| Quiz Show | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Robert Redford |
| Screenplay by | Paul Attanasio |
| Based on | Remembering America byRichard Goodwin |
| Produced by | Robert Redford Michael Jacobs Julian Krainin Michael Nozik |
| Starring | |
| Cinematography | Michael Ballhaus |
| Edited by | Stu Linder |
| Music by | Mark Isham |
Production companies | |
| Distributed by | Buena Vista Pictures Distribution |
Release date |
|
Running time | 133 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $31 million[2] |
| Box office | $52.2 million |
Quiz Show is a 1994 Americanhistoricalmystery-drama film[3][4] directed and produced byRobert Redford. Dramatizing theTwenty-Onequiz show scandals of the 1950s, the screenplay byPaul Attanasio[5] adapts the memoirs ofRichard N. Goodwin, a U.S. Congressional lawyer who investigated the accusations of game-fixing by show producers.[6] The film chronicles the rise and fall of popular contestantCharles Van Doren after the fixed loss ofHerb Stempel and Goodwin's subsequent probe.
The film starsJohn Turturro as Stempel,Rob Morrow as Goodwin, andRalph Fiennes as Charles Van Doren.Paul Scofield,David Paymer,Hank Azaria,Martin Scorsese,Mira Sorvino, andChristopher McDonald play supporting roles.[5][7][8] The real Goodwin and Stempel served as technical advisors to the production.
The film received generally positive reviews and was nominated for several awards, including aBest Picture Oscar nomination (among three others) and severalGolden Globe Awards. It grossed $52.2 million against a $31 million budget.
In 1958, the questions and answers to be used for the latest broadcast ofNBC's popular quiz showTwenty-One are transported from a secure bank vault to the studio. The evening's main attraction isQueens residentHerb Stempel, the reigning champion, who correctly answers every single question he is asked. Eventually, both the network and the program's corporate sponsor, the supplementary tonicGeritol, begin to fear that Stempel's approval ratings are beginning to level out, and decide that the show would benefit from new talent.
ProducersDan Enright andAlbert Freedman are surprised whenColumbia University instructorCharles Van Doren, son of a prominent literary family, visits their office to audition for a different, less difficult show by the same producers,Tic-Tac-Dough. Realizing that they have found an ideal challenger for Stempel, they offer to ask the same questions during the show which Van Doren correctly answered during his audition. He refuses, but when he nears a game-winning 21 points on the show, he is asked one of the questions from his audition. After a moment of moral indecision, he gives the correct answer. Stempel deliberately misses an easy question and loses, having been promised a future in television if he does so.
In the subsequent weeks, Van Doren's winning streak makes him a national celebrity, but he reluctantly buckles under the pressure and allows Enright and Freedman to start giving him the answers. Meanwhile, Stempel, having lost his prize money to an unscrupulousbookie, begins threatening legal action against NBC after weeks pass without his return to television. He visitsNew York CountyDistrict AttorneyFrank Hogan, who convenes agrand jury to look into his allegations.
Richard Goodwin, a youngCongressional lawyer, learns that the grand jury findings have been sealed and travels to New York City to investigate rumors of rigged quiz shows. Visiting a number of contestants, including Stempel and Van Doren, he begins to suspect thatTwenty-One is a fixed operation. Stempel's volatile personality damages his credibility, and nobody else seems willing to confirm that the show is fixed. Fearing Goodwin will give up the investigation, Stempel confesses that he was fed the correct answers during his run on the show, and insists that Van Doren must have been involved as well. Another former contestant gives Goodwin a set of answers that he mailed to himself two days before his quiz show appearance, which Goodwin takes to be corroborating evidence.
