| Quiz Show | |
|---|---|
 Quiz Show Theatrical Poster |
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| Directed by | Robert Redford |
| Produced by | Robert Redford Michael Jacobs Julian Krainin Michael Nozik |
| Written by | Novel: Richard Goodwin Screenplay: Paul Attanasio |
| Starring | John Turturro Rob Morrow Ralph Fiennes David Paymer Paul Scofield |
| Music by | Mark Isham |
| Cinematography | Michael Ballhaus |
| Editing by | Stu Linder |
| Distributed by | Hollywood Pictures |
| Release date(s) | September 16, 1994 |
| Running time | 133 minutes |
| Language | English |
| IMDb profile | |
Quiz Show is a 1994 film which tells the true story of the Twenty One quiz show scandal of the 1950s. Charles Robert Redford Jr (born August 18 1936) is an Academy Award -winning American Film director, Actor, Charles Robert Redford Jr (born August 18 1936) is an Academy Award -winning American Film director, Actor, Michael Jacobs is a writer whose work has appeared on Broadway Off-Broadway television and film Richard N Goodwin (born December 7, 1931 in Boston Massachusetts) is an American writer who may be best known as an advisor and Speechwriter Paul Attanasio (born on November 14, 1959 in The Bronx, New York City) is an American Screenwriter and producer John Michael Turturro (born February 28, 1957) is an American Actor noted for his performances in To Live and Die in L Robert Alan Morrow (born September 21, 1962) is a Golden Globe -nominated American actor currently starring in the television series Ralph Nathaniel Twisleton-Wykeham-Fiennes ( "rafe fines" born 22 December 1962) is a British Actor. David Paymer (born August 30 1954) is an Academy Award -nominated American Character actor, seen in such films as Quiz Show David Paul Scofield, CH, CBE ( 21 January 1922 &ndash 19 March 2008) was an English award-winning actor of stage Mark Isham (b September 7, 1951 in New York City) is an American Trumpeter synthesist, and Academy Award-nominated film Composer Michael Ballhaus, ASC (born 5 August 1935, Eichelsdorf, Lower Franconia, Bavaria, Germany) is a German Stu Linder ( November 8 1931 - January 12 2006) was an American Film editor with 25 credits Hollywood Pictures is one of The Walt Disney Company 's several alternate movie divisions Events 1400 - Owain Glyndŵr is declared Prince of Wales by his followers Year 1994 ( MCMXCIV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display full 1994 Gregorian calendar) English is a West Germanic language originating in England and is the First language for most people in the United Kingdom, the United States Year 1994 ( MCMXCIV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display full 1994 Gregorian calendar) Twenty One is an American Game show that aired in the late 1950s The American quiz show scandals of the 1950s were the result of the revelation that contestants of several popular Television Quiz shows were secretly It stars John Turturro, Rob Morrow, Ralph Fiennes, Paul Scofield, David Paymer, Hank Azaria, and Christopher McDonald. John Michael Turturro (born February 28, 1957) is an American Actor noted for his performances in To Live and Die in L Robert Alan Morrow (born September 21, 1962) is a Golden Globe -nominated American actor currently starring in the television series Ralph Nathaniel Twisleton-Wykeham-Fiennes ( "rafe fines" born 22 December 1962) is a British Actor. David Paul Scofield, CH, CBE ( 21 January 1922 &ndash 19 March 2008) was an English award-winning actor of stage David Paymer (born August 30 1954) is an Academy Award -nominated American Character actor, seen in such films as Quiz Show Hank Albert Azaria (born April 25 1964 is an American Film and Television Actor, director, Comedian and voice artist Christopher McDonald (born February 15 1955) is an American Actor. The film chronicles the rise and fall of the popular contestant Charles Van Doren (played by Fiennes) after the rigged loss of Herb Stempel (played by Turturro) to Van Doren and Congressional investigator Richard N. (Dick) Goodwin's probe of Twenty One's game fixing. Charles Lincoln Van Doren (born February 12, 1926) a noted American Intellectual, writer and editor who was involved in a television Herbert Milton Stempel (born December 19, 1926) is an American teacher who was famous for his celebrity as a Television Game show Richard N Goodwin (born December 7, 1931 in Boston Massachusetts) is an American writer who may be best known as an advisor and Speechwriter Goodwin, who also co-produced the film, is portrayed by Morrow. Mira Sorvino appears in the film as Goodwin's wife Sandra. Mira Katherine Sorvino (born September 28 1967 is an Academy Award -winning American actress
The movie was adapted by Paul Attanasio from Goodwin's book Remembering America. Paul Attanasio (born on November 14, 1959 in The Bronx, New York City) is an American Screenwriter and producer It was produced and directed by Robert Redford. Charles Robert Redford Jr (born August 18 1936) is an Academy Award -winning American Film director, Actor,
Contents |
Cast
| Actor | Role |
