Magic Lantern Video & Book Store
Political Film Festival
Page Two
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on Page One:
Books About Political Films Links |
Selected Political Films
Political Film Festival
| |
on Page One:
Books About Political Films Links |
Selected Political Films
M thru R
"Meet John Doe" [Warner Bros. May 1941]
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A pitch-black jeremiad against manipulation by the media: A laid-off female reporter writes a biting (fake) letter from a despairing unemployed 'John Doe' who threatens to jump off the top of city hall on Christmas Eve. The public outcry leads to the reporter keeping her job and the newspaper milking the story for all it is worth. The paper hires a down-and-out baseball player to portray 'John Doe'; his staunch character is very popular, causing a grass-roots political movement that is twisted by a ruthless financier.
Produced & directed by Frank Capra [1897-1991]; story by Richard Connell & Robert Presnell Sr., script by Robert Riskin; music by Dimitri Tiomkin; starring Gary Cooper, Barbara Stanwyck, Edward Arnold, Walter Brennan, Spring Byington, James Gleason, Gene Lockhart, Rod La Rocque, Regis Toomey & Sterling Holloway; Oscar nomination for Best Story Alpha Video b&w DVD [1/2002] for $7.98 Passport b&w DVD [8/2003] for $9.98 b&w VHS [undated] for $12.99 Timeless Multimedia b&w VHS [12/98] for $14.99 full credits from IMDb 11"x17" poster available at AllPosters.com |
"The Mouse That Roared"
[Columbia Pictures Oct 1959]
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The tiny Duchy of Grand Fenwick decides to invade the United States, so that they can lose the war and then receive foreign aid. But the ragtag invasion force, armed only with medieval longbows, lands in New York City during a nuclear drill, wander about hoping to find someone to surrender to, and instead discover a scientist and his beautiful daughter. The tiny army kidnaps the two along with an 'ultimate weapon', resulting in capitulation by the U.S. and making Grand Fenwick a world power.
Directed by Jack Arnold; starring Peter Sellers {in 3 roles}, Jean Seberg, Leo McKern & David Kossoff
Columbia/TriStar widescreen DVD [7/2003] for $22.46 Columbia/TriStar color VHS [7/93] out of stock/used full credits from IMDb |
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Based on the 1955 novel by Leonard Wibberley [1915-83] Four Walls Eight Windows 8¼x5¼ pb [1/2003] out of print/used Bantam mass pb [8/84] out of print/used Amereon 9x6 hardcover [12/85] out of print/used |
"Mr. Smith Goes To Washington"
[Columbia Oct 1939]
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A classic struggle between good & evil: A naive Boy Scout leader is appointed U.S. Senator on a lark; threatened by his idealism, the corrupt system in Washington first tries to bribe him, then manufactures a scandal.
Directed by Frank Capra; script by Sidney Buchman, based on a story by Lewis R. Foster; starring James Stewart, Jean Arthur, Claude Rains, Edward Arnold, Guy Kibbee, Thomas Mitchell, Eugene Pallette, Harry Carey, Beulah Bondi, H.B. Warner & William Demarest; won an Oscar for Best Original Story, nominated for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Script, Best Actor, two Best Supporting Actors (CR & HC), Best Music [Dimitri Tiomkin], Best Art Direction, Best Editing & Best Sound; listed on National Film Registry in 1989
Sony b&w DVD [2/2000] for $19.99 Sony b&w VHS [2/2000] out of prodn/used full credits from IMDb 11"x17" poster available at AllPosters.com |
"Nixon" [Hollywood Pictures Dec 1995]
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The discovery of the Watergate burglary and the subsequent attempted cover-up by the White House leads to the resignation of President Nixon.