A guilt-ridden Van Doren deliberately loses, but NBC offers him a lucrative contract to appear as a special correspondent on the morningToday show. TheHouse Subcommittee on Legislative Oversight convenes a hearing, at which Goodwin presents his evidence of the quiz show's corruption. Stempel testifies at the hearing but fails to convince the committee, and both NBC network headRobert Kintner and Geritol executive Martin Rittenhome deny any knowledge ofTwenty-One being rigged.Subpoenaed by Goodwin, Van Doren testifies before the committee and admits his role in the deception. After the hearing adjourns, he learns from reporters that he has been fired fromToday and that Columbia'sboard of trustees will be asking for his resignation.
Goodwin believes that he is close to a victory against Geritol and NBC, but realizes that Enright and Freedman will not jeopardize their own futures in television by turning against their bosses. He silently watches the producers' testimony, vindicating the sponsors and the network from any wrongdoing, and taking full responsibility for rigging the show. Disgusted, he steps outside and sees Van Doren, who exchanges a glance with him before getting into a taxi.
Although much ofQuiz Show is generally accurate based on the actual events,[9][10] its use ofartistic license generated controversy and criticism (especially in regard to character changes) by critics and real-life figures involved with the scandal.[11]
The artistic licenses included compressing three years of scandal into one,[12] changing the location of Van Doren's first meeting with Goodwin, altering the start time of Goodwin's investigation, and making Van Doren's choice to incorrectly answer a question his own instead of that of NBC.[9]
The fateful episode in which Van Doren defeated Stempel is inaccurately portrayed. In the film, Stempel's intentionally incorrect response aboutMarty is in response to a three-point question with the score 18–10 in his favor. In reality, the question was worth five points and the score was 16–10. The film also presents this as the deciding moment of the game, with Van Doren correctly answering the next question about theCivil War to win. Van Doren's next question was actually aboutPizarro'sconquest of the Incas, and Stempel correctly replied to his next question about the voyages ofChristopher Columbus. This forced a 21–21 tie and a new game to determine the winner. The incorrect answer that doomed Stempel occurred in the second game in response to a question about newspapermanWilliam Allen White. Both Van Doren and Stempel then correctly answered a question about thewives of King Henry VIII, and the game ended when Van Doren elected to stop, winning by a score of 18–10.[13]
The film's magnification of the role thatTwenty-One and its producer Albert Freedman played in the scandal was criticized by Jeff Kisslehoff, who wroteThe Box: An Oral History of Television, 1920-1961, as well as Freedman himself. Kisslehoff argued that the dishonest practice originated in the radio era when players were overtly coached.[3] Goodwin's role in the investigation was less important than as portrayed in the film; he only became involved two years afterTwenty-One ended syndication, and a collection of information was handled by publications and assistant district attorneys in New York City.[3] Joe Stone, a congressional committee consultant who investigated the scandal for four years, was angered about the screenplay's spotlight on Goodwin and the fact that Goodwin accepted most of the credit for uncovering the scandal when the film was released. Goodwin's wifeDoris Kearns Goodwin apologized to Stone about the film.[3]
Other dramatic liberties involved simplifications, such as the character of Van Doren, who is a "shallow icon" devoid of the ambiguities of the actual Van Doren, theChicago Reader analyzed.[14] In a July 2008 edition ofThe New Yorker, Van Doren wrote about the events depicted in the film. He agreed with many of the details but wrote that his girlfriend at the time of hisTwenty-One appearances was not depicted in the film. He also noted that he continued teaching after the scandal, contradicting the film's epilogue that states that he never returned to academia.[15]
For legal reasons, the name of Matthew Rosenhaus, CEO of the company that ownedGeritol, was changed to Martin Rittenhome, and his personality reflected that ofCharles Revson, who was the president of cosmetics brandRevlon that had sponsored another quiz show involved in the scandal,The $64,000 Question (1955–1958).[16]
