Poster for The Candidate

The Candidate

1972, Comedy/Drama, 1h 50m

34 Reviews 5,000+ Ratings

What to know

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. Read critic reviews

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The Candidate Photos

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Movie Info

Without a candidate to run for the senate seat against admired Republican Crocker Jarmon (Don Porter), campaign manager Marvin Lucas (Peter Boyle) recruits leftist lawyer Bill McKay (Robert Redford). McKay's appearance piques the public's interest, and gradually Lucas pushes McKay toward a more centrist message. As McKay's original and honest platform gets watered down, his popularity increases so much that he is running even with Jarmon as Election Day approaches.
  • Rating:
    PG
  • Genre:
    Comedy, Drama
  • Original Language:
    English
  • Director:
    Michael Ritchie
  • Producer:
    Walter Coblenz
  • Writer:
    Jeremy Larner
  • Release Date (Theaters):
     original
  • Release Date (Streaming):
  • Runtime:
  • Distributor:
    Warner Bros. Pictures

Cast & Crew

Robert Redford
Robert Redford
Bill McKay
Peter Boyle
Peter Boyle
Marvin Lucas
Melvyn Douglas
Melvyn Douglas
John J. McKay
Don Porter
Don Porter
Senator Crocker Jarmon
Allen Garfield
Allen Garfield
Klein
Quinn K. Redeker
Quinn K. Redeker
Rick Jenkin
Michael Lerner
Michael Lerner
Paul Corliss
Karen Carlson
Karen Carlson
Nancy McKay
Morgan Upton
Morgan Upton
Wally Henderson
Kenneth Tobey
Kenneth Tobey
Floyd J. Starkey
Christopher Pray
Christopher Pray
David
Joe Miksak
Joe Miksak
Neil Atkinson
Jenny Sullivan
Jenny Sullivan
Lynn
Tom Dahlgren
Tom Dahlgren
Pilot
Michael Ritchie
Michael Ritchie
Director
Walter Coblenz
Walter Coblenz
Producer
Jeremy Larner
Jeremy Larner
Screenwriter
Show all Cast & Crew

Critic Reviews for The Candidate

All Critics (34) | Top Critics (8) | Fresh (30) | Rotten (4)
Full Review… Jay Cocks TIME Magazine Full Review… Dave Kehr Chicago Reader Full Review… Kim Newman Empire Magazine Full Review… Arthur Knight Hollywood Reporter Full Review… Andrew Sarris Village Voice Full Review… Variety Staff Variety Full Review… Keith Garlington Keith & the Movies Full Review… David Nusair Reel Film Reviews Full Review… Alison Gillmor Winnipeg Free Press Full Review… Dick Lochte Los Angeles Free Press Full Review… Tony Mastroianni Cleveland Press Full Review… Tom Hutchinson Radio Times
View All Critic Reviews (34)

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.
    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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