IMDb > The Candidate (1972)
The Candidate
Quicklinks
Top Links
trailers and videosfull cast and crewtriviaofficial sitesmemorable quotes
Overview
main detailscombined detailsfull cast and crewcompany creditstv schedule
Awards & Reviews
user commentsexternal reviewsnewsgroup reviewsawardsuser ratingsparents guiderecommendationsmessage board
Plot & Quotes
plot summarysynopsisplot keywordsAmazon.com summarymemorable quotes
Fun Stuff
triviagoofssoundtrack listingcrazy creditsalternate versionsmovie connectionsFAQ
Other Info
merchandising linksbox office/businessrelease datesfilming locationstechnical specslaserdisc detailsDVD detailsliterature listingsNewsDesk
Promotional
taglines trailers and videos posters photo gallery
External Links
showtimesofficial sitesmiscellaneousphotographssound clipsvideo clips

The Candidate (1972) More at IMDbPro »

Videos (see all 2)
The Candidate (1972) -- Bill McKay is a candidate for the U.S. Senate from California. He has no hope of winning, so he is willing to tweak the establishment.
The Candidate (1972) -- Bill McKay is a candidate for the U.S. Senate from California. He has no hope of winning, so he is willing to tweak the establishment.

IMDb Holiday Movie Guide

Overview

User Rating:
7.1/10   3,396 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Up 1% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Writer:
Jeremy Larner (writer)
Contact:
View company contact information for The Candidate on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
23 August 1972 (France) more
Genre:
Tagline:
Too Handsome. Too Young. Too Liberal. Doesn't have a chance. He's PERFECT! more
Plot:
Bill McKay is a candidate for the U.S. Senate from California. He has no hope of winning, so he is willing to tweak the establishment. full summary | add synopsis
Awards:
Won Oscar. Another 1 win & 1 nomination more
NewsDesk:
(8 articles)
DVD: Review:Downhill Racer
 (From The AV Club. 17 November 2009, 10:01 PM, PST)

Top Ten Movies About U.S. Politics
 (From CinemaSpy. 3 November 2009, 9:45 PM, PST)

User Comments:
Like they say, it's all about politics. more (48 total)

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Robert Redford ... Bill McKay

Peter Boyle ... Marvin Lucas

Melvyn Douglas ... John J. McKay
Don Porter ... Senator Crocker Jarmon
Allen Garfield ... Klein
Karen Carlson ... Nancy McKay
Quinn K. Redeker ... Rick Jenkin (as Quinn Redeker)
Morgan Upton ... Wally Henderson

Michael Lerner ... Paul Corliss
Kenneth Tobey ... Floyd J. Starkey
Chris Prey ... David
Joe Miksak ... Neil Atkinson
Jenny Sullivan ... Lynn
Tom Dahlgren ... Pilot
Gerald Hiken ... Station Manager
more
Create a character page for: ?

Additional Details

Also Known As:
El candidato (Spain) (Venezuela) [es]
O Candidato (Brazil) (Portugal) [pt]
A jelölt (Hungary) [hu]
Bill McKay - Der Kandidat (West Germany) [de]
Bill McKay - utmanaren (Sweden) [sv]
Il candidato (Italy) [it]
Kandydat (Poland) [pl]
Maktspel (Finland: Swedish title) [sv]
O ypopsifios (Greece) [el]
Stem på McKay (Denmark) [da]
Valtapeli (Finland) [fi]
Votez Mc Kay (France) [fr]
Votez McKay (Canada: French title) [fr]
more
Runtime:
110 min
Country:
Language:
Color:
Color (Technicolor)
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Certification:
Brazil:14 | Canada:PG (Ontario) | UK:A (1972) | UK:PG (1988) | West Germany:12 | Finland:K-3 (new rating: 2001) | Spain:T (video rating) | Finland:S | Spain:13 | Sweden:Btl | USA:PG | Australia:PG

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
Shot in 41 days. more
Goofs:
Continuity: The red convertible driven by Marvin Lucas (Peter Boyle) has three different license plates during the opening credits: "677 EIY", "185 ENV", and "772 DYD". All are from the 1972 era in California. more
Quotes:
Dinner MC: [Introducing McKay to fund-raiser dinner audience] Seriously folks, you better watch your step when he comes out here because he's a man who shoots from the hip and a man who's hip when he shoots. Join me in welcoming Bill McKay! more
Movie Connections:
Referenced in Abby Singer (2003) more

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
12 out of 13 people found the following comment useful.
Like they say, it's all about politics., 5 December 2005
10/10
Author: Lee Eisenberg (eisenberg.lee@gmail.com) from Portland, Oregon, USA

Robert Redford plays idealistic senate candidate Bill McKay. He's mainly running to bring certain political issues into the open, although he never actually plans to win. But as time goes by, he realizes that whether or not he wins, he might not be able to hold on to his values.

"The Candidate" is one of the many great movies about the world of politics. It holds up as well today as it did in 1972 (maybe even better). Redford gives a solid performance, as does Peter Boyle as campaign manager Marvin Lucas. One of the most insightful scenes is the debate between McKay and his opponent about the issues. A great movie in every way. Look for appearances by Natalie Wood, Groucho Marx, and Howard K. Smith.

Was the above comment useful to you?
more (48 total)

Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for The Candidate (1972)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
From a reliable source BIG NEWS PLEASE READ bruce20207
Male Interns f-mattox
VHS-style video tapes back in 1971? cryptical70
Does McKay have an affair? the_ccramaster1
Sequel? robertb-4
Groucho Marx karmacoupe
more

Recommendations

If you enjoyed this title, our database also recommends:
- - - - -
Primary Colors Man of the Year Bulworth Choose Connor Head of State
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
Show more recommendations

Related Links

Full cast and crew Company credits External reviews
News articles IMDb Drama section IMDb USA section
Add this title to MyMovies

You may report errors and omissions on this page to the IMDb database managers. They will be examined and if approved will be included in a future update. Clicking the 'Update' button will take you through a step-by-step process.