Quiz Show (1994)
- Information at Internet
Movie Database
-
Cinema in Focus,
a social and spiritual commentary by Hal Conklin and Denny Wayman.
- Themes
- Confession
- Charlie confesses his lack of integrity to his
father, knowing that his father values what Charlie has pretended to
be. "I was one of those frauds." (DVD chapter 26)
- Charlie's public confession of his lack of
integrity. (DVD chapter 27)
- Father Figure
- Conversation between father and son. Charlie
remembers simple things from his childhood: "I can't think of
anything that would make me that happy again." Mark: "Wait
until you have a son." (DVD chapter 18)
- Forgiveness/Reconciliation
- Although Charlie has disappointed his father and
caused disgrace to the family, Mark accompanies and supports Charlie
at the congressional hearings. Father stands by son as son confesses
family shame in public. (DVD chapter 26-27)
- Institutional Evil
- Conversation between Goodwin and Geritol Sponsor:
"Who does it hurt?" Lies at congressional committee
hearing. (DVD chapter 24)
- Integrity
- Herb Stemple guesses "On the Waterfront"
and loses the show though he knows the right answer. He spends the
rest of his life questioning his integrity and questioning who is to
blame for his decision. (DVD chapter 8)
- Charlie: If someone offered you all this money to
be on a rigged quiz show, would you do it?
Goodwin: No.
Charlie: And I would. (DVD chapter 21)
- Goodwin talks about his uncle telling his aunt
about an affair he'd had 8 years previous. "It's the getting
away with it part he couldn't live with." (DVD chapter 25)
- Rationalizing Evil/Sin
- Charlie increasingly rationalizes what he knows is
a decision that will risk his integrity, as he walks down the
stairs. "I deserve the $20,000 as much as anybody." (DVD
chapter 9)
- Temptation/Wilderness
- The Quiz Show as the place where the hero is tested
and his True Identity is known to all.
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