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.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.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.
- Won 1 Oscar
- 3 wins & 1 nomination total
Quinn K. Redeker
- Rick Jenkin
- (as Quinn Redeker)
Christopher Pray
- David
- (as Chris Prey)
- Director
- Writer
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaScriptwriter Jeremy Larner used to write political speeches for 1968 presidential candidate Eugene McCarthy.
- GoofsWhen McKay has his first "press the flesh" event at the factory, the same woman with short blonde hair and a brown coat passes him walking out the gate twice.
- Quotes
[last lines]
Bill McKay: What do we do now?
- ConnectionsEdited into La classe américaine (1993)
Featured review
The timeless definitive campaign
This is a truly excellent and overlooked Redford vehicle, and his performance comes full circle. From wide-eyed idealism to resigned cynicism, all the way back to little-boy-lost and overwhelmed. Redford is flawless! Peter Boyle is right-on as the experienced campaign hand. Also it is easy to overlook Don Porter's effortless portrayal of the smooth and experienced incumbent senator, just on the verge of decline. Porter's seamless delivery makes it look easy.
Douglas is also excellent as John J. McKay, Redford's father and the former governor. Obviously a traditional machine politician, and apparently estranged from his activist son for that, and perhaps for other reasons we are left to imagine, Douglas revels in the younger man's initiation to the corrupt world of politics. Catch the hunting scene to illustrate how these two are poles apart.
An intelligent, realistic, and rewarding film about politics, done at a time when folks were perhaps looking for a political fairy tale.
Douglas is also excellent as John J. McKay, Redford's father and the former governor. Obviously a traditional machine politician, and apparently estranged from his activist son for that, and perhaps for other reasons we are left to imagine, Douglas revels in the younger man's initiation to the corrupt world of politics. Catch the hunting scene to illustrate how these two are poles apart.
An intelligent, realistic, and rewarding film about politics, done at a time when folks were perhaps looking for a political fairy tale.
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Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Official site
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- Also known as
- Bill McKay - Der Kandidat
- Filming locations
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Budget
- $1,500,000 (estimated)
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