Co-produced, co-written & directed by Oliver Stone; starring Anthony Hopkins {as Nixon}, Joan Allen, Powers Boothe, Ed Harris, Bob Hoskins, E.G. Marshall, David Paymer, David Hyde Pierce, Paul Sorvino, Mary Steenburgen, J.T. Walsh & James Woods; Oscar noms for Best Original Script, Best Actor [AH], Best Supporting Actress [JA], Best Music Score
Disney widescreen color DVD [3/2002] for $11.99 Disney color VHS [3/97] 2 tapes - out of prodn/used Hollywood Rcds soundtrack CD by John Williams [12/95] out of prodn/used full credits from IMDb "Nixon: An Oliver Stone Film" annotated screenplay & essays [1995] |
"Parallax View"
"The Pentagon Papers"
[Paramount tv special March 2003]
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Daniel Ellsberg was an analyst for RAND Corp. and the U.S. government, and a supporter of the war in VietNam. He became disillusioned when he discovered classified Defense Dept. documents detailing the deliberate fabrication of reasons to go to war in Southeast Asia. Convinced that the American people deserve to know the truth, he risked his career, his freedom, and even his life to expose the duplicity of the U.S. war machine.
Directed by Rod Holcomb; script by Jason Horwitch; starring James Spader, Claire Forlani, Paul Giamatti, Alan Arkin, Kenneth Welsh, Maria del Mar, Sean McCann, James Downing, Richard Fitzpatrick & Jonas Chernick; script won WGA's Paul Selvin Honorary Award
Paramount color DVD [2/2004] for $17.99 full credits at IMDb |
"The Power of Nightmares:
The Rise of the Politics of Fear"
[BBC2 documentary Aug 2004]
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Written & directed by Adam Curtis; won Best Documentary awards from BAFTA, DGGB & RTVS
Booksod Publng CD-ROM [2/2006] for $14.95 Booksod Publng video CD-ROM [6/2006] for $19.99 B.B.C. feature DVD [6/2006] for $29.99 full credits at IMDb • B.B.C. News webpage |
"Primary Colors" [Universal March 1998]
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The thinly-disguised satire of Clinton's 1992 presidential campaign.
Directed by Mike Nichols; script by Elaine May, based on Joe Klein's bestselling novel; starring John Travolta, Emma Thompson, Billy Bob Thornton, Kathy Bates, Adrian Lester, Maura Tierney, Larry Hagman & Diane Ladd; script/adaptation nominated for Oscar, WGA & USC Scripter awards, won BAFTA; KB nominated for Best Supporting Actress Oscar, BAFTA & SAG awards
Universal widescreen DVD [4/99] for $8.99 Universal color DVD [9/98] for $8.99 full credits at IMDb |
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"Primary Colors: A Novel of Politics" [1996 bestseller] by Anonymous {aka Joe Klein} Random House 8x5¼ pb [10/2006] for $11.16 Trafalgar Square pb [10/96] for $9.40 Chatto & Windus hardcover [2/96] out of print/used Random House ABR audio [8/2000] for $9.99 |
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"The Running Mate" sequel to 'Primary Colors' [2000] by Joe Klein Delta 9x5¾ pb [4/2001] out of print/used Dial Press 9½x6½ hardcover [4/2000] out of print/used |
"The Quiet American" [Mirage Nov 2002]
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An idealistic young American diplomat assigned to 1950s Saigon meets a disillusioned British journalist and a beautiful Vietnamese woman and becomes entangled in love, politics and intrigue that he is ill-prepared for.
Directed by Phillip Noyce; based on the novel by Grahame Green; starring Michael Caine, Brendan Fraser & Do Thi Hai Yen; listed AFI Best 10 Films of 2002; Oscar nomination for Best Actor (Caine)
Miramax widescreen DVD [9/2004] for $17.39 Buena Vista color VHS [2/2004] for $14.99 Varese soundtrack CD [3/2003] for $14.99 full credits from IMDb |
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Novel by Grahame Green [1955]
Penguin Classics 8.4x5½ pb [9/2004] for $11.20 Penguin Classics pb [11/2002] for $10.40 Modern Library hardcover [10/92] for $10.47 Blackstone UNABR audio CD [2/2003] for $32.95 Blackstone UNABR audio [2/2003] for $19.77 M.B.A.P. ABR audio [10/2003] for $10.39 Blackstone audio [8/97] for $41.94 |
"Reds" [Paramount Dec 1981]
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A radical combination of historical drama and actual history. The interspersed interviews with then-still-living witnesses to the story of American journalist and Bolshevik activist John Reed [1887-1920] give a resonance beyond any previous film about the Russian revolutionary era. Truly an epic film.
