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Quiz Show
Fifty million people watched but no one saw a thing.
1994 | 133m | English
Popularity: 4 (history)
| Director: | Robert Redford |
|---|---|
| Writer: | Paul Attanasio, Richard N. Goodwin |
| Staring: |
| Herbert Stempel's transformation into an unexpected television personality unfolds as he secures victory on the cherished American game show, 'Twenty-One.' However, when the show introduces the highly skilled contestant Charles Van Doren to replace Stempel, it compels Stempel to let out his frustrations and call out the show as rigged. Lawyer Richard Goodwin steps in and attempts to uncover the orchestrated deception behind the scenes. | |
| Release Date: | Aug 25, 1994 |
|---|---|
| Director: | Robert Redford |
| Writer: | Paul Attanasio, Richard N. Goodwin |
| Genres: | History, Drama |
| Keywords | manipulation, manipulation of the media, product placement, game show, investigation, quiz, idealism, tv ratings, idealist, based on true story, lawyer, 1950s, fighting the system, audacious, awestruck, cruel, frustrated |
| Production Companies | Wildwood Enterprises, Hollywood Pictures, Baltimore Pictures, Michael Jacobs Productions |
| Box Office |
Revenue: $24,822,619
Budget: $31,000,000 |
| Updates |
Updated: Feb 04, 2026 Entered: Apr 13, 2024 |
| Name | Character |
|---|---|
| John Turturro | Herb Stempel |
| Rob Morrow | Dick Goodwin |
| Ralph Fiennes | Charles Van Doren |
| Paul Scofield | Mark Van Doren |
| David Paymer | Dan Enright |
| Hank Azaria | Albert Freedman |
| Christopher McDonald | Jack Barry |
| Johann Carlo | Toby Stempel |
| Elizabeth Wilson | Dorothy Van Doren |
| Allan Rich | Robert Kintner |
| Mira Sorvino | Sandra Goodwin |
| George Martin | Chairman |
| Paul Guilfoyle | Lishman |
| Griffin Dunne | Account Guy |
| Michael Mantell | Pennebaker |
| Byron Jennings | Moomaw |
| Ben Shenkman | Childress |
| Timothy Busfield | Fred |
| Jack Gilpin | Jack |
| Bruce Altman | Gene |
| Martin Scorsese | Sponsor |
| Joseph Blaire | Lester Stempel |
| Ernie Sabella | Car Salesman |
| Barry Levinson | Dave Garroway |
| Debra Monk | Kintner's Secretary |
| Mario Cantone | Passerby |
| Timothy Britten Parker | Researcher |
| Grace Phillips | Mrs. Nearing |
| Jerry Grayson | Limo Driver |
| Scott Lucy | NBC Page |
| Matt Keeslar | NBC Page |
| Ron Scott Bertozzi | NBC Page |
| Harriet Sansom Harris | Enright's Secretary |
| Mary Shultz | Freedman's Secretary |
| Dave Wilson | Director |
| Robert Caminiti | Associate Director |
| Eddie Korbich | Lighting Director |
| Le Clanché du Rand | Cornwall Neighbor |
| Carole Shelley | Cornwall Aunt |
| Shawn Batten | Cornwall Cousin |
| Cornelia Ryan | Cornwall Cousin |
| Jeffrey Nordling | John Van Doren |
| Gina Rice | Mrs. John Van Doren |
| Vince O'Brien | Bunny Wilson |
| Adam Kilgour | Thomas Merton |
| Richard Seff | Congressman Devine |
| Bill Moor | Congressman Rogers |
| Nicholas Kepros | Congressman Flynt |
| Barry Snider | Congressman Springer |
| Chuck Adamson | Congressman Mack |
| Joseph Attanasio | Congressman Derounian |
| Dan Wakefield | Professor at Book Party |
| Hamilton Fish | Professor at Book Party |
| Merwin Goldsmith | Writer at Book Party |