|---|---|
| Hank Azaria | Albert Freedman |
| Johann Carlo | Toby Stempel |
| Griffin Dunne | Account Guy |
| Ralph Fiennes | Charles Van Doren |
| Paul Guilfoyle | Lishman |
| Michael Mantell | Pennebaker |
| George Martin | Chairman |
| Christopher McDonald | Jack Barry |
| Rob Morrow | Dick Goodwin |
| David Paymer | Dan Enright |
| Allan Rich | Robert Kintner |
| Paul Scofield | Mark Van Doren |
| Martin Scorsese | Martin Rittenhome |
| Mira Sorvino | Sandra Goodwin |
| John Turturro | Herb Stempel |
| Elizabeth Wilson | Dorothy Van Doren |
Awards
Quiz Show was nominated for Academy Awards for Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Paul Scofield), Best Director, Best Picture and Best Adapted Screenplay Paul Attanasio. Hank Albert Azaria (born April 25 1964 is an American Film and Television Actor, director, Comedian and voice artist Johann Carlo (born 21 May 1957, Buffalo, New York) is an American Actress. Thomas Griffin Dunne (born June 8, 1955) is an American Actor and Film director. Ralph Nathaniel Twisleton-Wykeham-Fiennes ( "rafe fines" born 22 December 1962) is a British Actor. Paul Guilfoyle (born April 28, 1949) is an American Television and film Actor known for playing Captain Jim Brass Sir George Henry Martin CBE (3 January 1926 is a British record producer arranger and Composer. Christopher McDonald (born February 15 1955) is an American Actor. Robert Alan Morrow (born September 21, 1962) is a Golden Globe -nominated American actor currently starring in the television series David Paymer (born August 30 1954) is an Academy Award -nominated American Character actor, seen in such films as Quiz Show David Paul Scofield, CH, CBE ( 21 January 1922 &ndash 19 March 2008) was an English award-winning actor of stage Mira Katherine Sorvino (born September 28 1967 is an Academy Award -winning American actress John Michael Turturro (born February 28, 1957) is an American Actor noted for his performances in To Live and Die in L Elizabeth Welter Wilson (born April 4 1921) is an American Tony Award -winning actress. "The Oscar" redirects here for the film see The Oscar (film. Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role is one of the Academy Awards of Merit presented annually by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts The Academy Award for Achievement in Directing (Best Director is one of the Awards of Merit presented by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS to The Academy Award for Best Motion Picture is one of the Awards of Merit presented annually by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS to artists working The Academy Award for Writing Adapted Screenplay is one of the Academy Awards, the most prominent Film awards in the United States Paul Attanasio (born on November 14, 1959 in The Bronx, New York City) is an American Screenwriter and producer
Summary
The movie follows the events surrounding the Quiz show scandals of the 1950s, focusing on the intertwining stories of the three protagonists, clean-cut All-American intellectual Charles Van Doren (Ralph Fiennes), boisterous, unpolished ex-GI Herbert Stempel (John Turturro), and the idealistic Congressional lawyer assigned to investigate Twenty One, Dick Goodwin (Rob Morrow). The American quiz show scandals of the 1950s were the result of the revelation that contestants of several popular Television Quiz shows were secretly Charles Lincoln Van Doren (born February 12, 1926) a noted American Intellectual, writer and editor who was involved in a television Herbert Milton Stempel (born December 19, 1926) is an American teacher who was famous for his celebrity as a Television Game show Richard N Goodwin (born December 7, 1931 in Boston Massachusetts) is an American writer who may be best known as an advisor and Speechwriter
The film begins with lawyer Richard Goodwin admiring a brand new Chrysler, wondering aloud, even as the dealer highlights the various features of the luxury car, if the pursuit of money and material goods is what truly matters most in '50s America. The scene then switches to the premiere of a new episode of the game show Twenty One and follows the quiz questions as they are taken from a secure bank vault into the television studio. Studio producers Dan Enright (David Paymer) and Albert Freedman (Hank Azaria) watch from the control booth as host Jack Barry (Christopher McDonald) prepares for the show. Daniel "Dan" Enright ( August 30, 1917 &ndash May 22, 1992) was one of the most successful game show producers in American television Jack Barry can refer to Jack Barry (baseball (1887-1961 Jack Barry (television (1918-1984 television
The evening's main attraction is Queens resident Herbert Stempel, who, despite his less than flattering appearance, is the reigning Twenty One champion. As Stempel answers question after question, even after the producers order the air conditioning turned off in his enclosed booth and he begins to sweat profusely, word filters down from show sponsor Geritol all the way to Enright - Stempel is old news. The sponsor wants a new contestant.
