American Politics in the Movies - (TCM Promo)

Abe Lincoln in Illinois - (Original Trailer)

Raymond Massey portrays the rail-splitter in his journey from log cabin to the White House in Abe Lincoln in Illinois (1940).

All The King's Men (1949) - (Re-issue Trailer)

Academy Awards for Best Picture and Best Actor went to All The King's Men (1949) based on the novel by Robert Penn Warren.

Best Man, The - (Original Trailer)

Henry Fonda and Cliff Robertson are two presidential hopefuls forced to consider dirty politics in Gore Vidal's The Best Man (1964).

Candidate, The - (Original Trailer)

A senate candidate (Robert Redford) finds his ideals weaken as his position in the polls gets stronger in The Candidate (1972).

Great McGinty, The - (Original Trailer)

A hobo (Brian Donlevy) rises to town mayor when he hooks up with a crooked political boss in Preston Sturges' The Great McGinty (1940).

Mr. Smith Goes To Washington - (Original Trailer)

Mr. Smith Goes To Washington (1939), Frank Capra's masterpiece about a naive young senator (James Stewart) who uncovers political corruption.

Mr. Smith Goes To Washington -- (Movie Clip) The Man On The Front Page

After bad press and a hazing by reporters, appointed senator Jeff (James Stewart) visits mentor Paine (Claude Rains), who offers advice and his daughter (Astrid Allwyn), director Frank Capra providing a famous routine with a hat, in Mr. Smith Goes To Washington, 1939.

Mr. Smith Goes To Washington -- (Movie Clip) Senator Foley Dead

Director Frank Capra's opening salvo, news that the sitting senator has died, relayed through Senator Paine (Claude Raines), Governor Hopper (Guy Kibbee), his boss Jim Taylor (Edward Arnold), whose aide Chick (Eugene Pallette) stands by, in Mr. Smith Goes To Washington, 1939.

Abe Lincoln In Illinois (1940) -- (Movie Clip) Get Them Pigs!

Offut (Harlan Briggs) with Abe (Raymond Massey) and pals guiding their boat downriver with pigs, a mishap, and the hero meets Ann Rutledge (Mary Howard), a citizen of New Salem, early in Abe Lincoln In Illinois, 1940, from Robert E. Sherwood's play and screenplay.

Best Man, The (1964) -- (Movie Clip) Used By The Commies

Candidate Russell (Henry Fonda) and staff watch the first appearance of Cliff Robertson as "Senator Cantwell," the main opponent for the presidential nomination, early in director Franlkin Schaffner's The Best Man, 1964, from Gore Vidal's play and screenplay.

Great McGinty, The -- (Movie Clip) Don't Forget The Mayor

The bartender's flashback, Brian Donlevy recalling his first encounter with the political machine, inducted by the archetypal "Politician" (William Demarest), early in writer-director Preston Sturges' The Great McGinty, 1940.

All The King's Men (1950) -- (Movie Clip) It's About A Hick!

Broderick Crawford (as hung-over stooge candidate Willie Stark) winning his Academy Award, famous scene in which he throws off his masters, his handlers (Mercedes McCambridge, John Ireland) thrilled, in Robert Rossen's All The King's Men, 1950.

Advise & Consent (1962) -- (Movie Clip) Widowers And Bachelors

Senators Munson (Walter Pidgeon) and Danta (Paul Ford) check in to make sure the president (Franchot Tone) is serious about his nominee for Secretary Of State, before recruiting playboy senator Smith (Peter Lawford), early in Otto Preminger's Advise & Consent, 1962.

Candidate, The (1972) -- (Movie Clip) Atkinson Has Not Yet Conceded

Co-producer and star Robert Redford is barely featured in this opening, Michael Ritchie directing from Jeremy Larner’s Academy Award-winning screenplay, as we meet defeated Atkinson (Joe Miksak) and political professionals Klein and Lucas (Allen Garfield, Peter Boyle), in The Candidate 1972.

Great McGinty, The -- (Movie Clip) Rub It The Other Way

Having hurriedly married staffer Catherine (Muriel Angelus) to enhance his image, candidate McGinty (Brian Donlevy) gets stroppy with "The Boss" (Akim Tamiroff), then discovers his new asset hasn't revealed everything, in Preston Sturges' The Great McGinty, 1940.