| Illeana Douglas | Woman at Book Party |
| Gretchen Egolf | Student at Book Party |
| Stephen Pearlman | Judge Schweitzer |
| Anthony Fusco | Librarian |
| Douglas McGrath | Snodgrass |
| Calista Flockhart | Barnard Girl |
| Alysa Shwedel | Barnard Girl |
| Kelly Coffield Park | Queens Neighbor |
| Dede Pochos | Queens Neighbor |
| Maria Radman | Queens Neighbor |
| David Stepkin | Queens Neighbor |
| Steve Roland | Today Announcer (voice) |
| Bernie Sheredy | Reporter |
| Joe Lisi | Reporter |
| Greg Martin | Reporter |
| Reno | Woman at Door |
| Neil Leifer | Psychoanalyst |
| Caryn Krooth | Blonde |
| Mario Contacessi | Waiter |
| Patricia Geri Russell | Challenger |
| Bill Cwikowski | Challenger |
| William Fichtner | Stage Manager |
| Vincent J. Burns | Crew Member |
| Katherine Borowitz | #1 Mom |
| Ray Abbott | Photographer (uncredited) |
| Ted Brunson | Reporter (uncredited) |
| Michael J. Burg | Student (uncredited) |
| Hélène Cardona | Student (Uncredited) |
| Richard Council | Reporter #1 (uncredited) |
| Jerry Griffin | Doorman (uncredited) |
| David Hausen | Camera Operator (uncredited) |
| Ethan Hawke | Don Quixote Student (uncredited) |
| Christopher King | Congressional Hearing Reporter (uncredited) |
| Stas Kmiec | Man in Glasses (uncredited) |
| Michael Luceri | Student (uncredited) |
| Owen Lund | Techincal Director (uncredited) |
| Gerald McCullouch | Bus Boy (uncredited) |
| Peter Morse | Student (uncredited) |
| Ron Ostrow | Photographer (uncredited) |
| John Ponzio | NBC Page (uncredited) |
| James Prendergast | Lawyer (uncredited) |
| Steve Ryan | NBC Employee (uncredited) |
| Jonathan Marc Sherman | Don Quixote Student #2 (uncredited) |
| Nick Taylor | Herbie's Neighbor (uncredited) |
| Glenn Zarr | Press Phtographer (uncredited) |
| John D. Bair | Grad Student (uncredited) |
| Thomas Callahan | Press Photographer (uncredited) |
| Skip Rose | Reporter (uncredited) |
| Billy Marshall Thompson | Student (uncredited) |
| Name | Job |
|---|---|
| Robert Redford | Director |
| Paul Attanasio | Screenplay |
| Mark Isham | Musician, Original Music Composer |
| Michael Ballhaus | Director of Photography |
| Bonnie Timmermann | Casting |
| Jon Hutman | Production Design |
| Miriam Schapiro | Art Department Coordinator |
| Gary Rydstrom | Sound Re-Recording Mixer, Sound Designer |
| Tom Johnson | Sound Re-Recording Mixer |
| Richard Hymns | Supervising Sound Editor |
| Joseph P. Reidy | First Assistant Director |
| Christopher Boyes | Assistant Sound Designer |
| Stu Linder | Editor |
| Ken Nelson | Construction Coordinator |
| Beulah Jones-Black | Assistant Costume Designer |
| Dan Bronson | Assistant Costume Designer |
| Bunny Parker | Key Hair Stylist |
| Tim Galvin | Art Direction |
| Sheila Paige | Script Supervisor |
| Ed Check | Assistant Art Director |
| Tony Fanning | Assistant Art Director |
| Kathy O'Rear | Costume Design |
| Sharon Ilson | Key Makeup Artist, Makeup Artist |
| Bob Shaw | Assistant Art Director |
| Richard N. Goodwin | Book |
| Lydia Dean Pilcher | Production Manager |
| Katherine Quittner | Music Supervisor |
| Tod A. Maitland | Sound Mixer |
| Susan E. Fiore | Second Second Assistant Director |
| Donna Hamilton | Assistant Set Decoration |
