Quiz Show

Quiz Show is a 1994 film which tells the true story of the Twenty One quiz show scandal of the 1950s. It stars John Turturro, Rob Morrow, Ralph Fiennes, Paul Scofield, David Paymer, Hank Azaria, and Christopher McDonald.

Related Topics:
1994 - Twenty One - Quiz show scandal - 1950s - John Turturro - Rob Morrow - Ralph Fiennes - Paul Scofield - David Paymer - Hank Azaria - Christopher McDonald

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The film chronicles the rise and fall of the popular contestant Charles Van Doren (played by Fiennes), and Congressional investigator Dick Goodwin's probe of Twenty-Ones rigging. Morrow portrays Goodwin, who is also one of the co-producers of the film.

Related Topics:
Charles Van Doren - Dick Goodwin

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The movie was adapted by Paul Attanasio from Goodwin's book Remembering America. It was produced and directed by Robert Redford.

Related Topics:
Paul Attanasio - Robert Redford

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Quiz Show was nominated for Academy Awards for Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Paul Scofield), Best Director, Best Picture and Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium.

Related Topics:
Academy Awards - Best Actor in a Supporting Role - Best Director - Best Picture - Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium

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The film is the first major picture based on the 1950s controversy that rocked American television (and nearly led to the ruination of quiz-show producers Jack Barry (played by McDonald) and Dan Enright (Paymer). Its attention to period detail include using many New York and New Jersey spaces to replicate the NBC studios and Washington governmental facilities of the 1950s. Fordham University was used to replicate the 1950s Columbia University, where Van Doren taught English.

Related Topics:
Jack Barry - Dan Enright - Fordham University - Columbia University

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While the movie purports to portray real events, it has been widely critized for taking liberties to create its own heroes and villains. The movie has investigator Goodwin starting his pursuit of Van Doren during his 1957 run on Twenty-One, when in fact the Congressional investigation led by Goodwin came in the summer of 1959.

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Others have complained that it inflates Goodwin's role in the probe and barely mentions the initial investigation, led by prosecutor Joseph Stone from the office of New York County District Attorney Frank Hogan. It was after a judge sealed from public release the New York Grand Jury presentment of findings in the probe that Congress launched its investigation.

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The movie implies that NBC filtered to Enright Twenty-One sponsor Geritol's desire that Stempel be replaced, with network president Bob Kintner (played by Allen Rich) telling Enright "You're a producer, Dan. Produce." Neither Kintner nor NBC have yet been implicated in the scandal, but Enright has said that Geritol's complaints about the unattractiveness of the Twenty-One premiere prompted his company to rig the show.

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