All the King’s Men

A dark fable about power and demagogy inspired by the rise and fall of radical populist Huey Long, a former governor of Louisiana who was assassinated in 1935. Robert Rossen, the son of Russian-Jewish immigrants who grew up on New York’s Lower East Side, was regarded in the 30s and 40s as one of Hollywood’s best paid auteurs. ALL THE KING’S MEN was the pinnacle of his career and received three Oscars, including for Best Film. Only two years later, he had to testify before the House Un-American Activities Committee and was interrogated about his membership of the Communist Party. Columbia Pictures terminated their contract with Rossen as a result, his name landed on the Hollywood blacklist, and the US State Department refused to let him renew his passport.