Quiz Show

"Fifty million people watched, but no one saw a thing."

1994 2h 13m EN

👍

7.2

SOLID

★7.2TMDB · 1,027

HistoryDrama

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

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.

“Fifty million people watched, but no one saw a thing.”

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Cast

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

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Robert Redford
Writers: Paul Attanasio, Jeff Balsmeyer, Kalina Ivanov
Languages: English
Countries: United States of America

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

MONEY

Did you know

Earned back only 80% of its budget on initial theatrical — a commercial disappointment on release.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

ERA

Did you know

32 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

CAST

Did you know

275+ people credited in cast and crew — a small city's worth of labour.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Robert Redford, shot by Michael Ballhaus. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Mark Isham. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Stu Linder shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

CAST

Did you know

John Turturro and Rob Morrow and Ralph Fiennes carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

FACT

Did you know

Marketing tagline: "Fifty million people watched, but no one saw a thing.".

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Robert Redford directs. Michael Ballhaus behind the camera. Mark Isham scores. Stu Linder cuts. A commercial under-performer on release. Produced in United States of America. Dialogue in English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

1Earned back only 80% of its budget on initial theatrical — a commercial disappointment on release.
232 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.
3275+ people credited in cast and crew — a small city's worth of labour.
4Directed by Robert Redford, shot by Michael Ballhaus. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
5Original score by Mark Isham. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
6Editor Stu Linder shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
7John Turturro and Rob Morrow and Ralph Fiennes carry the top of the cast.
8Marketing tagline: "Fifty million people watched, but no one saw a thing.".
9IMDB entry: tt0110932 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
10Classified under 17 themes, including "investigation", "manipulation", "manipulation of the media", "game show".