One of the most common European misconceptions about American politics comes from the fact that most European countries are modelled as centralised nation-states while USA is a federation. Therefore, unlike Europe, most of American politics is local/regional/state politics and even US history reflects that. Some of the most prominent or important American politicians were people whose power base never left their individual states. Good example could be found in the life of Huey P. Long (1893 - 1935), Louisiana governor and one of the most controversial figures of American history. His life was subject of Kingfish: A Huey P. Long Story, 1995 television biopic directed by Thomas Schlamme.
Plot of the film begins in 1918 when Louisiana attorney Huey P. Long (played by John Goodman) campaigns with his car all around the country in order to win the office of state railroad commissioner. Ten years after the win he has built enough of a power base and political talent to win Louisiana governorship. At the helm of the state he starts implementing ambitious program of social reforms and public works, which includes taxing the wealthy corporations, improving country roads and giving welfare services to the poor. Such populist policy brings him many enemies in Louisiana conservative political establishment, best embodied by his arch-enemy Judge Benjamin Pavy (played by Richard Bradford). Faced with relentless opposition, Long begins to fight them with National Guard, secret police and other methods more suitable to dictators than to democratically elected leaders. In 1930 Long is elected to U.S. Senate and later allies himself with new president Franklin Delano Roosevelt (played by Bob Gunton). However, Long is soon disenchanted with Roosevelt's New Deal and instead promotes "Share Our Wealth" - his own, more radical and more populist plan to redistribute national wealth. In 1935 he announces his plans to challenge Roosevelt's presidency and run the entire country in a way he ruled his state, unaware that the fate would intervene.
Kingfish suffers from the same thing as many other television biopics – authors' desire to stuff someone's entire life into neat little 90 minute format. In case of some other celebrities this might have worked, but not in the case of such flamboyant and controversial personality like Long. To make things worse, scriptwriter Paul Monash tends to ignore Long's political career and instead gives too much emphasis on his private life. So, we are subjected to long scenes that depict his relationship with secretary/mistress Aileen Dumont (played by Anne Heche) or his carousing. Long's policies that had caused so much controversy over the last century are only briefly mentioned. The movie suggests that Long's populist message and his questionable methods had at least some similarities with fascist dictators like Hitler and Mussolini. Yet those suggestions are only telegraphed and not shown in any depth. The most important questions about Long - whether he was genuine reformer or ruthless populist and whether he indeed represented the serious threat to American democracy in the dark years of Great Depression - are not even asked. John Goodman seems quite suitable for the role of this larger-than-life character, but even his charisma can't compensate for the lack of proper content in this film.
RATING: 4/10 (+)
(Note: The text in its original form was posted in Usenet newsgroup rec.arts.movies.reviews on November 18th 2002)
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Movie URL: https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/265765-kingfish-the-story-of-huey-p-long?language=en-US
Critic: AA
