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Quiz Show |
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During the ’50s, TV quiz shows ruled the
airwaves. But in 1959, a scandal erupted that
challenged the integrity of the entire genre:
Certain contestants on NBC’s
Twenty-One were getting the answers
in advance. Quiz Show, a 1994
best-picture nominee with a brilliant
ensemble cast, is an excellent account of that
period in television history. It’s also an
entertaining character study.
This true story focuses on three key
players: Herb Stempel (John Turturro),
one-time champion of the rigged game show
who blew the whistle after the producers
forced him to take a dive; Charles Van Doren
(Ralph Fiennes), who unseated Stempel and
captured national attention, only to disgrace
his family name when found guilty of cheating
(a lesson straight from Proverbs 22:1); and
Richard Goodwin (Rob Morrow), the
government investigator obsessed with
exposing the network’s guilt.
Supporting characters are equally
interesting. Biographical snapshots contain
lessons about integrity, pride, jealousy, trust,
compromise, morality and greed. No violence.
No nudity. No sex. A perfect movie? No.
Despite its rich, morally relevant
personality profiles, Quiz Show has one
blemish. This otherwise outstanding motion
picture includes nearly a dozen inappropriate
uses of the Lord’s name, five s-words and an
outburst punctuated with the f-word.
Families reluctant to navigate such
language still have one lifeline: television.
When Quiz Show airs on network TV,
parents can watch, record and study it
with teenagers. It’s well worth the wait!
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