Overview
See production notesReporter Jack Burden is sent on assignment to write about Willie Stark, running for county treasurer in an unnamed Southern state. Stark campaigns against the corruption of local politicians. Burden meets Stark and his family and writes an inspiring story on Stark's honesty and courage. Using their power, including sway over the police, the local political machine shuts out Stark. After his loss, Stark earns a law degree. When a shoddily-constructed school in his county experiences a structural collapse that kills 12 students during a fire drill, voters regret not voting for Stark. He wins a lawsuit against the county, leading to a statewide investigation. Stark uses this to build political momentum and is eventually drafted as a necessary spoiler candidate for Governor. Stark embarks on the campaign trail with Burden and Sadie Burke, installed as a mole by the frontrunner. Initially, Stark speaks obtusely and plainly about a balanced budget plan for the state, and his campaign falters. But after Sadie reveals the truth of his candidacy, Stark gives impassioned speeches. Burden continues reporting on the campaign, but resigns after being ordered not to write positively about Stark. Ultimately, Stark loses, but draws large grassroots support from the rural areas of the state as he identifies as one of them – a fooled "hick." Over the next four years, Stark campaigns, and makes backroom deals to gain influence and campaign funds. Meanwhile, Burden has a tough time finding a job until Stark hires him to do opposition research. Stark and Burden go back to Burden's home to convince Burden's friends and family to support Stark. Skeptical of his alleged deals and big promises, Adam, brother of Burden's girlfriend, Anne Stanton, asks questions and is unconvinced. However, sensing his demagogic magnetism, Anne believes in Stark. Stark promises a free hand as State Attorney General to Anne's uncle, the honest Judge Stanton, and promises to put Adam in charge of a new hospital. Stark wins in a landslide and is portrayed in newsreels as either a messiah or a dictator. During his time as Governor, Stark wields power in aggressive and corrupt ways as Burden develops a black book of biographical leverage to extract political favors and votes in support of Stark's agenda. Stark covers up a scandal by a member of his administration, after which Judge Stanton resigns as Attorney General and publicly asserts Stark's corruption. Stark's loss of morals, and alienation from his former self, is exacerbated as he philanders with women, including Anne and Sadie. Feeling the pressure of his father's status, Stark's adopted college-aged son Tommy copes by drinking. Following a football practice where Stark berates Tommy for drinking, Tommy gets drunk and crashes his car, injuring himself and killing his female passenger. To combat the bad press, Stark pressures Tommy into a game despite him not being fully recovered. During the game, Tommy takes a rough hit, is severely injured, and rushed to hospital. Stark, blaming himself for Tommy's injury, initially demands a specialist, but owing to the pressure of time, has no choice but for Adam to operate. As Adam warned beforehand, Tommy ends up a paraplegic. Burden gives Anne evidence of Judge Stanton's possible past wrongdoing that Burden has buried out of respect for the judge. Stark begins his re-election campaign by visiting his estranged family. While there, Judge Stanton publicly blames Stark for the suspicious death of the father of the girl in Tommy's car accident after the father refused Stark's bribe to make it go away. Stark is impeached, while the judge controls how certain senators will vote at the trial. Stark issues orders to "turn the yokels out" to demonstrate on his behalf and it is expected that he will use the state militia to remain in power. Stark visits Judge Stanton in an attempt to strongarm him into releasing his senators with Burden's evidence, which was given him by Anne. Judge Stanton commits suicide and the impeachment ends with Stark's acquittal. At Stark's public celebration, distraught over the pressure put on Judge Stanton, Adam shoots Stark, in the belief that the only reason he was appointed hospital director was because his sister was Willie Stark's mistress. Having lost all respect for Stark, Burden tries to persuade Anne to help him destroy Stark's reputation. Stark dies on the steps of the capitol bemoaning his lost opportunity for the presidency and wondering why this had to happen to him.