Advise & Consent (1962) -- (Movie Clip) It's Worth A Try

Senators Munson (Walter Pidgeon) and Danta (Paul Ford) try to get Leffingwell (Henry Fonda, his first scene), their president's nominee for Secretary Of State, on the phone, his son (Eddie Hodges) taking the call, in Otto Preminger's Advise & Consent, 1962.

Mr. Smith Goes To Washington -- (Movie Clip) Daniel Boone's Lost

Chick (Eugene Pallette) informs Saunders (Jean Arthur, her first scene) that the new senator (James Stewart) has gone missing in the capital, launching director Frank Capra's thundering montage, in Mr. Smith Goes To Washington, 1939.

Mr. Smith Goes To Washington (1939) -- (Movie Clip) Not A Bad Desk

Saunders (Jean Arthur) delivers appointee Jeff (James Stewart) to the U.S. Senate session where he'll be sworn in, a page (Dickie Jones) and Senator Paine (Claude Rains) assisting, in Frank Capra's Mr. Smith Goes To Washington, 1939.

Last Hurrah, The (1958) -- (Movie Clip) He Had Such Bad Luck

Mayor Skeffington (Spencer Tracy) with embedded-reporter nephew Adam (Jeffrey Hunter) arriving early to the wake for a friend, meeting kooky Delia (Jane Darwell) and the widow Gert (Anna Lee), in John Ford's The Last Hurrah, 1958, from the Edwin O'Connor novel.

All The King's Men (1950) -- (Movie Clip) Soak The Fat Guys

Gubernatorial candidate Willie Stark (Broderick Crawford), who doesn't know he's being played, with reporter/adviser Jack (John Ireland), then joined by savvy operative Sadie (Mercedes McCambridge), in Robert Rossen's All The King's Men, 1950, from Robert Penn Warren's novel.

Abe Lincoln In Illinois (1940) -- (Movie Clip) Self Made Man

At a party hosted by the Edwards (Harvey Stephens, Dorothy Tree), we meet Mary Todd (Ruth Gordon), pursued by Douglas (Gene Lockhart), until Abe (Raymond Massey), with Joshua Speed (Minor Watson), arrives, in Abe Lincoln In Illinois, 1940.

Advise & Consent (1962) -- (Movie Clip) A Vice President Shouldn't Ask

First scene for Washington hostess Dolly (Gene Tierney), joining senator Munson (Walter Pidgeon), who's managing a nomination fight, making time for anxious colleague Van Ackerman (George Grizzard), and visiting the timid Vice President (Lew Ayres), in Otto Preminger's Advise & Consent, 1962.

Candidate, The (1972) -- (Movie Clip) A Man Who's Hip When He Shoots

After a cameo by senator and former vice-president Hubert Humphrey, McKay (Robert Redford), a novice politician but the son of a former governor, with his wife and campaign manager (Karen Carlson, Peter Boyle), attends his first banquet, Pat Harrington the host, in The Candidate, 1972.

Candidate, The (1972) -- (Movie Clip) Natalie Wood's Here

After winning the California Democratic primary, U.S. Senate candidate McKay (Robert Redford, who recruited his friend and former co-star for this appearance) meets Natalie Wood, his wife (Karen Carlson) and campaign manager (Peter Boyle) in tow, in Michael Ritchie’s The Candidate, 1972.

Candidate, The (1972) -- (Movie Clip) Clams Are Happy

Seeking a senate candidate in California, political hack Lucas (Peter Boyle) visits legal-aid lawyer McCay (Robert Redford), son of a former governor, future columnist Mike Barnicle his colleague, also meeting Mrs. McKay (Karen Carlson), early in Michael Ritchie's The Candidate, 1972.

Candidate, The (1972) -- (Movie Clip) Get Him A Real Drink

Liberal California senate candidate McKay (Robert Redford) has been persuaded by his staff to visit his father, the former governor (Melvyn Douglas), who has been rumored to prefer the conservative incumbent, at his mountain cabin, Leslie Allen his consort, in Michael Ritchie’s The Candidate, 1972.

Mr. Smith Goes To Washington -- (Movie Clip) Senator Jefferson Smith!

The governor (Guy Kibbee) introduces Senate appointee Jeff Smith (James Stewart, in his first scene), who praises Senator Paine (Claude Rains), surprised to learn the supposed stooge is the son of an old ally, in Frank Çapra's Mr. Smith Goes To Washington, 1939.

Best Man, The (1964) -- (Movie Clip) Unexpectedly Ambitious

Candid discussion from screenwriter Gore Vidal as candidate William Russell (Henry Fonda) confers with wife Alice (Margaret Leighton) in an early scene from director Franklin Schaffner's The Best Man, 1964.

