The Candidates On Their Favorite Films

CBS Evening News: Obama And McCain Answer Katie Couric's Presidential Questions

(CBS)  In November, Americans decide whether Barack Obama or John McCain becomes the 44th President of the United States. In the series "Presidential Questions," CBS News anchor Katie Couric asks questions that move the candidates well beyond the usual sound-bites. Some questions concern policy. Others are more personal. All will give you a better sense of who these men are - and what has shaped them. What follows is Couric's question - and the candidates' full answers.

Couric: What is your favorite movie of all time?

McCain: "Viva Zapata." It's a movie made by Elia Kazan. It was one of the trilogy of "A Streetcar Named Desire," and "On the Waterfront" and "Viva Zapata." Marlon Brando stars in it. He plays Zapata. It's a heroic tale of a person who sacrificed everything for what he believed in and there's some of the most moving scenes in that movie that I've ever seen. And one of them is he gets married. The night of his wedding night he gets up, and he and Jean Peters are in their hotel room, this little room, and she says "what's the matter?" And he says, "I gotta go to Mexico City tomorrow. I've gotta be with Poncho Villa and Modero and these people." He says "I can't read." And she reaches over and takes the bible from the table and opens it up and starts, "In the beginning." It's a great scene. It's great and there's many others that are wonderful too, especially when he dies - when he gives everything for his country and what he believes in.

Obama: Oh, I think it would have to be "The Godfather." One and Two. Three not so much. That saga - I love that movie.

Couric Do you have a favorite scene?

Obama: You know, so many of them. I think my favorite has to be, the opening scene of the first "Godfather" where, where the caretaker comes in and, you know, Marlon Brando is sitting there and he's saying "you disrespected me." You know "and now you want a favor." It sets the tone for the whole movie. Now there …

Couric: And all hell breaks lose, right?

Obama: Yeah, right. I mean there's this combination of old world gentility and ritual, with this savagery underneath. It's all about family. So it's a great movie. "Lawrence of Arabia." Great film. One of my favorites - and then "Casablanca." Who doesn't like "Casablanca?"

Couric I asked for one!

Obama: I'm a movie guy. I can rattle off a bunch of movies. But that "Casablanca," you know.

[billyjoe1231]

Are you for real Katie ?? You get two candidates and you ask about there favorite movies ?? Give me a break ! Would any other news anchor ask such a Ridiculous question...Would Dan Rather ask that ?? Dumbed down news. You suck.....

[bgmusic-2009]

Obama is a modern day Lonesome Rhodes

[bgmusic-2009]

A little about "face in the crowd" and why it fits Obama...

The fictional story of a vagabond who is discovered and becomes a mega entertainment star who not only aquires fame and fortune but also political power. I came away from this film with the thinking that in 1957 when the picture came out in a strange way it must have terrified viewers. The film was clearly ahead of its time. By todays standards the egotistical, cynical and power hungry Lonesome Rhodes actually is quite tame but in 57 he must have been viewed as a cross between Hitler and Arthur Godfrey. Andy Griffith is nothing less than brilliant as Rhodes. Superb support from Patricia Neal, Walter Matthau, Anthony Franciosa and Lee Remick in her first motion picture. The movie never lags as it grips the viewer from the opening right to the final scene.

[bgmusic-2009]

Couric: What is your favorite movie of all time?

McCain: "Viva Zapata." It''s a movie made by Elia Kazan.

Kazan made another movie that fits Obama...
A face in the crowd... it so fits into this election season... check it out you''d be very suprised at who the evil one is...

[birdlikebld]

'' .. if they weren''t little kids, they could have *** & newsdesks & stages, if they weren''t little kids they could have markets & moneys, alas they are little kids, raped baked starved slaved tortured mangled little vulnerable liabilitys with no place in real society, that''d be like putting women in the army to watch them converted to husband beatets & child rapists .. it makes more sense to put men in the kitchens, baking the lunches & driving the kids buses all over .. ''

[birdlikebld]

'' .. paid most little kids nothing: they bloomed eternitys of bouquets silly, paid a few little farmet kids next to nothing: they grew enough to feed worlds, gave all to little soldiet kids: they forced retailets & wholesalets to recycle half of food for no one has money; and, baked more trillions dollars war babys than all combined .. said ''we didn''t do it, but we got most that did'' .. ''

