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      What Makes Sammy Run?

      1959 List
      Reviews 67% Audience Score Fewer than 50 Ratings Read More Read Less

      Critics Reviews

      View All (3) Critics Reviews
      J. Hoberman Village Voice The adaptation pulls a few punches regarding ethnicity and union-organizing, but as primetime network fare, it's surprisingly "mature." Feb 18, 2009 Full Review Dennis Schwartz Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews The television production was carried by the blistering performance of Blyden. Rated: B Apr 20, 2009 Full Review Phil Hall EDGE Boston A powerful production and a sterling reminder of the glory days of 1950s television. Rated: 5/5 Feb 15, 2009 Full Review Read all reviews

      Audience Reviews

      View All (5) audience reviews
      Audience Member Quite good. Standard teleplay idea, men who are willing to sell out, loss of morals, etc. Minimal melodrama which is surprising for the time. John Forsythe is excellent. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 01/26/23 Full Review Audience Member Fun stuff, snappy and smart dialogue, some of which would never air on network television today, and Larry Blyden was sure handsome back then. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/31/23 Full Review Audience Member Some people will do whatever it takes to get to the top then anything to stay there Rated 2 out of 5 stars 01/23/23 Full Review Audience Member Based on the famous novel by the late Budd Shulberg, "What Makes Sammy Run" continues his obsession with success and it's cost. Budd Shulberg was, without a doubt, one of the best writers working in Hollywood throughout the 50's. His two most famous works, "A Face in the Crowd" and "On the Waterfront" also deal with duplicity used in the pursuit of fame and/or fortune. This is a 1959 television production, and is EASILY identifiable as such. The acting is not bad, per se, but is decidedly TV-caliber. The production values are cheap, but rarely distracting. The DVD contains the original introduction, including a commercial for toothpaste (Crest or Colgate- what's the difference?) and ramps for commercials, which do serve to remove the viewer somewhat from the film. But the story is there, though watered-down for the Sunday TV crowd (the film appeared on a program entitled 'Sunday Showcase'). If anything, this film piqued my interest in the novel, as I could see the potential for deep insight in several scenes but wish I heard the characters' internal monologues. The final lines are most definitely classic: Sammy: "What makes me run? That's not the real question. The real question is: 'What makes the rest of you run after me?'" Kitt: "That's a question for us to answer, for us to live with. But you know what, Sammy? At least we'll live..." Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/04/23 Full Review Audience Member Fantastic!!! It's a shame the image quality is so awful. DEFINITELY Budd Schulberg. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/10/23 Full Review Read all reviews Post a rating

      Cast & Crew

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      Movie Info

      Director
      Delbert Mann