Great McGinty, The -- (Movie Clip) If It Wasn't For Graft

The barkeep (Brian Donlevy, title character), resumes the flashback, meeting with Maxwell (Thurston Hall), while "The Politician" (William Demarest) grumbles with knowing Catherine (Muriel Angelus) and "The Boss" (Akim Tamiroff) replaces the mayor, in Preston Sturges' The Great McGinty, 1940.

Last Hurrah, The (1958) -- (Movie Clip) Spectator Sport

First scene for Jeffrey Hunter as local syndicated columnist Caulfield, visiting his uncle the mayor Skeffington (Spencer Tracy), who has a proposition relating to his re-election campaign, early in John Ford's The Last Hurrah, 1958.

Last Hurrah, The (1958) -- (Movie Clip) Sex Fiends, Dope Addicts

Mayor Skeffington (Spencer Tracy) at a campaign rally, his nephew, columnist Caulfield (Jeffrey Hunter) with his wife (Dianne Foster) and her grouchy father (Willis Bouchey), then the mayor's no-account son (Arthur Walsh) arriving home, in John Ford's The Last Hurrah, 1958.

Great McGinty, The -- (Movie Clip) The Suit Got You

Drifter McGinty (Brian Donlevy), having earned a bundle through audacious illicit voting, arrives to meet the duly-impressed "Boss" (Akim Tamiroff), then visiting Juliette (Esther Howard), in The Great McGinty, 1940, written and directed by Preston Sturges.

Abe Lincoln In Illinois (1940) -- (Movie Clip) Ignorance Is No Obstacle

Mourning Abe (Raymond Massey) departs New Salem to begin his legislative career, ending it in the following scene which introduces friendly rival Stephen Douglas (Gene Lockhart), in director John Cromwell's Abe Lincoln In Illinois, 1940, from Robert E. Sherwood's play and screenplay.

All The King's Men (1950) -- (Movie Clip) Afraid Of The Truth

Big city reporter Jack (John Ireland) gets his first look at backwoods populist candidate Willie Stark (Broderick Crawford), getting muzzled by local authorities, young John Derek as his son, early in Robert Rossen's All The King's Men, 1950.

Advise & Consent (1962) -- (Movie Clip) Are You Loyal To The United States?

Chairman Anderson (Don Murray) opens the much anticipated senate testimony of Secretary Of State nominee Leffingwell (Henry Fonda), Knox (Edward Andrews) taking a shot before guest Cooley (Charles Laughton) steals the spotlight, in Otto Preminger's Advise & Consent, 1962.

Mr. Smith Goes To Washington -- (Movie Clip) The Prize Dummy

Girl-Friday in-waiting Saunders (Jean Arthur) and reporter pal Diz (Thomas Mitchell) caught off guard when the new-in-town appointed senator Jefferson Smith (James Stewart) arrives after a spontaneous tour, in Frank Capra's Mr. Smith Goes To Washington, 1939.

Last Hurrah, The (1958) -- (Movie Clip) A New England City

Opening scene in John Ford's rendering of the Edwin O'Connor novel, Mayor Skeffington (Spencer Tracy) at home assessing re-election, aides arriving including Edward Brophy as "Ditto" and Pat O'Brien as campaign manager Gorman, from The Last Hurrah, 1958.

Abe Lincoln In Illinois (1940) -- (Movie Clip) New Champion

Town bully Jack (Howard da Silva) struts before citizens including Ann Rutledge (Mary Howard), eventually luring new-in-town Abe (Raymond Massey) into fisticuffs, early in Abe Lincoln In Illinois, 1940, from the Robert E. Sherwood play.

All The King's Men (1950) -- (Movie Clip) Find A Dummy

Joining mid-montage, failed politician Willie Stark (Broderick Crawford) becomes a lawyer, disaster strikes at a school he warned about, and politicos led by Sadie (Mercedes McCambridge) hatch a scheme, in All The King's Men, 1950, from Robert Penn Warren's novel.

Advise & Consent (1962) -- (Movie Clip) Cockpit Of Angry Emotion

Director Otto Preminger's view of the U.S. Senate in session, senators Munson (Walter Pidgeon), Knox (Edward Andrews), colorful Cooley (Charles Laughton) Danta (Paul Ford) and Smith (Peter Lawford) taking positions on the president's nominee for Secretary of State, in Advise & Consent, 1962.