Film: All The President's Men
Director: Alan J. Pakula
Country: USA
Released: April 1976
Runtime: 138 minutes
Genre: Political Thriller
Studio: Wildwood / Warner Bros
Influenced: Steven Spielberg, Oliver Stone, Paul Greengrass, Tom McCarthy, Jason Reitman, Maria Schrader
"Howard, they're hungry. Do you remember when you were hungry?" This is the line that Washington Post editor Harry Rosenfeld (Jack Warden) delivers to his managing editor Howard Simons (Martin Balsam) about his two young journalists Bob Woodward (Robert Redford) and Carl Bernstein (Dustin Hoffman), who are investigating the break-in at the Democratic National Committee headquarters in 1972. The rhetorical question captures perfectly the doggedness and enthusiasm of the two reporters who exposed the murky and cynical world of American politics under the stewardship of President Richard Nixon. The film is based on the non-fiction book of the same name written by Bernstein and Woodward, who were the investigative journalists responsible for breaking the Watergate scandal in the early 1970s, which ultimately led to Nixon's resignation.
Directed by Alan J. Pakula, the film follows the real-life events of Woodward and Bernstein as they uncover the details behind the break-in at the DNC HQ located in the Watergate complex in Washington, D.C. The reporters initially cover the burglary story, but they soon discover a connection between the break-in and high-ranking officials within the Nixon administration. As Woodward and Bernstein dig deeper, they face numerous challenges and obstacles, including pressure from their editors, the skepticism of their colleagues and intimidation tactics from those trying to cover up the truth. The two journalists conduct secret meetings with a mysterious informant called Deep Throat (later revealed to be FBI associate director Mark Felt) to gather crucial information.
To build their case, the reporters conduct extensive research, interview sources and piece together a network of connections, revealing a larger conspiracy involving illegal campaign contributions, wiretapping and a secret slush fund. Deep Throat provides Woodward with valuable tips and guidance, urging him to "follow the money" to unravel the full extent of the scandal. High-profile Hollywood films about journalism had appeared before, notably Billy Wilder's Ace In The Hole (1951), but this is the first time that the power of good journalism was portrayed in such detail and such high-stakes fashion. The film showcased the meticulous nature of investigative journalism, highlighting the hard work, tenacity and attention to detail required to uncover a major political scandal. Executive Editor Ben Bradlee (played by the magnificent Jason Robards) epitomises the daring required to hold those in power accountable.
At the end, the film depicts the televised Senate Watergate hearings led by Senator Sam Ervin, where the truth behind the scandal is revealed to a captivated nation. The relentless pursuit of truth by Woodward, Bernstein and colleagues ultimately leads to the downfall of Nixon, who resigns from office in disgrace. All the President's Men's release coincided with a period of significant public distrust in government institutions, resonating with audiences who were eager to understand the truth behind the political events of their time. The film also inspired a new wave of journalism movies and stories, and received critical acclaim for its realistic depiction of journalism and exceptional performances – notably those of Redford, Hoffman and Robards. That the film somehow lost the Oscar for Best Picture in 1977 to Rocky is worthy of its own investigation.
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