Produced & co-written & directed by and starring Warren Beatty; also starring Diane Keaton, Jack Nicholson & Maureen Stapleton; witnesses include Henry Miller & Will Durant; won Oscars for Best Director, Best Cinematography, Best Supporting Actress; nominated for 9 more; won DGA, WGA, two BAFTA Awards
Paramount color DVD [10/2006] for $13.99 Paramount color VHS [1/2002] 2 tapes - out of prodn/used BMG soundtrack CD [4/99] out of prodn/used full credits from IMDb |
"The Seduction of Joe Tynan" [1979]
credits at IMDb
"The Senator Was Indiscreet"
[Universal Dec 1947]
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A dim-witted U.S. Senator running for president is using a diary of party shenanigans to blackmail for support for his nomination; a cutie sent by enemies and the fiancee of his new P.R. man try to get into his bedroom where the diary is kept.
Directed by George S. Kaufman; starring William Powell, Ella Raines, Peter Lind Hayes, Arleen Whelan, Ray Collins & Allen Jenkins
Republic Pictures b&w VHS [1/98] out of prodn/used full credits from IMDb |
"Seven Days In May"
[Paramount/Seven Arts Feb 1964]
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After the U.S. President decides to sign a nuclear disarmament treaty with the Soviets, a Marine colonel discovers that the Pentagon's Joint Chiefs are plotting a coup d'etat to take over the government seven days hence.
Directed by John Frankenheimer; script by Rod Serling, based on the novel {below}; starring Burt Lancaster, Kirk Douglas, Fredric March, Ava Gardner, Edmond O'Brien, Martin Balsam & Andrew Duggan
Warner widescreen b&w DVD [5/2000] for $17.99 Warner b&w VHS [6/97] out of prodn/used full credits from IMDb |
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based on the 1962 novel by Fletcher Knebel & Charles W. Bailey II Bantam mass pb [6/79] out of print/used Weidenfeld & Nicolson mass pb [1/63] out of print/used Harper & Row hardcover [1/62] out of print/used |
"1776" [Columbia Nov 1972]
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A musical version of the meetings in Philadelphia prior to the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
Directed by Peter H. Hunt; starring William Daniels, Howard Da Silva, Ken Howard & Blythe Danner
Col/TriStar color VHS [4/91] for $17.99 Col/TriStar color VHS [8/98] out of stock/used Col/TriStar color DVD [7/2002] for $22.46 full credits from IMDb based on the Broadway musical by Sherman Edwards & Peter Stone |
"Silkwood" [ABC/Fox 1983]: credits at IMDb
Karen Silkwood:
browse books •
videos/DVDs
"Silver City" [2004] from John Sayles
credits at IMDb
"State of The Union" [M.G.M. April 1948]
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The party machinery becomes worried when a candidate for President begins speaking out boldly against corruption.
Produced & directed by Frank Capra [1897-1991]; based on the 1945 play by Russel Crouse & Howard Lindsay; starring Spencer Tracy, Katharine Hepburn, Van Johnson, Angela Lansbury, Adolphe Menjou, Lewis Stone, Margaret Hamilton, Art Baker & Carl 'Alfalfa' Switzer
Universal b&w DVD [8/2006] for $12.99 Universal b&w VHS [1/94] out of prodn/used full credits from IMDb Broadway play credits at IBDb |
"Stealing America: Vote By Vote"
[Concentric Media Sept 2006]
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Documents the rampant & significant irregularities in the Presidential election of 2004.
