Plot.
Poster of Quiz Show

Quiz Show

1994 · Film · 133 min

  • History
  • Drama

Plot

Herbert Stempel's transformation into an unexpected television personality unfolds as he secures victory on the cherished American game show, 'Twenty-One.' However, when the show introduces the highly skilled contestant Charles Van Doren to replace Stempel, it compels Stempel to let out his frustrations and call out the show as rigged. Lawyer Richard Goodwin steps in and attempts to uncover the orchestrated deception behind the scenes.

About Quiz Show

Quiz Show is a 1994 American historical mystery-drama film directed and produced by Robert Redford. Dramatizing the Twenty-One quiz show scandal of the 1950s, the screenplay by Paul Attanasio adapts the memoirs of Richard N. Goodwin, a U.S. Congressional lawyer who investigated the accusations of game-fixing by show producers. The film chronicles the rise and fall of popular contestant Charles Van Doren after the fixed loss of Herb Stempel and Goodwin's subsequent probe. The film stars John Turturro as Stempel, Rob Morrow as Goodwin, and Ralph Fiennes as Charles Van Doren. Paul Scofield, David Paymer, Hank Azaria, Martin Scorsese, Mira Sorvino, and Christopher McDonald play supporting roles. The real Goodwin and Stempel served as technical advisors to the production. The film received generally positive reviews and was nominated for several awards, including a Best Picture Oscar nomination (among three others) and several Golden Globe Awards. It grossed $52.2 million against a $31 million budget.

From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Cast

  • John TurturroHerb Stempel
  • Rob MorrowDick Goodwin
  • Ralph FiennesCharles Van Doren
  • Paul ScofieldMark Van Doren
  • David PaymerDan Enright
  • Hank AzariaAlbert Freedman
  • Christopher McDonaldJack Barry
  • Johann CarloToby Stempel
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