'' .. is pretty duh, lil girls & boys that solely hide in woods & beat each other yield a combined / averaged / most folk most time academic score less than those what frolic in meadows dancing dances & singing songs about academic & other self industrys .. so kids can download curriculums & proceed to frolic while beat by under-cover instructots when & where they beat each other .. ''

'' .. don''t dance get well feed world get sick tax world hike naked dance dressed hike dressed dance naked porn songs partyd rallyd round sick beds what swim drift spore bloom weed dragon trail fickl firs aid lunch farm cottage studio trail crossing yseedsberry trail group subsistence farms .. ''

'' .. u pay me $1 of your gift certificates, i''ll maybe loiter 20 mins around your sick beds, i''ll maybe participate or otherwise song dance skit kit & / or bloom, & when i need a bed: it''ll be one yours & when i need some lunch: it''ll be some of yours .. ''

[mytoosense]

I want to vote for someone who appreciates Dr Strangelove.

I heard when Reagan entered the Whitehouse he asked where the War Room was with that giant round table.

[mytoosense]

Palin''''s favorite film: Being There.
Posted by cattlekate

GOOD ONE!

[mytoosense]

Only new films I care to watch thrice is Robert DuVall''''s "OPEN RANGE" and "BROKEN TRAIL" as I understand them easily. John Wayne''''s "THE COWBOYS" is my very favorite.
Posted by cfin5

If you like westerns my favorites are Lonesome Dove and Tomestone

[cattlekate]

Palin''s favorite film: Being There.

[nvorr]

Obama''''''''s brother only makes $12.00 a year! How many movies has he seen and liked?

Posted by sexistnbc
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Hey, I''m voting for Obama. My dvd player broke, but if you buy me a new one I''ll go watch movies with his brother.

[nvorr]

The Godfather probably reminds Obama of his mob ties in Chicago - no wonder it''''s his favorite.

Posted by OneAmerican6 at 07:51 PM : Sep 23, 2008
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I guess it was wise for McCain not to mention that one, seeing as:

-The Bronfmans are the %u201Cgodfathers%u201D behind his political career.
-McCain%u2019s father-in-law got his start as a top henchman for Kemper Marley, who, for 40 years until his death in 1990 at age 84, was the undisputed behind-the-scenes political boss of Arizona.
-Today, the Las Vegas gambling industry is among McCain%u2019s primary financial benefactors.
-Doing Israel%u2019s bidding is a McCain family tradition. Following Israel%u2019s 1967 attack on the USS Liberty, resulting in the murder of 34 Americans, McCain%u2019s father, Adm. John McCain, was one of the key players inside the U.S. Navy helping cover up the deliberate nature of Israel%u2019s savage attack.
-McCain sent birthday regards, and regrets for not attending, to Joseph "Joe Bananas" Bonano, the head of the New York Bonano crime family.

[interobserv]

How about "Lifeboat"! I''ll bet that one never makes any of their lists!!

[fsw3]

Casablanca and Inherit the Wind...But there was REDS, Annie Hall, High Noon. The Godfather was great. So was the Grapes of Wrath.

[tootall10142]

I HAVE ALWAYS LIKED , THE GRAPES OF WRATH FOR THE REALISM AND THE TIME IT WAS FILMED VERY LITTLE HAD TO BE DONE FOR SETS TO FILM ON THE ENTIRE UNITED STATES WAS IN A DEPRESSION . I ALWAY LIKED THE MOVIE , HOW THE WEST WAS WON.THERE WILL NEVER BE ANOTHER MOVIE WITH SO MANY TALENTED ACTORS GATHERED TOGETHER FOR ONR PROJECT. IT TOOK FOUR YEARS TO COMPLETE THIS MASTERPIECE.

[dagrandma]

How about picks for the veeps?
Joe Biden: My Left Foot (in my mouth)
Sarah Palin: Overboard

[nevadapundit]

I wonder if Obama thinks The Godfather is a drama or a documentary of Chicago politics.

[zietzke-2009]

MCCAIN likes Viva Zapata...Interesting. Zapata is the name of President Bush''s international holding company. Zapata Corp is owned by the Bush family. coincidence or ????

[cfin5]

Only new films I care to watch thrice is Robert DuVall''s "OPEN RANGE" and "BROKEN TRAIL" as I understand them easily. John Wayne''s "THE COWBOYS" is my very favorite.

[techhere]

It''s amasing! McCain could remember so much details.

I love Casablanca, First Blood one - Rambo and Patriot.