Produced & directed by Dorothy Fadiman
color DVD [12/2006] available from Direct Cinema Ltd. no listing at IMDb; official film site |
"Swing Vote" [Touchstone Aug 2008]
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A majority of the location filming was in New Mexico, especially the town of Belén. An over-achieving small-town, preteen girl sets off an election day media frenzy that casts her lovable loser dad as the deciding vote for the next president of the United States.
Co-written & directed by Joshua Michael Stern; co-written by Jason Richman; co-produced by & starring Kevin Costner; also starring Madeline Carroll, Paula Patton, Kelsey Grammer, Dennis Hopper, Nathan Lane, Stanley Tucci, George Lopez, Judge Reinhold, Mare Winningham, Nana Visitor, Floyd 'Red Crow' Westerman & Gary Farmer with cameos by Tucker Carlson, James Carville, Matt Frei, Arianna Huffington, Larry King, Bill Maher, Chris Matthews, Willie Nelson & Lawrence O'Donnell
video/DVD not yet available; full credits from IMDb official movie site {requires Flash} |
"Tanner 88: A Political Fable" mini-series [H.B.O. 1988]
Directed by Robert Altman [1925-2006]; written by Garry Trudeau; starring Michael Murphy; full credits at IMDb
"Tanner On Tanner" sequel [HBO Oct 2004]
Directed by Robert Altman [1925-2006]; written by Garry Trudeau; starring Michael Murphy; full credits at IMDb
"Thanks A Million"
[Fox Oct 1935]
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A group of entertainers slip into a political rally to get out of the rain; when the candidate shows up too inebriated to speak, the crooner of the troupe is enlisted to deliver the speech. He does so well that the bosses decide to run him instead.
Directed by Roy Del Ruth; script by Nunnally Johnson, from a story by Darryl F. Zanuck; starring Dick Powell, Ann Dvorak, Fred Allen, Patsy Kelly, Raymond Walburn, Paul Whiteman, Ramona & David Rubinoff
video/DVD not available; credits at IMDb |
"Thirteen Days" [2000]
credits at IMDb
"Three Days of The Condor"
[Wildwood/Paramount Sept 1975]
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A minor C.I.A. researcher returns from lunch to find his co-workers slaughtered. He contacts a superior, who agrees to help him 'come in from the cold', but the result is another attempt at assassination.
Directed by Sydney Pollack; based on a novel by James Grady {below}; starring Robert Redford, Faye Dunaway, Cliff Robertson, Max von Sydow & John Houseman
Paramount widescreen color DVD [8/99] for $9.98 Paramount color VHS [1/98] out of prodn/used D.R.G. soundtrack CD [8/2004] for $13.98 full credits from IMDb |
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"Six Days of The Condor" [1974] by James Grady Warner mass pb [10/91] out of print/used W.W. Norton hardcover [5/74] out of print/used |
"The Ugly American" [Universal April 1963]
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The hero of the novel is an ugly chicken farmer from Iowa; the movie looks at the causes of the VietNam war (filmed before the war began).
Directed by George Englund; loosely based on the novel; starring Marlon Brando, Eiji Okada, Sandra Church, Pat Hingle, Arthur Hill & Jocelyn Brando
Universal widescreen color DVD [8/2003] out of prodn/used Universal color VHS [10/92] out of prodn/used full credits at IMDb |
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"The Ugly American" [1958 bestseller] by William J. Lederer & Eugene Burdick W.W. Norton 8¼x5½ pb [1/99] for $11.16 Fawcett pb [9/87] out of print/used Fawcett pb [1/85] out of print/used W.W. Norton hardcover [6/58] out of print/used |
"Wag The Dog" [1997]
credits at IMDb
"The War Room" [1993 documentary]
credits at IMDb
"Washington Merry-Go-Round" [Columbia Oct 1932]
A naive freshman Congressman is offered bribes by lobbyists, but refuses to betray the people who elected him.
