An Old Man Like the Judge Dreaming of the Past

The Judge, or tradition, in the film of Robert Penn Warren's All the King's Men, is all we have. Although it, too, is imperfect, at least there are mechanisms within it that limit the corruption and incline it toward virtue. At least there is a portrait on the wall in tradition, to which we owe something, toward which we orient ourselves, and in whose presence we act. Even Stark pays homage to tradition (although his actions undermine it); he remains married to his wife for instance, and he forces his son to play football--an activity praised by the tradition.

The film's treatment of women was interesting and complex. On the one hand, it is only through his wife's encouragement and aid that Stark pulls himself up out of ignorance. Sadie is smart; On the other hand, Anne is not. All of the women allow themselves to be used, to some extent, by Stark (his wife sits for the photograph). Ohh---but the killer line is the two women whining, "Let's not talk about politics," as if avoiding the subject solves the conflict in any way. At least one of them was smoking as she said it.