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- United States
- Original language
- English
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Quotes
See all quotesJack: Anne, Burden's Landing is a place on the moon. It isn't real. It doesn't exist. It's me, pretending I live on what I earn. It's my mother, trying to keep herself young and drinking herself old doing it. She and Adam living in this house as though your father was still alive. It's an old man like the judge, dreaming of the past. Anne, come away with me. Anne: And do what? Jack: Live in a shack and eat red beans. Anne, what do you want me to do? Anne: Oh Jack, you haven't been sure. You've gone from one thing to the other. A year at law school and now this job as a reporter. Jack: Are you afraid I can't make a living? Anne: Oh no Jack, it isn't that. I don't care about the money. It's just that I, I want you to be something. Jack: What is it you want me to be? Anne: I don't know. It's just that I want you to be, to do something important. Jack: [sarcastically turning toward the portrait] Like your father? All right, I'll run for governor. Anne, I'm sorry, I'm sorry I said that. Ann
All the King's Men (1949 film), CC BY-SA 4.0
Jack: You don't have to be smart to frame a guy like Willie Stark. Sadie: No, no brother, you don't. Jack: It is a frame, isn't it?...To split the vote and win the election for Harrison, huh? Sadie: You know, why do ya ask? Jack: I just want to make sure. Look, why don't you tell the boys to save their money? Willie couldn't steal a vote from Abe Lincoln in the cradle of the Confederacy. Sadie: I wish the poor ...had enough sense to have somebody give him a good reason for the beating he's going to get. 'Cause this way, all he gets out of it is the ride. Hey, those speeches, ain't they awful? Ain't they just plain awful? Question to you: If somebody told him he was a sucker, do you think he'd quit? Jack: I don't know, Sadie. I really don't know.
All the King's Men (1949 film), CC BY-SA 4.0
Jack: I learned something from him [Willie]. You can't make an omelet without cracking eggs. Adam: Or heads? Anne: But at least a hospital will be built and the sick will be cared for. Adam: At what price? Jack: At any price. Adam: Do you really believe that, Jack? Jack: I really believe that Stark wants to do good. You do too. It's a matter of method. Many times, out of evil comes good. Pain is evil. As a doctor, you should know that. Adam: Pain is an evil. It is not evil. It is not evil in itself. Stark is evil. Jack: The people of this state don't think so. Adam: How would they know? The first thing Stark did was to take over the newspapers and the radio stations. Why be so afraid of criticism? If Stark is interested in doing good, he should also be interested in the truth. I don't see how you can separate the two. No, Stark is not for me. Anne: No, Stark is not for you. Well, what's for you? Pride, pride, that's all it is, foolish, stupid pride. All you've ever talked about is what
All the King's Men (1949 film), CC BY-SA 4.0
Jack: Why did you do it? Anne: He wasn't like anybody I ever knew before. Jack: You mean he wasn't like me. Anne: He wasn't like anybody I ever knew before. I love him, I guess. I guess that's the reason. Jack: Everybody loves him. Anne: He wants to marry me. Jack: Are you going to? Anne: Not now, it would hurt him. Divorce would hurt his career. Jack: His career! Anne: Jack, Jack, what are you going to do? You can't leave him now. He needs you now more than he ever did before. Jack: What Willie needs, Willie's got. Anne: You don't know him. You've known him all these years and you don't really know him at all. Jack: What about Adam? Anne: Adam? Jack: Well, you don't have to worry about him. If Adam finds out, it'll be easy to prove a Stanton is no different than anyone else. Just show him these. [He hands her evidence he uncovered about her uncle] Willie was right. Man is conceived in sin and born in corruption, even Judge Stanton. Show them to him, Anne. Change the picture of the wor
All the King's Men (1949 film), CC BY-SA 4.0
Tom: Now he needs us, now that he's in trouble, he needs us so he can lead us around like monkeys with rings in our nose so he can say to people, 'Look at me, feel sorry for me. Just a family man with a wife and a crippled son.' Willie: Shut up! Lucy: Willie! Tom: Why don't you leave us alone?.. Willie: How many scrapes have I gotten him out of? How many girls? Lucy: Willie, stop! Willie: It's not him they're after, it's me. How many half-witted apes do you think I'm gonna have to pay to square this one? What do you think this is gonna cost me? Lucy: What do you think it cost him? Willie: A man builds for his son, that's all he builds for. Lucy: Willie. [Willie takes a swig from a bourbon bottle handed to him by Jack.]
All the King's Men (1949 film), CC BY-SA 4.0
Anne: I tried to explain to him [Adam] that it wasn't the way he thought it was. Jack: How was it, Anne? You tell me. Anne: He hit me, Jack. My own brother, he hit me. Jack: Your brother's an old-fashioned man. He believes in his sister's honor. Me, I'm a modern man, the 20th-century type, I run. Anne: I'm frightened, Jack. Jack: For who, your brother or Willie? Anne: We're through. Jack: Who's through with who? Anne: He called me this afternoon. He's going back to Lucy. He said it was better this way. Jack: Better for who, him? Anne: Both of us. Jack: Did he tell you that too when he asked you to betray the judge? At least I walked out on him. Anne: Oh Jack, help me, please! Please! Adam's all I've got left now. Oh Jack, if you ever loved me. Jack: If I ever loved you? I'll go find Adam.
All the King's Men (1949 film), CC BY-SA 4.0
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