/17lIF5K26H1IzfgJxFY3dImtfTd.jpg
Drama

The Best Man

- Does The Best Man Always Get To The White House?

The other party is in disarray. Five men vie for the party nomination for president. No one has a majority as the first ballot closes and the front-runners begin to decide how badly they want the job.

Release Date : 1964-04-05

Language :English

Adult : false

Status : Released

Production Company : United Artists

Production Country : United States of America

Alternative Titles : Gore Vidal's The Best Man

Cast

Henry Fonda

Character Name : William Russell

Original Name : Henry Fonda

Gender : Male

Cliff Robertson

Character Name : Joe Cantwell

Original Name : Cliff Robertson

Gender : Male

Edie Adams

Character Name : Mabel Cantwell

Original Name : Edie Adams

Gender : Female

Margaret Leighton

Character Name : Alice Russell

Original Name : Margaret Leighton

Gender : Female

Shelley Berman

Character Name : Sheldon Bascomb

Original Name : Shelley Berman

Gender : Male

Lee Tracy

Character Name : President Art Hockstader

Original Name : Lee Tracy

Gender : Male

Ann Sothern

Character Name : Sue Ellen Gamadge

Original Name : Ann Sothern

Gender : Female

Gene Raymond

Character Name : Don Cantwell

Original Name : Gene Raymond

Gender : Male

Kevin McCarthy

Character Name : Dick Jensen

Original Name : Kevin McCarthy

Gender : Male

Mahalia Jackson

Character Name : Mahalia Jackson

Original Name : Mahalia Jackson

Gender : Female

Howard K. Smith

Character Name : Howard K. Smith

Original Name : Howard K. Smith

Gender : Male

John Henry Faulk

Character Name : Gov. T.T. Claypoole

Original Name : John Henry Faulk

Gender : Male

Richard Arlen

Character Name : Sen. Oscar Anderson

Original Name : Richard Arlen

Gender : Male

Penny Singleton

Character Name : Mrs. Claypoole (scenes deleted)

Original Name : Penny Singleton

Gender : Female

George Kirgo

Character Name : Speechwriter

Original Name : George Kirgo

Gender : Male

George Furth

Character Name : Tom

Original Name : George Furth

Gender : Male

Anne Newman Bacal

Character Name : Janet (as Anne Newman)

Original Name : Anne Newman Bacal

Gender : Female

Mary Lawrence

Character Name : Mrs. Merwin

Original Name : Mary Lawrence

Gender : Female

H.E. West

Character Name : Sen. Lazarus

Original Name : H.E. West

Gender : Male

Michael MacDonald

Character Name : Zealot

Original Name : Michael MacDonald

Gender : Male

William R. Ebersol

Character Name : Gov. John Merwin

Original Name : William R. Ebersol

Gender : Male

Natalie Masters

Character Name : Mrs. Anderson

Original Name : Natalie Masters

Gender : Female

Marie Blake

Character Name : Cleaning Woman (as Blossom Rock)

Original Name : Marie Blake

Gender : Female

Bill Stout

Character Name : Bill Stout

Original Name : Bill Stout

Gender : Male

Tyler McVey

Character Name : Chairman

Original Name : Tyler McVey

Gender : Male

Sherwood Keith

Character Name : Doctor

Original Name : Sherwood Keith

Gender : Male

Leoda Richards

Character Name : Convention Attendee (uncredited)

Original Name : Leoda Richards

Gender : Female

Gore Vidal

Character Name : Delegate (uncredited)

Original Name : Gore Vidal

Gender : Male

John Alban

Character Name : Banquet Guest (uncredited)

Original Name : John Alban

Gender : Male

Fred Aldrich

Character Name : Delegate (uncredited)

Original Name : Fred Aldrich

Gender : Male

Leon Alton

Character Name : Russell Supporter (uncredited)

Original Name : Leon Alton

Gender : Male

Don Ames

Character Name : Supporter (uncredited)

Original Name : Don Ames

Gender : Male

David Armstrong

Character Name : Russell Campaign Worker (uncredited)

Original Name : David Armstrong

Gender : Male

Billy Beck

Character Name : Party Guest (uncredited)

Original Name : Billy Beck

Gender : Male

George Bruggeman

Character Name : Reporter (uncredited)

Original Name : George Bruggeman

Gender : Male

Donald Chaffin

Character Name : Supporter (uncredited)

Original Name : Donald Chaffin

Gender : Male

Dick Cherney

Character Name : Reporter (uncredited)

Original Name : Dick Cherney

Gender : Male

Noble 'Kid' Chissell

Character Name : Man at Pool (uncredited)

Original Name : Noble 'Kid' Chissell

Gender : Male

Rupert Crosse

Character Name : Reporter (uncredited)

Original Name : Rupert Crosse

Gender : Male

Jack Daly

Character Name : Photographer (uncredited)

Original Name : Jack Daly

Gender : Male

George DeNormand

Character Name : Cantwell Supporter (uncredited)

Original Name : George DeNormand

Gender : Male

Kenneth Gibson

Character Name : Reporter (uncredited)

Original Name : Kenneth Gibson

Gender : Male

Herschel Graham

Character Name : Campaign Worker (uncredited)

Original Name : Herschel Graham

Gender : Male

Sam Harris

Character Name : Cantwell Supporter (uncredited)

Original Name : Sam Harris

Gender : Male

Reviews

C

CinemaSerf

@Geronimo1967

2022-04-04

As the presidential nomination process comes to it's chaotic climax, the two leading candidates are deadlocked. The more principled "Russell" (Henry Fonda) and the more savvy "Cantwell" (Cliff Robertson) are trying to get the approval of the former president "Hockstader" (Lee Tracy) whilst the former tries to avoid the whole process becoming mired in personal issues (and back-stabbing). Like so many films that depict American political process, it presents a scenario in which it's rarely the best man who wins and the so-called "Land of the Free" proves anything but! Neither of these candidates really merit the job, it all just boils down to which is going to be prepared to scrape the bottom of the barrel and ruin the reputation of the other. Both Fonda and Robertson are on good form, but pale by comparison with the rather manipulative and scheming Tracy whom you could actually believe held high office once. The pace is good, there is plenty of intrigue and as the denouement looms, I was still never quite sure who was going to come out on top. I liked the ending, though I did feel it was just a little bit of a cop out. Almost as if Gore Vidal didn't really want to make a choice either! Nobody is all bad, nobody is all good - but is compromise always the best answer? It's good, this.