| Alyssa Winter | Assistant Set Decoration |
| Diane D'Addio | Assistant Set Decoration |
| Patricia Eiben | Wardrobe Supervisor |
| Paul Buboltz | Wardrobe Supervisor |
| Angel De Angelis | Hairstylist |
| Francesca Paris | Hairstylist |
| Bernadette Mazur | Makeup Artist |
| Kymbra Callaghan | Makeup Artist |
| Karen Tenkhoff | Assistant Sound Editor |
| Donna Jaffe | Assistant Sound Editor |
| Susan Sanford | Assistant Sound Editor |
| J.R. Grubbs | Assistant Sound Editor |
| Kevin Rose-Williams | Assistant Sound Editor |
| Andre Fenley | Assistant Sound Editor |
| Samara Hutman | Set Decoration |
| Alysa Shwedel | Assistant Production Coordinator |
| Florian Ballhaus | Camera Operator |
| Joanne Cocuzza | Hairstylist |
| Linda Lazar | Makeup Artist |
| Gabriella Pollino | Hairstylist |
| Jovan Vitagliano | Hairstylist |
| Miguel Ángel Poveda | Post Production Supervisor |
| Joe Burns | Second Assistant Director |
| Jeff Balsmeyer | Storyboard Artist |
| Stephen Barth | Scenic Artist |
| Joe Bird | Set Dresser |
| Conrad V. Brink Jr. | Set Dresser |
| Jeff Brink | Set Dresser |
| Gilbert Gertsen | Set Dresser |
| Brent Haywood | Carpenter |
| Mark Horstmann | Carpenter |
| Kalina Ivanov | Storyboard Artist |
| Kevin McCarthy | Leadman |
| John Oates Jr. | Set Dresser |
| Joseph Proscia | Set Dresser |
| Robert Topol | Scenic Artist |
| M. Tony Trotta | Scenic Artist |
| Paul Camarro | Set Dresser |
| Deni Holl | Set Painter |
| John Merrick | Construction Grip |
| Silvija L. Moess | Scenic Artist |
| Louis J. Porzio | Carpenter |
| Mary Prlain | Assistant Set Decoration |
| Sandina Bailo-Lape | Foley Editor |
| Tom Barwick | Foley Artist |
| Sara Bolder | Dialogue Editor |
| Tony Eckert | Foley Mixer |
| Ken Fischer | Sound Effects Editor |
| Rob Fruchtman | ADR Editor |
| Joel Holland | Sound Recordist |
| David Platt | Boom Operator |
| Michael Silvers | Dialogue Editor |
| Dennie Thorpe | Foley Artist |
| Matthew Wood | Assistant Sound Editor |
| Bruce Atwater | Grip |
| Jerry DeBlau | Gaffer |
| Michael Finnerty | Rigging Grip |
| Brian Fitzsimons | Best Boy Grip |
| Kenneth Fundus | Rigging Grip |
| Dennis Gamiello | Dolly Grip, Key Grip |
| John Lowry | Grip |
| Bobby Mancuso | Second Assistant Camera |
| Anastas N. Michos | Steadicam Operator, "B" Camera Operator |
| Arthur Moshlak | Electrician |
| Fred Muller | Electrician |
| Heather Norton | Camera Trainee |
| Wayne Paull | Camera Operator |
| Louis Petraglia | Electrician |
| Peter John Petraglia | Best Boy Electric |
| Ronald Plant | Rigging Grip |
| Lance Shepherd | Electrician |
| Susan Starr | First Assistant Camera |
| Bobby Vercruse | Electrician |
| Barry Wetcher | Still Photographer |
| Dick Fisher | Camera Operator |
| David Hausen | Additional Camera |
| Gábor Kövér | Additional Camera |
| Patricia Kerrigan DiCerto | Casting Assistant |
| Karen E. Etcoff | Extras Casting |
| Barbara Harris | ADR Voice Casting |
| Alison E. McBryde | Casting Assistant |
| Mary Gierczak | Wardrobe Assistant |
| Barrett Hong | Wardrobe Assistant |
| Haleen K. Holt | Costume Illustrator |
| Valerie Laven-Cooper | Costumer |
| Blair Daily | Associate Editor |
| Mark Daily | Assistant Editor |
| Laura Berning | Location Assistant |
