Welcome to “Pop Break Goes to Washington” where host Allison Lips is joined by a special guest to discuss the historical significance and impact of a political film. Allison and her guests discuss how politics is portrayed in each film. While this podcast focuses on the American political system, it does make a few forays outside of the United States.
For this episode, Allison and Josh Sarnecky discuss The Candidate. Josh is co-host of the Anniversary Brothers Podcast and The TV Break podcast. He also writes the Couch Potato column for The Pop Break.
As for The Candidate, it is a film where the idealistic son of a former California governor runs for Senate and slowly compromises his principles throughout the film. Join Allison and Josh as they debate whether this Robert Redford film holds up.
The Candidate was released in June 1972 and was directed by Michael Ritchie. Ritchie made his directorial debut three years earlier with Downhill Racer, also starring Redford. He’d go on to direct such films as Fletch, The Golden Child, and The Bad News Bears.
The film stars Redford, Peter Boyle, Melvyn Douglas, Don Porter, Allen Garfield, Karen Carlson and Quinn Redeker. Appearing in cameo roles as themselves include politicians and luminaries: George McGovern, Howard K. Smith, Hubert Humphrey, Van Arnberg, Alan Cranston, John V. Tunney, Terry McGovern, Sam Yorty, Bill Stout and Oscar Winner Natalie Wood.
