The Carpetbaggers

1964

The Carpetbaggers

Critics Consensus

No consensus yet.

29%

TOMATOMETER

Total Count: 7

65%

Audience Score

User Ratings: 1,015
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Movie Info

Set in the '20s and '30s and based on Harold Robbin's book, this drama chronicles the life of millionaire Jonas Cord, Jr. (George Peppard) who inherits his father's business and who has no scruples in romance nor business until his older friend, Nevada Smith (Alan Ladd--whose performance here was his last) knocks some sense into him. Robbins insists that his story was not based on the life of Howard Hughes.

Cast

George Peppard
as Jonas Cord
Carroll Baker
as Rina Marlowe Cord
Bob Cummings
as Dan Pierce
Alan Ladd
as Nevada Smith
Martha Hyer
as Jennie Denton
Elizabeth Ashley
as Monica Winthrop
Lew Ayres
as McAllister
Martin Balsam
as Bernard B. Norman
Ralph Taeger
as Buzz Dalton
Archie Moore
as Jedediah
Leif Erickson
as Jonas Cord Sr.
Arthur Franz
as Morrissey
Tom Tully
as Amos Winthrop
Audrey Totter
as Prostitute
Anthony Warde
as Moroni
Charles Lane
as Denby
Tom Lowell
as David Woolf
John Conte
as Ellis
Vaughan Taylor
as Doctor
Francesca Bellini
as Cynthia Randall
Gladys Holland
as French Nurse
Lynn Borden
as Starlet
Victoria Jean
as Jo-Ann
Frankie Darro
as Bellboy
Lisa Seagram
as Moroni's Secretary
Don Diamond
as Gambler
Ann Doran
as Woman Reporter
Don 'Red' Barry
as Sound Man
Peter Duryea
as Assistant Director
Tony Regan
as Theater Manager
Joe Turkel
as Reporter
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Critic Reviews for The Carpetbaggers

All Critics (7) | Fresh (2) | Rotten (5)

  • The Carpetbaggers has the outsize awfulness of Holly- wood at its worst, multiplied by a large cast and much supposedly shocking action that clearly comes from the much more outspoken novel.

    Jul 12, 2018 | Full Review…

    Isabel Quigly

    The Spectator

  • The sleazy pulp film was a blockbuster smash hit upon its release, proving to Hollywood that bad taste pays big dividends.

    Mar 30, 2007 | Rating: C | Full Review…

    Dennis Schwartz

    Ozus' World Movie Reviews

  • One of the all-time great potboilers featuring a powerhouse performance by the always underrated George Peppard.

    Oct 8, 2005 | Rating: 4/5

    Chuck O'Leary

    Fantastica Daily

  • The film was a blockbuster back in 1964 and could have been seen as the last word in silver screen sleaze ... at least as far as mainstream America was concerned.

    Apr 19, 2003 | Full Review…

    Eric Henderson

    Slant Magazine
View All Critic Reviews (7)

Audience Reviews for The Carpetbaggers

  • Aug 28, 2007
    It would be so fucking awesome if TCM and my cable company could synchronize their watches so I won't miss the end of any movies my DVR records. Because of this I invested 2 1/2 hours of my life only to miss the last 2 minutes of The Carpetbaggers. This isn't to say I completely wasted my time because I really dug what I saw. Picture Russ Meyer making a cleaned-up, yet trashy mixture of Citizen Kane, Written on the Wind and The Aviator. George Peppard plays a megalomaniacal asshole, Carroll Baker plays the opportunistic slut trying to do right and Alan Ladd plays the leathery, alcoholic father figure. The score is good and you know you're in for some fun from as early as the sensationalist title sequence--because really, what can you expect from shots of clouds at 10,00 feet with oversaturated red lettering flying at you?
    Michael G Super Reviewer
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