| Maria T. Bierniak | Assistant Location Manager |
| John Crowder | Location Coordinator |
| David DeClerque | Location Manager |
| Amy Herman | Location Manager |
| Mark Kamine | Location Assistant |
| Carlos Moore | Assistant Location Manager |
| Bryan Thomas | Location Assistant |
| Tom Tumminello | Location Assistant |
| Deren Getz | Location Scout |
| Robin F. Samson | Location Scout |
| Dell Hake | Orchestrator |
| Stephen Krause | Scoring Mixer |
| Ken Kugler | Conductor, Orchestrator |
| Craig Pettigrew | Music Editor |
| Kim Scharnberg | Orchestrator |
| Tom Boyd | Musician |
| Todd Homme | Music Producer |
| James Thatcher | Musician |
| Louise Di Tullio | Musician |
| Sebastian Toettcher | Musician |
| Timothy Shannon | Transportation Co-Captain |
| James P. Whalen Jr. | Transportation Captain |
| Bobby Marsh | Driver |
| Dale E. Grahn | Color Timer |
| David Hamme | Colorist |
| Ellen M. Hillers | Production Coordinator |
| Dawn Murphy Riley | Assistant Production Coordinator |
| Shelley Houis | Production Coordinator |
| Lynn D. Ezelle | Post Production Accountant |
| Andrea Isaacs | Assistant Accountant |
| Ilene Landress | Production Accountant |
| Tommy Allen | Property Master |
| Dimitri Apletchef | Assistant Property Master |
| Sandy Hamilton | Assistant Property Master |
| Marsha Robertson | Unit Publicist |
| Susan Bradley | Title Designer |
| Tim Monich | Dialect Coach |
| Name | Title |
|---|---|
| Robert Redford | Producer |
| Richard Dreyfuss | Executive Producer |
| Jeff McCracken | Co-Producer |
| Michael Jacobs | Producer |
| Michael Nozik | Producer |
| Julian Krainin | Producer |
| Judith James | Executive Producer |
| Gail Mutrux | Co-Producer |
| Richard N. Goodwin | Co-Producer |
| Susan Moore | Associate Producer |
| Frederick Zollo | Executive Producer |
| Organization | Category | Person | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Golden Globes | Best Actor | John Turturro | Nominated |
| Academy Awards | Best Picture | N/A | Nominated |
| Academy Awards | Best Director | Robert Redford | Nominated |
| SAG Awards | Best Supporting Actor | John Turturro | Nominated |
| SAG Awards | Best Actor | John Turturro | Nominated |
| BAFTA Awards | Best Director | Robert Redford | Nominated |
| BAFTA Awards | Best Picture | N/A | Nominated |
Popularity History
| Year | Month | Avg | Max | Min |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 4 | 23 | 43 | 12 |
| 2024 | 5 | 25 | 60 | 14 |
| 2024 | 6 | 16 | 24 | 11 |
| 2024 | 7 | 16 | 34 | 10 |
| 2024 | 8 | 19 | 30 | 10 |
| 2024 | 9 | 16 | 32 | 11 |
| 2024 | 10 | 12 | 17 | 7 |
| 2024 | 11 | 17 | 38 | 8 |
| 2024 | 12 | 13 | 29 | 8 |
| 2025 | 1 | 17 | 39 | 10 |
| 2025 | 2 | 11 | 19 | 3 |
| 2025 | 3 | 6 | 16 | 1 |
| 2025 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| 2025 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 2025 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| 2025 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| 2025 | 8 | 1 | 7 | 1 |
| 2025 | 9 | 2 | 3 | 1 |
| 2025 | 10 | 3 | 5 | 2 |
| 2025 | 11 | 4 | 7 | 2 |
| 2025 | 12 | 3 | 8 | 1 |
| 2026 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| 2026 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 1 |
Trending Position