All the Bits of ‘All the President’s Men’ Still Hold Up
Nothing's riding on this except the, uh, the readership of this website
50 years ago today, The Washington Post published the first Watergate article by Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein. A seemingly small break-in at first, it would later lead to the unraveling of an unprecedented conspiracy by the investigative duo. Their reporting led to Congressional investigation, indictments and eventually the resignation of President Richard Nixon.
Alan J. Pakula’s 1976 classic “All the President’s Men,” based on the book of the same name by Woodward and Bernstein, tells the story of their investigation. And it does so in a way that is not only easy to follow, but that all viewers can find something to like.
Washington Post journalist Bob Woodward (Robert Redford) is assigned to cover the break-in at the Democratic National Committee headquarters within the Watergate complex. At court, he learns that one of the burglars worked for the CIA. He then connects Howard Hunt, an employee of White House counsel Charles Colson, to the incident. After reading Woodward’s draft of the article, fellow Washington Post journalist Carl Bernstein (Dustin Hoffman) takes it and “polishes” it. They are then both assigned to cover the Watergate story. And thus, the Watergate investigation by Woodstein begins.
There is no denying that the events that unfolded were complicated, especially for those unfamiliar with history or politics. However, the film masterfully explains through clear and concise script and helps the viewer to connect the dots just as Woodward and Bernstein did 50 years ago. At 138 minutes, there’s never a dull moment. You always wonder what’s going to happen next and how Woodward and Bernstein are going to get the information or confirmation of facts that they needed. Good pacing is something that I always appreciate in a film, and this one exceeded my expectations. The brilliant acting of Redford and Hoffman certainly helped. Throughout the experience, there’s never when I thought of them as Redford and Hoffman, always Woodward and Bernstein. This is also assisted by the supporting cast. Their stellar performances gave life and depth to the diverse group of characters they portray.
It’s also a genuinely thrilling thriller. Not the kind of thriller where you’re afraid that someone’s going to get murdered or there’s a ghost in the basement, but the sensation that something larger than yourself is at stake and the forces beyond your comprehension are at play. Hal Holbrook gave a highly notable performance as “Deep Throat,” Woodward’s anonymous FBI source, later revealed to be Associate FBI Director Mark Felt. During the investigation, Woodward and Felt would meet in a dark parking garage, which gave the film an intensely and increasingly secretive feeling. The soothing and mysterious musical soundtrack by David Shire similarly served to amplify those emotions.
All in all, “All the President’s Men” still holds up after 46 years. It’s aged more than well. No wonder why the Library of Congress selected it for preservation for it being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant." Like the investigation it is based on, “All the President’s Men” demonstrates the power, the importance and the hard work of the free press and investigative journalism.
“Nothing's riding on this except the, uh, first amendment to the Constitution, freedom of the press, and maybe the future of the country,” Washington Post executive editor Ben Bradlee said in the film. That’s also another reason why you should see the film if you’ve seen “The Post,” by the way. Ben Bradlee is here, again! (Beautifully portrayed by Jason Robards, of course.)
10/10