Herb Stempel remains optimistic about his situation and returns home to find his neighborhood turned out to congratulate him. He remarks to his wife, Toby, that he might go on doing the show forever, earning them enough money to finally quit their dependency on Toby's overbearing mother. Enright and Freedman, meanwhile, search for a contestant to defeat Stempel, one who embodies the All-American image they've been looking for. They find their new champion in Columbia professor Charles Van Doren (Fiennes), son of renowned intellectual Mark Van Doren (Paul Scofield) and prize-winning novelist Dorothy Van Doren (Elizabeth Wilson). Mark Van Doren ( June 13, 1894 &ndash December 10, 1972) was an American Pulitzer Prize -winning poet and critic Dorothy Graffe ( May 2, 1896 - February 21, 1993) was an American novelist
Van Doren is American royalty, sophisticated and accomplished enough to provide the hero to Stempel's unwashed, egghead villain, and, despite trying out for a different quiz show, is talked into doing Twenty One. Enright and Freedman promise Van Doren he will advance the cause of American education, and offer to rig the show for him. The upright Van Doren refuses, believing the offer is part of a test. Enright treats Stempel to dinner at an upscale restaurant, where he breaks the news that, because of flagging ratings, Stempel must lose to Van Doren. Stempel immediately protests, and it is revealed that Enright provided him with the answers to the questions, although he agrees to play along after Enright promises he will be offered a spot on a panel show after his loss, provided he plays along.
The two contestants both perform admirably during the first few rounds in a montage of questions; however, late in the game, Stempel still leads 18-10. He then takes the category Movies, for three points, and it is at this point he is offered the question Enright ordered he take a fall on: "Which motion picture won the Academy Award for 1955?" Knowing the correct answer, Stempel wrestles with his conscience until finally, following through with the network plan, he answers incorrectly. Van Doren is then given a chance to win and is asked a question he previously answered while in Enright's offices, one the producers know he will get right. Van Doren also wrestles with his conscience until finally, overwhelmed by all that might lie ahead, he answers correctly. Van Doren is the new champion.
In the weeks that follow, Van Doren rises to national stardom. He appears on the covers of Life and Time, rises to the position of the most well-known professor at Columbia, and is even recognized by people on the street. He wins show after show, and his clean-cut image provokes a newfound interest in learning around the country. However, buckling under the pressure, he begins to let Enright and Freedman feed him the answers. Stempel sinks back into relative obscurity after blowing his sizable reward money on questionable business ventures and begins threatening legal action after Enright reneges on his previous offer of a spot on a panel show.
Enter Dick Goodwin, top of his class at Harvard Law, who travels to New York to investigate the possibility of rigged quiz shows. Visiting both Stempel and Van Doren, he holds a sneaking suspicion that Twenty One is not on the level; however Stempel is too volatile to use as a key witness and nobody else seems to corroborate his story. Goodwin also meets Van Doren, who treats him to a dinner at his parents' estate and invites him to his weekly poker game. The two become friends despite their differences (Goodwin is Jewish and, despite graduating from Harvard, comes from an unimposing background, while Van Doren is the privileged son of a wealthy family).
With the pressure finally getting to him, Van Doren deliberately loses to challenger Vivienne Nearing (much like Stempel, on a question he knew the answer to) but is offered a sizable contract from NBC to appear as a special correspondent on the Today show promoting culture around America. Twenty One is an American Game show that aired in the late 1950s He earns over $100,000 from the show. Goodwin, meanwhile, goes ahead with congressional hearings after meeting a former Twenty One contestant who, upon receiving the questions and answers, mailed them via registered post to himself before the show's taping. Goodwin amasses a large amount of evidence against Twenty One but, before he leaves, advises Van Doren to avoid making public statements supporting the show. If he does this, Goodwin promises, he will not be called to appear before the committee investigating the scandals.
The final part of the film deals with each of the three major characters wrestling with their consciences in the pursuit of justice. Stempel must deal with his hypocrisy, as he also benefited from receiving the quiz show answers, as well as his lies to his wife and son. Goodwin argues with his wife, Sandra (Mira Sorvino), over whether he has a responsibility to bring Van Doren to justice. Mira Katherine Sorvino (born September 28 1967 is an Academy Award -winning American actress Van Doren finds himself seduced by fame, signing a statement reaffirming his trust in the legality of the quiz shows upon the prompting of the network head (Allan Rich).
