Historical accuracy and interpretations aside, "Tennessee Johnson," thanks to superb screenwriter John L. Balderston, is the most suspenseful, involving and well-structured Washington DC melodrama this side of Gore Vidal's "The Best Man" (1964). At 103 minutes, it's a marvel of the kind of concision rarely seen today, ranging through the course of a man's life from illiterate runaway slave to President of the United States to US Senator. Under the skillful direction of William Dieterle, Van Heflin stars in the title role, ably supported by Ruth Hussey as his teacher and wife and an outstanding studio cast. Dieterle's staging and pacing are wonderful. It should inspire research into the history of the period in the same way Vidal's film casts light on some of the prime issues of the 1950s and the inner workings of our constitutional republic.
Review of Tennessee Johnson
