Reader
    Top Critic

  • If this candidate doesn't prove to be a winner, I'll demand a recount.

    June 29, 2018 | Full Review…

    Arthur Knight

    Hollywood Reporter
    Top Critic

  • Redford fancies himself so superior to the electoral process that he ends up with a completely fatuous characterization of a politician.

    January 14, 2013 | Full Review…

    Andrew Sarris

    Village Voice
    Top Critic

  • Redford's superior acting talents, which not-often-enough are tapped by the scripts he decides to do, are nearly all on display herein in a virtuoso peformance.

    June 3, 2008 | Full Review…

    Variety Staff

    Variety
    Top Critic

  • Ritchie and Redford's follow-up to Downhill Racer is one of the more intelligent films to have been made about political machinations in America.

    June 24, 2006 | Full Review…

    Geoff Andrew

    Time Out
    Top Critic
View All Critic Reviews (31)

Audience Reviews for The Candidate

  • Jul 13, 2016
    I'm not inclined to hail the movie as the incisive political commentary everyone seems to believe it is. Now I do like a lot of the subtle humor but I just don't buy Redford's character . . . he's both too stubborn and too much of a pushover.
    Alec B Super Reviewer
  • Oct 08, 2015
    The Candidate is disappointing. Redford hardly comes across as someone that can win a Senate race. His character displays little-to-no drive which makes it hard to sympathize with his frustrations. The movie is not helped by a very poor DVD transfer. I was surprised to see that it was nominated for best sound since I found it to be very poor in that respect. The Candidate is not an awful movie, but when I tried to write a review recommending it, I found I couldn't.
    Robert B Super Reviewer
  • May 02, 2014
    A left-wing lawyer runs for the Senate, but the campaign forces him to make concessions in his values. Robert Redford, with his natural sense of integrity and propriety, is at his best in this film because we get to see that integrity slowly crumble. The change is subtle -- sometimes too subtle, to the point that the film's plot isn't fully realized -- but it's there. The film's plot follows McKay's campaign, and as the process of getting elected strips McKay of his principles, the political process is appropriately satirized. The best part of the film is the famous last line: "What do we do now?" which is a quote echoed by many a modern politician. Overall, while I think the film's subtlety worked against it at points, the overall message is ahead of its time.
    Jim H Super Reviewer
  • Jul 29, 2012
    A satirical and modern political chronicle.
    Lucas M Super Reviewer
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