Goodwin is forced to call Van Doren in for questioning, who then admits his guilt to his father. Goodwin, seemingly on the verge of a victory against Geritol and the networks, realizes that Enright and Freedman will not implicate their bosses in the conspiracy, preferring a few years of persecution in the eyes of the American public to a lifetime of exile by corporate sponsors. Van Doren does admit his role in the conspiracy, and is told by reporters of both his firing from the Today show by NBC and the University's decision to ask for his resignation. The National Broadcasting Company ( NBC) is an American Television network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Stempel, vindicated at long last, finds himself berating the reporters who now harass Van Doren ("You never leave a guy alone unless you're leaving him alone!") while Goodwin remains stone-faced as he watches Enright and Freedman testify that their sponsors and NBC had no knowledge of the quiz show corruption.
The film is the first major picture based on the 1950s controversy that rocked American television and nearly led to the ruination of quiz-show producers Jack Barry (who was also Twenty One host and here played by McDonald) and Dan Enright (Paymer). Jack Barry (born Jack Barasch March 20, 1918, Lindenhurst New York; died May 2, 1984, New York City) was an Daniel "Dan" Enright ( August 30, 1917 &ndash May 22, 1992) was one of the most successful game show producers in American television Its attention to period detail include using New York exteriors to re-create 1950s scenes and using many New York and New Jersey indoor spaces to replicate the NBC studios and Washington governmental facilities of the times. Fordham University was used to replicate the 1950s Columbia University, where Van Doren taught English. Fordham University is a private University in the United States, with three campuses located in and around New York City. Columbia University is a private University in the United States and a member of the Ivy League.
Historical comparison
While the movie purports to portray real events, it has been widely criticized for taking liberties to create its own heroes and villains. The movie has investigator Goodwin starting his pursuit of Van Doren during the contestant's 1957 run on Twenty One, when in fact the Congressional investigation led by Goodwin came in the summer of 1959. Others have complained that it inflates Goodwin's role in the probe and underplays the initial investigation, led by prosecutor Joseph Stone from the office of New York County District Attorney Frank Hogan. Manhattan Island, in New York Harbor, is much the largest part of the Borough of Manhattan, one of the Five Boroughs which form the City of New York Frank Smithwick Hogan (Born on January 17, 1902 in Waterbury Connecticut - Died on April 2, 1974 in New York New York It was after Judge Mitchell Schweitzer sealed from public release the New York grand jury presentment of findings in the probe (in June 1959) that Congress launched its investigation.
The movie implies that NBC conveyed to Enright the desires of Twenty One sponsor Geritol that Stempel be replaced, with network president Bob Kintner (played by Allan Rich) telling Enright, "You're a producer, Dan. Geritol is a US trademarked name for various supplements past and present Robert Kintner ( September 12, 1909 &ndash December 3, 1980) was a journalist and television executive who oversaw the development of the Produce. " Neither Kintner nor NBC was ever implicated in the scandal, and in fact, NBC actually cancelled the show when it heard about the scandal, but Enright said before his death that Geritol's complaints about the lack of drama and suspense in the unrigged premiere episode prompted the company to rig the show.
Enright's business partner, co-producer and emcee Jack Barry, has never been implicated in rigging the show but covered up for Enright once he found out. Yet the movie has the Barry character slightly recoiling when a contestant, James Snodgrass, answers correctly instead of incorrectly. Additionally, Monty Hall was acting as host of the show at the time when the scandal broke, not Barry. Monty Halparin, OC (born August 25, 1921 in Winnipeg, Manitoba) better known by the Stage name Monty Hall (previously
The movie also fails to acknowledge the rigging practices of other quiz shows such as The $64,000 Question, Dotto, and Barry & Enright's own Tic Tac Dough.
Journalist Ken Auletta, in a 1994 article in The New Yorker, noted that at a screening of the film that summer, Redford admitted that, like most fact-based dramatizations, "dramatic license" was taken in making Quiz Show. Ken Auletta (born April 23 1942) is an American writer journalist and media critic for The New Yorker from Brooklyn New York The New Yorker is an American Magazine that publishes reportage commentary criticism essays fiction satire cartoons and poetry But Auletta also reported that Redford made no apologies for the liberties, saying he had tried "to elevate something so that people can see it. . . otherwise, you might as well have a documentary. " Redford noted there had already been a documentary on the scandal, referring to the Julian Krainin-produced work for a 1991 installment of the PBS series The American Experience. The Public Broadcasting Service ( PBS) is a Non-profit Public broadcasting Television service with 354 member TV stations in the American Experience (sometimes abbreviated AmEx) is a Television program airing on the PBS network in the United States (Krainin, like Goodwin, is a co-producer of Quiz Show. )
External links
- Quiz Show at the Internet Movie Database
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