Quiz Show

Director: Robert Redford Robert Redford

Overview

"From acclaimed actor/director Robert Redford comes this unforgettable behind-the-scenes look at the scandal lurking beneath the surface of on of America's most beloved game shows, presented on DVD from Walt Disney Video. Presented in 1.85:1 widescreen and featuring a closed-captioned English Dolby Digital soundtrack, this release also features an additional French Dolby Digital Soundtrack as well. With a theatrical trailer being the sole extra feature, this acclaimed account of quiz show corruption is sorely lacking in what could have made a great release."

Product Details

Release Date:	09/07/1999
UPC:	0717951003492
Original Release:	1994
Rating:	PG-13
Source:	Walt Disney Video
Region Code:	1
Presentation:	[Wide Screen]
Sound:	[Dolby Digital Surround]
Language:	English
Time:	2:13:00

Special Features

Theatrical trailer; French-language track; Dolby Surround; Widescreen [1.85:1]

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

John Turturro	Herbert Stempel,1st Mom
Ralph Fiennes	Charles Van Doren
Rob Morrow	Dick Goodwin
Paul Scofield	Mark Van Doren
David Paymer	Dan Enright
Hank Azaria	Albert Freedman
Christopher McDonald	Jack Barry
Johann Carlo	Toby Stempel
Elizabeth Wilson	Dorothy Van Doren,Director
Allan Rich	Robert Kintner
Mira Sorvino	Sandra Goodwin
George Martin	Chairman
Paul Guilfoyle	Lishman
Griffin Dunne	Account Guy
Martin Scorsese	Sponsor
Barry Levinson	Dave Garroway
Ethan Hawke	Student in Classroom (uncredited)
Michael Mantell	Pennebaker
Byron Jennings	Moomaw
Ben Shenkman	Childress
Timothy Busfield	Fred
Jack Gilpin	Jack
Bruce Altman	Gene
Joda Hershman	Lester Stempel
Ernie Sabella	Car Salesman
Debra Monk	Kintner's Secretary
Mario Cantone	Passerby
Timothy Britten Parker	Researcher
Grace Phillips	Mrs. Nearing
Jerry Grayson	Limo Driver
Scott Lucy	NBC Page
Matt Keeslar	NBC Page
Ron Scott Bertozzi	NBC Page
Harriet Sansom Harris	Enright's Secretary
Mary Shultz	Freedman's Secretary
Robert Caminiti	Associate Director
Eddie Korbich	Lighting Director
Le Clanche Du Rand	Cornwall Neighbor
Carole Shelley	Cornwall Aunt
Shawna Batten	Cornwall Cousin,Cornwall Cousin
Cornelia Ryan	Cornwall Cousin,NBC Employee
Jeffrey Nordling	John Van Doren
Gina Rice	Mrs. John Van Doren
Vince O'Brien	Bunny Wilson
Adam Kilgour	Thomas Merton the Monk
Richard Seff	Congressman Devine
Bill Moor	Congressman Rogers
Nicholas Kepros	Congressman Flynt
Barry Snider	Congressman Springer
Chuck Adamson	Congressman Mack
Joseph Attanasio	Congressman Derounian
Dan Wakefield	Professor at Book Party
Hamilton Fish	Professor at Book Party
Merwin Goldsmith	Writer at Book Party
Illeana Douglas	Woman at Book Party
Gretchen Egolf	Student at Book Party
Stephen Pearlman	Judge Schweitzer
Anthony Fusco	Librarian
Doug McGrath	Snodgrass,Snodgrass
Calista Flockhart	Barnard Girl
Alysa Shwedel	Barnard Girl
Kelly Coffield	Queens Neighbor
Dede Pochos	Queens Neighbor
Maria Radman	Queens Neighbor
David Stepkin	Queens Neighbor
Steve Roland	Today Announcer
Bernie Sheredy	Reporter
Joe Lisi	Reporter
Reno	Woman at Door
Neil Leifer	Psychoanalyst
Caryn Krooth	Blonde
Mario Contacessi	Waiter
Pat Russel	NBC Secretary
Bill Cwikowski	Challenger
William Fichtner	Stage Manager
Vincent J. Burns	Crew Member
Jonathan Marc Sherman	Student
Richard Council	Reporter No. 1
Hamilton Fish IV	Professor At Book Party
Mark Isham	Composer

Technical Credits

Paul Attanasio

Richard N. Goodwin

Robert Redford	Director,Producer
Paul Attanasio	Screenwriter
Richard Dreyfuss	Executive Producer
Michael Jacobs	Producer
Judith James	Executive Producer
Julian Krainin	Producer
Michael Nozik	Producer
Bonnie Timmermann	Casting
Fred Zollo	Executive Producer,Executive Producer
Richard N. Goodwin	Screenwriter
Gail Mutrux	Producer
Sara Bolder	Sound Effects
Christopher Boyes	Sound Effects
Joseph Reidy	Producer
Tod A. Mailand	Sound/Sound Designer

Editorial Reviews

A neatly executed look at the nature of scandal in the early days of television, and a rich portrait of America in the 1950s, Quiz Show is as sleek and deceptively complicated as the era it portrays. The quiz show scandal becomes a microcosm of attitudes and values in 1950s America, from deep-seated ethnic prejudices to the preoccupation with class and appearance. Dense, ferociously intelligent, and never condescending, the film is also terrifically entertaining, as director Robert Redford and writer Paul Attanasio weave together multiple stories of ambition, cowardice, and disappointment. The film is also notable for its performances, especially John Turturro's self-deprecating yet self-righteous Stempel, and Ralph Fiennes' charming but tragically flawed WASP prince Charles Van Doren. Both actors perfectly convey the kind of ambition that was simultaneously encouraged and manipulated by game show politics, as well as the resulting desperation. Through their performances we see the tensions of an era, the struggle between appearance and reality, success and artifice. Quiz Show was nominated for 4 Oscars, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Supporting Actor for Paul Scofield's unforgettable scenes as Van Doren's pained patrician father.