The movie is based off of a famous television scandal in the 1950's involving a quiz show named 21. 21 became a hit television show all around the country due to its two biggest contestants, Herb Stempel and Charles Van Doren. Stempel was a poor, Jewish college kid who had a very high IQ but lost to Charles Van Doren in the show. Van Doren was from a line of well educated and wealthy people and was an instant celebrity in American society. Awhile after accepting his defeat, Stempel begins to protest against the quiz show claiming that the answers were given to the contestants and the entire show was rigged. Stempel's claims leads to a private investigation of 21 by Congressional Investigator Dick Goodwin.
This movie will keep you interested from start to finish. The story is very intriguing, especially because it is based on real events. Neither Charles Van Doren or Herb Stempel are portrayed as particular good or bad men. Instead, the film focuses more on the deceit that is formed by the media.
Fun facts:
- Although the real Goodwin did investigate this scandal in 1959 (about three years after Stempel's run on the show ended), the movie never mentions the man who did most of the investigation: prosecutor Joseph Stone from the New York City District Attorney office of Frank Hogan.
- There was a documentary episode based on this scandal on the PBS show, The American Experience in 1991.
- Charles Van Doren beat Herb Stempel on December 5, 1956, which happened to be the 13th episode of the show. 21 was only scheduled to have 13 shows and then see from there if they were making high enough ratings to continue filming. This 13th episode sent the show's ratings through the roof.
- There were other quiz shows from the 1950's that were also rigged but are not mentioned as being so in the movie. One of these unmentioned rigged quiz shows was the show Charles Van Doren was originally trying out for: Tic-Tac-Dough.
- The real Herb Stempel actually made an uncredited appearance in this film as a different contestant being interviewed by Goodwin.
- Goodwin actually wrote a novel about this scandal that this movie is based off of.
- Quiz Show was nominated for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Paul Scofield who plays Charles Van Doren's father) and Best Adapted Screenplay.
This movie is rated PG-13, but would be fine for kids a few years younger. The only real problem with showing younger kids is that they wouldn't be able to follow the plot as easily.
Link to the trailer
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