When Robert Redford first sawTwenty-One in the late 1950s, he was in his early 20s taking art and acting classes in New York.[17] He recalled when he first saw Van Doren on the show, "Watching him and the other contestants was irresistible. The actor in me looked at the show and felt I was watching other actors. It was too much to believe, but at the same time, I never doubted the show. I hadn't had evidence television could trick us. But the merchant mentality was already taking hold, and as we know now, there's little morality there."[18] Redford described the scandal as "really the first in a series of scandals . . . that have left us numbed, unsure of what or who to believe."[17]
A 1992 documentary on the scandal produced byJulian Krainin as an installment of thePBS seriesAmerican Experience predated the film.[12]
Quiz Show is based on a chapter of the bookRemembering America: A Voice from the Sixties (1988) byRichard N. Goodwin,[17] who also was one of the film's many producers.[19]Paul Attanasio began writing the screenplay in 1990, joining immediately for the subject matter's "complex ironies," such as with its main characters.[20] Completing many drafts over the course of three years, Attanasio wrote the script by watching clips ofTwenty-One, reading old articles about the scandal, learning about the 1950s television landscape at theMuseum of Broadcasting and meeting with Goodwin.[19][21] Redford researched the topic by readingDan Wakefield's bookNew York in the Fifties and brought Wakefield to the film set as an advisor who also was given a cameo appearance.[22] Redford had known Goodwin since appearing inThe Candidate (1972), and he helped Attanasio integrate Goodwin's personality into the script.[23]
Because the story lacked aprotagonist, Attanasio employed "shifting points of view" while maintaining athrough line, which complicated the writing of the screenplay.[24] In depicting the themes of ethnic conflict betweenWhite Anglo-Saxon Protestants and Jewish characters, Attanasio borrowed from his experiences as a member of anItalian-American family. His relatives were outraged by the stereotypical depiction of Italians as loudmouth gangsters in the media.[19] He also integrated the duplicitous personalities of those with whom he had worked in the film industry in order to incorporate themes of disillusion.[19]
Redford first read a rough draft after completing production ofA River Runs Through It (1992), "looking for something edgier, faster-paced, urban, where I could move the camera more."[17]Barry Levinson's Baltimore Pictures andTriStar Pictures began development of a film project based on the quiz-show scandal, which proved difficult to sell because of its uncommercial style and subject matter. TriStar placed it inturnaround in September 1992, and it was then moved toWalt Disney Studios, which invested $20 million into the budget and launched the project into production through itsHollywood Pictures label in Spring 1993 after Redford agreed to direct.[18] Although Disney offered Charles Van Doren $100,000 to act as a consultant, he declined.[25]
Casting took place in New York in May 1993.[26] Redford originally planned for an American actor to play Van Doren, but after auditioning several actors such asWilliam Baldwin,[26] he failed to find the "combination of elements" required for the character and awarded the part to British actorRalph Fiennes.[17] To prepare for the role, Fiennes viewed clips of Van Doren onTwenty-One and televised interviews with him, and he also visited Van Doren'sCornwall, Connecticut home.[18] In early 1994, before production began, Fiennes drove to Van Doren's home and, finding the owner reading on his front porch, posed as a lost motorist. Fiennes later cited the experience as crucial for nailing down Van Doren's distinctivetransatlantic accent.[27]Paul Newman was initially considered for the role of Mark Van Doren, but he declined.[17] In May 1993,Chris O'Donnell was reported to be talking with Redford about appearing in the film, but he was not cast.[28]
Turturro found it easy to assume the Stempel's character, but he gained 25 pounds for the role and altered his voice to mimic Stempel's.[29] After his initial success inNorthern Exposure (1990–1995),Rob Morrow was offered several film roles but rejected them until he accepted the offer forQuiz Show: "I knew this was the one. It had the cachet of Bob Redford and was incredibly well-written." In getting the idea of the character of Goodwin, Morrow read four of his books.[30]