Co-produced & directed by James Cruze; starring Lee Tracy, Constance Cummings, Walter Connolly, Alan
Dinehart, Arthur Vinton, Arthur Hoyt, Berton Churchill, Frank Sheridan, Clay Clement & Clarence Muse
video/DVD not available;
full credits from IMDb
"The West Wing" [1999-2006 tv series on N.B.C.]
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The hit tv series about a fictional U.S. President ran for seven years, and often delved into deep issues of American life & the political process.
Created by Aaron Sorkin; starring Martin Sheen {as President Josiah 'Jed' Bartlet}, Alan Alda, Stockard Channing, John Spencer, Richard Schiff, Kristin Chenoweth, Allison Janney, Moira Kelly, Rob Lowe, Bradley Whitford, Dulé Hill, Mary McCormack & Jimmy Smits
complete series: Warner color DVD [11/2006] 45 disks for $194.87 7th season: Warner color DVD [11/2006] for $38.87 6th season: Warner color DVD [5/2006] for $32.99 5th season: Warner color DVD [12/2005] for $38.98 4-season set: Warner color DVD [4/2005] for $165.32 4th season: Warner color DVD [8/00] for $44.99 3rd season: Warner color DVD [5/2004] for $38.99 2nd season: Warner color DVD [5/2004] for $19.97 1st season: Warner color DVD [11/2003] for $19.97 full credits from IMDb • official series website 11"x17" poster from Amazon for $9.99 |
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"The West Wing: The American Presidency As Television Drama" [2003] Edited by Peter C. Rollins & John E. O'Connor Syracuse Univ Press 9¼x5½ pb [5/2003] for $13.57 Syracuse Univ Press 9½x6¼ hardcover [5/2003] for $45.00 |
"Z" [Algeria-France Dec 1969]
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A liberal politician is murdered during a peace demonstration, and right wing leaders try to cover up their involvement and also try to hide the murder itself. A chronicle of the overthrow of the democratic government of Greece, told as a combination of thriller & murder mystery.
Directed by Costa-Gavras; script by Jorge Semprún, based on the novel by Vassilis Vassilikos; music by Mikis Theodorakis; starring Yves Montand, Irene Papas, Jean-Louis Trintignant, Jacques Perrin, Charles Denner, François Périer & Pierre Dux; won Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film & Best Editing, nominated for Best Picture, Best Director & Best Script Adaptation
Fox Lorber widescreen color DVD [7/2002] for $18.99 Fox Lorber widescreen color VHS [11/97] out of prodn/used full credits from IMDb |
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novel by Vassilis Vassilikos [1967] Thunder's Mouth Press 8½x5½ pb [5/91] out of print/used Ballantine pb [9/69] out of print/used |
back to selected films on Page One:
A thru F • G thru L
Visit Our Other Online Film Festival Pages
Atomic Film Festival Page at Spirit of America
Ayn Rand Film Festival at Magic Lantern
Existentialist Film Festival at Maison d'Être Philosophy Bookstore
Films Noir Festival at BlackHat Mystery Bookstore
Human Rights Film Festival at Magic Lantern
Oscar-Winning Western Movies Page at 'Readers of the Purple Sage'
Philosophy Film Festival at Maison d'Être Philosophy Bookstore
Pirate Film Festival at Magic Lantern
Railroad Film Festival at Spirit of America
Samurai Films at Magic Lantern
Shakespeare On Film at Magic Lantern
War [& Anti-War] Film Festival Pages at Magic Lantern
Western Movies Film Festival at 'Readers of the Purple Sage'
... and others on the Online Film Festivals Index Page
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Political Film Festival Pages
Books About Political Films • Links
Selected Films: A thru F • G thru L • M thru R • S thru Z
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