Quiz Show, directed by Robert Redford is a true story about the nature of the Game Show which was a hot topic on NBC during the late 1950’s.
Herb Stemple (John Turturro) is a contestant on the gameshow TWENTY-ONE who is not really very popular but has a phenominal run as the champion on the show. He is rather psychotic, offensive and not too bright and is also fortunate enough to get the answers in advance to insure his success.
When the network ratings are in a slump, the Executives of the show, Jack Berry and Dan Enright, tell him that he must take a dive and lose. He must pretend that he does not know the answer to the final question, which he knows well. ’’What movie received the academy award for best picture in 1955? He answers ’’On the Waterfront’’ (the real answer is MARTY). Really, it does not matter weather he knows the answer to the questions because the show is ’’not about smart people but about the money’’ (and ratings).
The face off that ends Herb’s run as undefeated champion is against Charles Van Doren (Ralph Feinnes) who is a distinguished professor at Columbia. He has a Masters in Astrophysics and a PhD in Literature and is also under the shadow of his great Father, Mark Van Doren. As smart as he is, he also receives the answers in advance of the show. At first, he is very resistant but cannot give up the dream to be rich, successful and smart aside from his father’s image. He has no foundation of his own and this is his big chance.
As the show skyrockets in ratings, Dick Goodwin (Bob Morrow) who is with the Congressional Subcommittee, is investigating allegations of the ’’fixed’’ game show. He investigates the matter but all are tightlipped about what is going on and this is very hard to prove. During this time, Charlie and Dick become ’’friends’’ and Dick maintains that Charlie is not being honest. He relates a story about his uncle who was not faithful to his wife and many years later although he ’’got away with it’’ always felt dishonest and confided in his nephew that ’’it was the getting away with it part that he could not live with’’. Still Charlie holds out and does not confess the truth.
The Executives of the show, the CEO of NBC and the CEO of Pharmaceutical Inc. (Martin Scorsese) which sponsors the show (Geritol) testify that they know nothing about the scandal that was on the front page of Time Magazine, showing the highrated show and Charlie on the set, reeling with fame and fortune.
Finally, Charlie visits his father (Paul Scofield) and confesses. He admits that he did it because he felt he was flying on his father’s borrowed wings and now it is time to tell the truth. His father, although shocked, agrees to support his son and goes with him to the committee. The committee commends Charlie for his ’’soul searching confession’’ while others are quite offended-as they should be.
NBC still contended that the show was too successful and they gave the public what they wanted-Entertainment. They went unpunished.
After the Scandall:
Charlie writes for the Encyclopedia Brittanica, no longer teaches and lives in Connecticut.
Goodwin was a speechwriter for the Kennedy administration in the 1960’s.
Herb Stemple- Worked for the NY Transit Dept
Berry and Enright -went on to make the ’’Joker’s Wild’’ gameshow and became millionaires.