All The Kings Men

In a bravura performance, Broderick Crawford (Born Yesterday, Larceny Inc) won the 1949 Academy Award for Best Actor with his stunning portrayal of bullheaded backwoods lawyer Willie Stark in the powerful drama about political and personal corruption. A sombre but realistic chronicle of raw, brutal power and force, ALL THE KING'S MEN is based on Robert Penn Warren's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel of the same name. It was brought to the screen in 1949 by producer Robert Rossen, who also wrote the screenplay and directed the film. The story was inspired by the rise and fall of southern bigwig Huey Pierce Long the infamous 'Kingfish' who was Louisiana's governor and one-time senator. ALL THE KING'S MEN remains a hallmark political film with superb performances throughout. John Ireland (Spartacus, Red River) garnered a Best Supporting Actor Oscar nomination for his role as Stark's tortured right-hand man, while Mercedes McCambridge (Giant, Johny Guitar) won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress as Sadie Burke, Starke's callous, conniving political aide. In addition, the film won an Academy Award for Best Picture, along with nominations for Directing, Writing and Film Editing.

Best Picture Oscar Winner 1949.