Levinson was originally attached to the project as director, but because of his commitment to the filmBugsy (1991), the job went to Redford.[31] However, Levinson was then cast by Redford for the part ofDave Garroway, as Redford liked his "easygoing, casual manner" and interest in 1950s culture.[16] For the scene involvingJ. Fred Muggs, a chimpanzee "unnerved by the lights and cameras" was found, as no animals trained for film production were available.[16]Martin Scorsese was cast by Redford for his physical features as well as for "his own personal style and delivery, so I found it interesting to have him play a tough character gently. And given his delivery style, in which he talks real fast, I thought it would make the character extremely menacing."[16]
Quiz Show has been categorized as aFaustian tale[32] about the loss of innocence (both for its three main characters and the entire country),[19] temptation with money,[33]moral ambiguity,[10] positive guises hiding negative actions,[10] thecult of celebrity,[33] the negative side effects of fame,[33] the power and corruption of big business and mass media,[33][34] the consequences of overcompetitiveness in business,[35]racial,ethnic andclass conflict[7][14][36] and the discord betweeneducation and entertainment.[33] Attanasio, Redford and many film critics consideredQuiz Show's subject matter essential, as it marked the beginning of the country's loss of innocence and faith in its trusted institutions that was exacerbated by events such as theVietnam War and theWatergate scandal.[19][29][32][37][38]
Reviews fromTV Guide andNewsweek noted that in the era of the film's release, scandals and culturally unacceptable behaviors were more expected and less shocking to the American public than they had been in the 1950s.[7][39]Newsweek wrote: "Neck high in '90s cynicism, it's hard to believe the tremors these scandals provoked. [...] In the '50s,Ingrid Bergman was blacklisted from Hollywood for having a baby out of wedlock. Today,Oliver North makes hash of the Constitution and it jump-starts his political career. What used to ruin your life gets you invited on 'Oprah' and a fat book deal. Shame is for losers; public confession and a 12-step program can turn you into a role model."[7]
Quiz Show was released in September 1994. although some reports from late 1993 indicated that the film was planned to be distributed in the first half of 1994.[40]
WithQuiz Show, Disney launched aplatform-release strategy geared to generate interest in and publicity for the film by releasing it in a limited number of theaters before opening wider.The Shawshank Redemption, released around the same time, was distributed in a similar manner, but as withQuiz Show, it was a box-office failure.[41]
Quiz Show opened in New York on September 14, 1994, and expanded to 27 screens for the weekend, grossing $757,714, the fifth-highest-grossing opening weekend for a film showing on fewer than 50 screens.[1][42] It grossed $792,366 in its first five days.[43] The film gradually expanded over the next four weeks to a maximum of 822 screens and grossed a total of $24,822,619 in the U.S. and Canada.[44] In the U.S., the film's box-office performance began to fall even after its four Academy Award nominations, dropping 63% in weekly grosses for the week of March 12, 1995.[45]
Following its theatrical run,Quiz Show ran at international festivals, such as the1995Berlin International Film Festival[46] and the Chinese edition of theSundance Film Festival, which ran from October 5 to 12, 1995.[47] Five weeks prior to the Berlin festival, Redford informed Disney that he would not attend because of his work inUp Close & Personal (1996) and commitment to the Sundance festival. However, according to festival directorMoritz de Hadeln, the festival had agreed to promoteQuiz Show only if Redford had attended. His failure to attend eroded his relationship with Disney and other film-festival organizers, and it negatively impacted promotion for the film's international release.[48]
In countries such as Germany and France,Quiz Show generally performed far better in big cities than in smaller towns and attracted more female viewers than male. In Italy, despite much press and interest in the film, it was not a commercial success. The film performed well in Spain, where it grossed $368,000 within six days during a 31-screen run.[49] The film grossed an international total of $1.4 million by February 12, 1995.[50] It finally grossed $27.4 million internationally, for a worldwide total of $52.2 million.[51][52]
