All the King's Men (1949)

In the heartland of Kanoma County, an unpretentious farmer with a reputation of unwavering honesty, Willie Stark, emerges from obscurity. He's propelled onto the political stage when a curious newspaper reporter, Jack Burden, is dispatched to discover what makes this supposed honest man tick. As Stark valiantly battles local corruption, handing out leaflets while his son stands by his side, Jack becomes intrigued and enamored with the man's courage and authenticity. Despite his limited education, courtesy of his schoolteacher wife, Stark's grit leads him to law school and an idealistic career as an attorney. His principles and fight for justice catch the attention of the state's governor, who seeks to use Stark as a pawn to split the votes of his adversary. The power players gravely underestimate the farmer-turned-lawyer, while Jack, now Stark's steadfast supporter, overestimates his incorruptibility. As Stark ascends the political ladder, his once indefatigable ideals begin to wane under the intoxicating allure of power. The transformation from the noble underdog to the governor's office isn't without casualties - including his tough-talking aide, Sadie Burke; Jack's sophisticated fiancee, Anne Stanton; and even Jack himself, who becomes entangled in Stark's increasingly murky moral compass. All The King's Men paints a vivid tableau of ambition, power, and their potential to corrupt even the most virtuous souls. It's a tale of an idealistic everyman who rises to prominence, only to be ensnared by the very corruption he once sought to eradicate, with those closest to him caught in the aftermath of his fall from grace.

All the King's Men is a drama movie featuring Broderick Crawford.

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