All the King's Men

Reporter Jack Burden (John Ireland) is sent on assignment to write about Willie Stark (Broderick Crawford), a charismatic and ambitious politician running for county treasurer in a Southern state. Stark campaigns against corruption, but loses, earning a law degree and later winning a lawsuit that sets him on a path to the governorship. As Stark's star rises, so does the moral decay of the politician, his relationships, and the public's perception of him, ultimately leading to a tragic downfall.