Quiz Show currently holds a 97% rating onRotten Tomatoes based on 117 reviews, with an average rating of 8.4/10. The site's consensus states: "Directed with sly refinement by Robert Redford and given pizazz by a slew of superb performances,Quiz Show intelligently interrogates the erosion of public standards without settling on tidy answers."[53] OnMetacritic holds a rating of 92, based on 27 reviews.[54]
Film criticRoger Ebert awarded the film three and a half stars out of four, calling the screenplay "smart, subtle and ruthless."[55] Web criticJames Berardinelli praised the "superb performances by Fiennes" and wrote that "John Turturro is exceptional as the uncharismatic Herbie Stempel."[56] Writing forEntertainment Weekly,Owen Gleiberman highlighted the supporting performance of Paul Scofield as Mark Van Doren, stating that "it's in the relationship between the two Van Dorens thatQuiz Show finds its soul."[57]Kenneth Turan called Scofield's performance his best sinceA Man for All Seasons (1966) and suggested that the film "would have been a very different experience" without Fiennes' "ability to project the pain behind a well-mannered facade, to turn intellectual and emotional agony into a real and living thing",[10] but also criticized Turturro's and Morrow's exaggerated performances.[10]
Charles Van Doren said: "I understand that movies need to compress and conflate, but what bothered me most was the epilogue stating that I never taught again. I didn't stop teaching, although it was a long time before I taught again in a college. I did enjoy John Turturro's version of Stempel. And I couldn't help but laugh when Stempel referred to me in the film as 'Charles Van Fucking Moron.'"[58]
| Award | Category | Nominee | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20/20 Award[108] | Best Picture | Quiz Show | Nominated |
| Best Director | Robert Redford | Nominated | |
| Best Supporting Actor | Paul Scofield | Nominated | |
| Best Adapted Screenplay | Paul Attanasio | Nominated | |
| Best Art Direction | Jon Hutman | Nominated | |
| Academy Award[109] | Best Picture | Robert Redford, Michael Jacobs, Julian Kranin andMichael Nozik | Nominated |
| Best Director | Robert Redford | Nominated | |
| Best Actor in a Supporting Role | Paul Scofield | Nominated | |
| Best Screenplay Based on Material Previously Produced or Published | Paul Attanasio | Nominated | |
| Awards Circuit Community Awards[110] | Best Achievement in Directing | Robert Redford | Nominated |
| Best Adapted Screenplay | Paul Attanasio | Nominated | |
| Boston Society of Film Critics Award[111] | Best Director | Robert Redford | Runner-up |
| British Academy Film Award[112][113] | Best Film | Robert Redford | Nominated |
| Best Adapted Screenplay | Paul Attanasio | Won | |
| Best Supporting Actor | Paul Scofield | Nominated | |
| Directors Guild of America Award[114] | Outstanding Directing — Feature Film | Robert Redford | Nominated |
| Golden Globe Award[115] | Best Motion Picture – Drama | Robert Redford | Nominated |
| Best Director | Robert Redford | Nominated | |
| Best Supporting Actor | John Turturro | Nominated | |
| Best Screenplay | Paul Attanasio | Nominated | |
| Golden Laurel Award[116] | Outstanding Producer of Theatrical Motion Pictures | Robert Redford, Michael Jacobs, Julien Krainin, Michael Nozik | Nominated |
| National Society of Film Critics[117] | Best Supporting Actor | Paul Scofield | 3rd place |
| Best Screenplay | Paul Attanasio | Runner-up | |
| New York Film Critics Circle[118][119] | Best Film | Quiz Show | Won |
| Best Supporting Actor | Paul Scofield | Runner-up | |
| Best Screenplay | Paul Attanasio | Runner-up | |
| Screen Actors Guild Award[120] | Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role | John Turturro | Nominated |
Paul Scofield was also nominated for theDallas–Fort Worth Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actor, theNational Society of Film Critics Award for Best Supporting Actor and theNew York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Supporting Actor.
John Turturro was also nominated for theChicago Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actor.
=International gross 1994: $1.5m
International gross 1995: $25.9m
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