Out In The Film Noir Night- Robert Penn Warren’s All The King’s Men

From The Pen Of Frank Jackman

All The King’s Men, Robert Penn Warren, twice adapted for the screen

I have seen both film versions of Robert Penn Warren’s classic tale of the rise and fall of a ‘populist’corrupted politician, Willie Stark, based at least loosely on the political career of 1930’s Louisiana Governor Huey Long. America has had no shortage of such politicians who have allegedly championed the cause of the ‘little people’in their rise to power while on the side lining their pockets and the pockets of their friends. The late Governor of Alabama, George Wallace, comes to mind as a more modern example but there have been others, some who did not bother to champion the cause of ‘little people’ or anyone else, for that matter.

The question before us, however, is who is the real Willie Stark. Since the story line is fairly simple and familiar from a glance at today’s newspapers or a look at the political landscape it is the believability of the performances in the films that counts here. Broderick Crawford played in the original black and white film version and won an Academy Award for his performance by acting as a initially naïve country bumpkin with a thirst for power to do ‘good’ who is corrupted by power as he goes about the business of governance. Seemingly, all his baser instincts come into play and there is an almost fatalistic sense that he is in for a big fall.

Sean Penn in the more recent version seems to be more world weary about the political process and cynical about what he can do for the ‘people’ and himself when in power. Of the two, Crawford just seems to be more comfortable in his interpretation of the role. Moreover, in the recent version the narrator’s story, that of a troubled alcoholic former news reporter hired by Stark as his smooth-tongued flak, takes top-billing and that diminishes Stark’s role in all the shenanigans. For my money, although Penn’s performance may appeal to today’s more politician-averse audience Crawford wins this duel. View both films and you decide.