All the King's Men

Released Nov 8, 1949

1h 49m

Drama

List

97%

Tomatometer

74 Reviews

78%

Audience Score

2,500+ Ratings

Drama about the rise and fall of a corrupt southern governor who promises his way to power. Broderick Crawford portrays Willie Stark, who, once he is elected, finds that his vanity and power lust prove to be his downfall. The film is based on the 1946 Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by Robert Penn Warren.

Read More

Read Less

Watch on Fandango at Home

Premiered Apr 30

Buy Now

Fandango at Home

Prime Video

Rent All the King's Men on Fandango at Home, Prime Video, or buy it on Fandango at Home, Prime Video.

Critics Consensus

Broderick Crawford is spellbinding as politician Willie Stark in director Robert Rossen's adaptation of the Robert Penn Warren novel about the corrosive effects of power on the human soul.

Read Critics Reviews

Richard L. Coe

Washington Post

It has the sort of excitement to interest the most escapist-minded of picturegoers. It has the sharp delineations of characters that fascinate those whose hobby is people. And it is an immensely provocative political document.

Jul 25, 2022

Full Review

Marjory Adams

Boston Globe

Here is a picture that took courage to make. It stands up in entertainment value, but it is primarily a vital, powerful and terrifying picture of what dirty politics can do to both individual and state.

Nov 30, 2021

Full Review

Helen Bower

Detroit Free Press

Crawford ought to have an Oscar for his performance as Willie Stark. He charges like a bull and charms like a serpent.

Nov 30, 2021

Full Review

Mark Johnson

Awards Daily

...the song remains the same 75 years later. It’s a fascinating study on the type of firebrands that dominate politics.

Jun 27, 2023

Full Review

Edwin F. Melvin

Christian Science Monitor

Robert Rossen has skilfully performed a triple function as producer, director, and author of the screen play from a novel by Robert Penn Warren. The acting has both vigor and finesse,

Aug 16, 2022

Full Review

Dennis Harvey

48 Hills

Stretching the definition of “noir” a bit, it’s a barbed indictment of deep political corruption in the Deep South.

Mar 28, 2022

Full Review

Read all reviews

nick s

The movie's start was slow and lacking promise, but then it really took off. The camera work and sets didn't quite have the hallmark of a great director. However the character development and exploration of ethics was great, and easily made up for it.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

12/07/23

Full Review

Keith W

Wow what a compelling film! It draws you in and doesn't let go. Broderick Crawford is fantastic in a film with a strong cast throughout. Is he evil or just ruthless but well intentioned? And he never gives you the answer which is so right for this film. As a Brit I can't help think the real problem with US politics shown here is not how it corrupts those who gain power but there are too many guns. Stark's right hand hood, Sugar Boy, is such a familiar face and is worthily given some important lines in this film.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/13/23

Full Review

deke p

1949 classic! HIGHEST positive reviews from RT Crits. BROD CRAWFORD was amazingly great! The HUEY LONG story, kinda, by Robert Penn Warren. Finally saw it about 72 years later, on the television set 5.22.2022, same day I am giving it 4 1/2 RotnTom Starsh. And JOHN IRELAND xlnt too.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

Full Review

Audience Member

An adaptation of a novelized version of Huey P Long, Governor or Louisiana. Very true to the facts while incorporating fictionalized characters to create personal relationships. Packed a lot of information into a very digestible film.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/28/23

Full Review

Luca D

Similar to Citizen Kane, this tale follows a the career of a corrupt politician who starts off doing good and gradually gets dirtier with his ways. The cinematography and acting was all on point. A solid plot and pace. Would definitely watch again.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

10/28/21

Full Review

Audience Member

Five star story. Four and a half star script and direction. And then there is Broderick Crawford, whose overblown performance brings it down. Crawford never played anything else but a variation of Willie Stark. He simply was not that good of an actor, Looking at his limited career shows this. He goes from speaking calmly, caringly, and boring, to a full blown blowhard monster in just one scene. From then on, there is no nuance, no sign of dimension. A great relevant story for current times though. A warning of false populism and autocracy masked and conning the masses. I just wish an actor like Richard Widmark or Robert Ryan (why does a bully always have to be cast with a heavyset actor?) had been cast instead, so Willie had real dimension.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

04/04/21

Full Review

Read all reviews

Post a rating

Robert Rossen

Director

Broderick Crawford

Willie Stark

Joanne Dru

Anne Stanton

Mercedes McCambridge

Sadie Burke

John Ireland

Jack Burden

John Derek

Tom Stark

Show Less Cast & Crew

Show More Cast & Crew

All the King's Men: Official Clip - Blackmailing a Judge

3:33

All the King's Men: Official Clip - Messiah or Dictator?

1:57

All the King's Men: Official Clip - Political Assassination

2:21

All the King's Men: Official Clip - Drunken Car Crash

2:44

All the King's Men: Official Clip - Deals With the Devil

2:17

All the King's Men: Official Clip - Willie Stark's Speech

3:46

All the King's Men: Official Clip - Murdered Political Opponent

2:09

All the King's Men: Official Clip - Terrible Football Injury

3:23

All the King's Men: Official Clip - She Slept With Him

2:18

All the King's Men: Official Clip - Impeached!

2:40

View more videos

96%

89%

In a Lonely Place

83%

47%

Golden Boy

20%

32%

The Killer That Stalked New York

86%

81%

The Last Hurrah

50%

54%

Picnic

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

Boll Has Plate Full with $60M "Dungeon Siege," "BloodRayne 2," more

Critical Consensus: "Jackass" Kicks; "King" Is Dethroned; "Fearless" Is Action-Packed; "Flyboys" Is Grounded

View more photos

Synopsis

Drama about the rise and fall of a corrupt southern governor who promises his way to power. Broderick Crawford portrays Willie Stark, who, once he is elected, finds that his vanity and power lust prove to be his downfall. The film is based on the 1946 Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by Robert Penn Warren.

Director: Robert Rossen
Screenwriter: Robert Rossen
Distributor: Columbia Pictures
Production Co: Columbia Pictures Corporation
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Nov 8, 1949, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): May 1, 2013
Runtime: 1h 49m
Sound Mix: Mono
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.37:1)

Most Popular at Home Now