The Candidate poster

1972·110 min·Released

The Candidate

“Bill McKay has a lot going for him...but nothing compared to what's coming.”

Comedy
Drama

Bill McKay is a candidate for the U.S. Senate from California. He has no hope of winning, so he is willing to tweak the establishment.

6.5(184 votes)

Popularity1

Videos

Original Theatrical Trailer

Cast & Crew

Robert Redford

Robert Redford

Bill McKay

Peter Boyle

Peter Boyle

Marvin Lucas

Melvyn Douglas

Melvyn Douglas

John J. McKay

Don Porter

Don Porter

Senator Crocker Jarmon

Allen Garfield

Allen Garfield

Klein

Karen Carlson

Karen Carlson

Nancy McKay

Quinn K. Redeker

Quinn K. Redeker

Rick Jenkin

Morgan Upton

Morgan Upton

Wally Henderson

Michael Lerner

Michael Lerner

Paul Corliss

Kenneth Tobey

Kenneth Tobey

Floyd J. Starkey

Christopher Pray

Christopher Pray

David

Joe Miksak

Joe Miksak

Neil Atkinson

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Andres Gomez

Written on 7/18/2015

The cast is really good and Redford delivers a great performance. The story depicts the trip from an activist in the way to become the politician he was despising from the beginning, showing all the things that is is dropping in the raise to the election. However, the story is a bit rushed and the transfixing is not so evident as it could have been depicted.

Bazzjazz

Written on 5/10/2018

The Candidate: This film is a great look into the current administration in the White House. ‘The Candidate’ is a fine example of art imitating life!

CinemaSerf

Written on 6/25/2025

“McKay” (Robert Redford) is your stereotypical protest lawyer in California who is drafted in to fight the incumbent Republican “Crocker” (Don Porter) in what would appear to be little more than a box-ticking exercise for the Democrats. He only agrees to run if he is allowed by his election agent “Marvin” (Peter Boyle) to pretty much do and say what he likes throughout the campaign. Before long, that frankness and candour starts to resonate with an electorate coming to terms with some profound social and economic issues whilst already being represented by a man who has become somewhat distant and institutionalised by Washington and by a long term in the Senate. As the enthusiastic young man’s efforts gather pace, his erstwhile rather cynical advisor starts to take things more seriously and begins to impose himself on this fly by the seat of your pants process. If “McKay” is to actually succeed, just what and where is he going to have to compromise? Redford is a natural here and brings a degree of authenticity to hustings that all too often come across as being a procedure in which the voter is taken for granted. His ineptness, bluntness and open-mindedness is seen by many of his constituents as a source of hope and optimism, and he delivers that characterisation charismatically well. It’s set in the USA at the start of the 1970s, but it could quite readily be transferred to so many democracies where parliamentarians are elected and routinely re-elected based largely on the colour of their rosettes rather than on their representatives striving to serve the evolving needs of the communities. Although this doesn’t really offer us anything particularly revelatory, it’s a keen look at the effects of rocking the boat. Will he win, though?

Media

Original Theatrical Trailer

Original Theatrical Trailer

The Godfather and The Candidate Win Writing Awards: 1973 Oscars

The Godfather and The Candidate Win Writing Awards: 1973 Oscars

The Candidate - Trailer

The Candidate - Trailer

'The Candidate' | Critics' Picks | The New York Times

'The Candidate' | Critics' Picks | The New York Times