The People vs. Larry Flynt (1996)

User Rating:

7.2/10   

Director:

Milos Forman

Writers (WGA):

Scott Alexander (written by) &
Larry Karaszewski (written by)

Release Date:

25 December 1996 (USA)

Genre:

Biography | Drama

Tagline:

You may not like what he does, but are you prepared to give up his right to do it?

Plot:

A partially idealized film of the controversial pornography publisher and how he became a defender of free speech for all people.

Plot Keywords:

Magazine | Hustler | Hustler Magazine | Pornography | Courtroom

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 20 wins & 9 nominations

Cast

Woody Harrelson	...	Larry Flynt
Courtney Love	...	Althea Leasure Flynt
Edward Norton	...	Alan Isaacman
Brett Harrelson	...	Jimmy Flynt
Donna Hanover	...	Ruth Carter Stapleton
James Cromwell	...	Charles Keating
Crispin Glover	...	Arlo
Vincent Schiavelli	...	Chester
Miles Chapin	...	Miles
James Carville	...	Simon Leis
Richard Paul	...	Reverend Jerry Falwell
Burt Neuborne	...	Roy Grutman
Jan Triska	...	The Assassin
Cody Block	...	10-Year-Old Larry
Ryan Post	...	8-Year-Old Jimmy

Also Known As:

Larry Flynt (Canada: French title)

MPAA:

Rated R for strong sexual material, nudity, language and drug use.

Runtime:

129 min

Country:

Canada | USA

Language:

English

Colour:

Colour

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

SDDS | Dolby SR

Certification:

Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:14 (Nova Scotia) | Canada:AA (Ontario) | Canada:R (Manitoba) | Iceland:16 | Argentina:16 | South Korea:18 | Philippines:R-18 | USA:R (certificate # 34339) | France:U | Australia:MA | Austria:12 | Chile:18 | Finland:K-16 | Germany:12 | Hong Kong:III | Italy:VM14 | Netherlands:16 | Peru:18 | Portugal:M/16 | Singapore:R(A) (cut) | Spain:18 | Sweden:15 | UK:18

Filming Locations:

Abandoned train station, Memphis, Tennessee, USA

Company:

Columbia Pictures Corporation

Trivia:

Larry Flynt and his brother Jimmy Flynt are played by real-life brothers Woody Harrelson and Brett Harrelson.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: In the opening scene in 1953, the boys are paid with $1 bills with the words "In God We Trust" printed on the back. The bills in 1953 did not have that phrase, which was added to the bills much later.

Quotes:

Larry Flynt: [incredulously] 25 years? All I'm guilty of is bad taste.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Larry Flynt: The Right to Be Left Alone (2007)

Soundtrack:

Country Girl

Essential viewing

Larry Flynt is an easy guy to hate. This film takes you into his world, as nightclub owner turned Hustler magazine publisher. His sudden rise to success during the mid 70's sets the stage for a stunning series of prosecutions, lawsuits, prison sentences, an assassination attempt, and finally a case in the Supreme Court where Flynt finally has a major court victory.

Flynt is portrayed here as a true hero - somebody who has done much to expand the parameters of free speech, and otherwise rock the boat (as with his exposure of the DeLorean tapes), at great personal cost.

After seeing things from Larry Flynt's side in this film, you may still hate him or hate what he publishes, but you will be convinced of the necessity of free speech for everyone - including for people like Larry Flynt. For this reason you really should see this film if you haven't already.