Quiz Show (1994)
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A young lawyer investigates the corruption behind a popular 1950s quiz show after a champion's victory is revealed to be rigged.
The story
In 1958, the questions and answers to be used for the latest broadcast of NBC's popular quiz show Twenty-One are transported from a secure bank vault to the studio. The evening's main attraction is Queens resident Herb Stempel, the reigning champion, who correctly answers every single question he is asked. Eventually, both the network and the program's corporate sponsor, the supplementary tonic Geritol, begin to fear that Stempel's approval ratings are beginning to level out, and decide that the show would benefit from new talent. Producers are surprised when Columbia University instructor Charles Van Doren auditions for a different show, leading to a series of events that uncover the show's underlying deception.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
In 1958, the questions and answers to be used for the latest broadcast of NBC's popular quiz show Twenty-One are transported from a secure bank vault to the studio. The evening's main attraction is Queens resident Herb Stempel, the reigning champion, who correctly answers every single question he is asked. Eventually, both the network and the program's corporate sponsor, the supplementary tonic Geritol, begin to fear that Stempel's approval ratings are beginning to level out, and decide that the show would benefit from new talent. Producers Dan Enright and Albert Freedman are surprised when Columbia University instructor Charles Van Doren auditions for a different show, Tic-Tac-Dough. Realizing they have found an ideal challenger for Stempel, they offer to ask him the same questions he correctly answered during his audition. After a moment of moral indecision, Van Doren gives the correct answer, and Stempel deliberately misses an easy question to lose, having been promised a future in television. Van Doren becomes a national celebrity but eventually allows the producers to give him the answers. Meanwhile, Stempel, having lost his prize money to an unscrupulous bookie, threatens legal action against NBC. Richard Goodwin, a young Congressional lawyer, travels to New York City to investigate rumors of rigged quiz shows. He suspects Twenty-One is a fixed operation. Stempel confesses he was fed the correct answers and insists Van Doren was involved. A guilt-ridden Van Doren deliberately loses, but NBC offers him a lucrative contract. Goodwin presents evidence of the quiz show's corruption to the House Subcommittee on Legislative Oversight. Subpoenaed, Van Doren testifies and admits his role. At the hearing, the producers refuse to turn against their bosses, vindicating the sponsors and the network. Goodwin takes full responsibility for rigging the show.
- First release year
- 1994
- Runtime (minutes)
- 133
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Robert Redford
- Writers
- Paul Attanasio · screenplay
- Cast and characters
- John Turturro · Stempel; Rob Morrow · Goodwin; Ralph Fiennes · Charles Van Doren; Paul Scofield · Mark Van Doren; David Paymer; Hank Azaria; Martin Scorsese; Mira Sorvino
- Genres
- historical mystery-drama; American detective; American docudrama; American drama; American legal drama; American mystery drama
- Themes
- loss of innocence; temptation with money; moral ambiguity; cult of celebrity; negative side effects of fame; corruption of big business; mass media corruption; ethnic conflict; discord between education and entertainment
- Tone and mood
- sly refinement; intelligent; ruthless; smart; subtle
- Premise and plot tags
- historical drama; mystery; legal drama; true story; television scandal; quiz show
- Source material / true-story basis
- memoirs of Richard N. Goodwin and a chapter of the book Remembering America: A Voice from the Sixties (1988)
- Content notes
- ethnic conflict
- Reception
- The film received generally positive reviews and was nominated for several awards, including a Best Picture Oscar nomination and several Golden Globe Awards. It was praised for its performances and intelligent interrogation of public standards, though some critics noted exaggerated performances.
- Reported review scores
- Rotten Tomatoes · score: 97% · review count: 117; Metacritic · score: 92 · review count: 27
- Awards and nominations
- Oscar · Best Picture · Nomination; Dallas–Fort Worth Film Critics Association Award · Best Supporting Actor · Nomination; National Society of Film Critics Award · Best Supporting Actor · Nomination; New York Film Critics Circle Award · Best Supporting Actor · Nomination; Chicago Film Critics Association Award · Best Supporting Actor · Nomination
- Production trivia
- Robert Redford was in his early 20s when he first saw the original show.; Ralph Fiennes posed as a lost motorist to visit Charles Van Doren's home.; The real Goodwin and Stempel served as technical advisors to the production.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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