All The Kings Men (story, great, plot)

[Dedalus]

I read the book back in 1979. I'd hesitate to recommend it. It is long, digressive, some would likely find it boring. I loved it, though. I was even in the South when I first read it - AL, not LA.

I recently saw both film versions. This last one, with Sean Penn as Willie Stark...it's excellent.

Far, far truer to the book than Robert Rossen's 1950's version. That one...more or less repeated the 'fascism in America...blah, blah, blah...' dogma that's repeated a lot by haters of Huey Long. The plot was altered to make Stark a degenerated drunken murderer, and provide a facile little fortune cookie moral.

The recent one...you see the demogoguery...but you also see the poverty and greed that brought it into being. It's also, like the book, morally ambigous.

My girlfriend thinks I read too much into things...but both are viewable as political propaganda. The 50's version...made by a formerly blacklisted director, a gambit to repel the left wing of the Democratic party. This last one...part of the run up to the next Presidential election. The Democrats are poised to retake the White House. And, I must say: I'm all for it.

Oops. I'm veering into politics...but, see the movie, it really is great.

[VillageLife]

I read this as a text book in high school. I thought it was very hard to understand,you really had to stay awake,I had to write a book report,my lord,it took me a long time to finish it!

[cremebrulee]

Sean Penn was extremely mesmeric…the entire cast was incredible….as far as political views…the movie did a stunning job of projecting the reality of man (man is his own worst enemy)…a do gooder, starts out by running for small town office owning good intentions…and unfortunately on his climb up the ladder, gets caught up in political corruption and the darkness of the human soul surfaces…it's an exceptional story of an idealist's worst nightmare and when analyzed, it's easy to see and question why man is driven by lust for power rather then goodness, and how he is swayed. To me, it was difficult to take my eyes off of Penn's performace, which I think will get him another nomination…to me and for me, this was deeply seeing life through the eyes of humanity…potent, touching, dominant, and a astute truth seeking movie….enjoyed the book as well.

I didn't view it as political propaganda…but more so, I read the struggles of humanity…and how man is so easily led astry in his stuggles to be accepted, be it popularity, or a run for any political party…

I also don't think you read to much into things…it's ok to venture deep into the heartland of man/humanity and ask why? That's how changes occur, and some, maybe for the good (wink)

Good thread…as you can see, I enjoyed the movie to….and you've got my passion for philosopy/ question juices running rampid…hehe

I always loved Anthony Hopkins, a very powerful and poignant actor, but Penn is equally hypnotizing...and I can literally equate both actors...WOW!

[Dedalus]

Originally Posted by dragonten

I read this as a text book in high school. I thought it was very hard to understand,you really had to stay awake,I had to write a book report,my lord,it took me a long time to finish it!

It is not a book that anybody should be made to read. It is also not something a high schooler is prepared to appreciate, at all.

I sure don't want to project some BS about how people ought to read the "great books". Some things that are called that, I've devoured. Some, I've been bored with and never managed to get past p 20.

[Dedalus]

Originally Posted by cremebrulee

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I didn't view it as political propaganda…but more so, I read the struggles of humanity…and how man is so easily led astry in his stuggles to be accepted, be it popularity, or a run for any political party…

I also don't think you read to much into things…it's ok to venture deep into the heartland of man/humanity and ask why? That's how changes occur, and some, maybe for the good (wink)

Good thread…as you can see, I enjoyed the movie to….and you've got my passion for philosopy/ question juices running rampid…hehe

I always loved Anthony Hopkins, a very powerful and poignant actor, but Penn is equally hypnotizing...and I can literally equate both actors...WOW!

.

When I say it is "political propaganda" I do not mean to dismiss it, or negate its message. All propaganda is: something that carries a message that the creator wants you to believe. In the case of the second film version, I see that aspect, but it's preaching to the converted...for me.

[Dedalus]

T. Harry Williams wrote a biography of him, that I read. I recommend it highly, if the Willie Stark story interests you.

Here's a true story: Long used to give this speech about how, on Sunday, he'd get up at 8 AM, hitch up the horse, and take his Catholic grandparents to Mass. Then, at 10 AM, he'd hitch up the horse, and take his Baptist grandparents to church.

After one of these speeches, one of his friends says to him, Huey, I didn't know you had any Catholic grandparents!

Long says: "Don't be a damn fool - we didn't even have a horse!"

[cremebrulee]

Originally Posted by Dedalus

T. Harry Williams wrote a biography of him, that I read. I recommend it highly, if the Willie Stark story interests you.

Here's a true story: Long used to give this speech about how, on Sunday, he'd get up at 8 AM, hitch up the horse, and take his Catholic grandparents to Mass. Then, at 10 AM, he'd hitch up the horse, and take his Baptist grandparents to church.

After one of these speeches, one of his friends says to him, Huey, I didn't know you had any Catholic grandparents!

Long says: "Don't be a damn fool - we didn't even have a horse!"

LOL, enjoyed