WUSA (1970)

A down and out radio jockey (Paul Newman) takes a job with a conservative radio station in New Orleans. Politically burnt out, he dutifully spouts off the right wing rhetoric even though he doesn't believe in it. Meanwhile, an idealistic survey taker (Anthony Perkins) finds out he is being used for nefarious purposes. Forget THE SILVER CHALICE, this smug stinker is Newman's career low point! Two hours of platitudes and cliches, a "bleeding heart" liberal movie so bad that not even a liberal could love it! Sample dialog: Perkins to Newman, "You evil fool!", Newman retorts, "You cornpone Christ!". Joanne Woodward as the proverbial hooker with a heart of gold gives a performance better than the movie deserves but everybody else sinks. Perkins is all mannerisms and tics while Laurence Harvey discovers depths to his bad acting that he'd never plundered before. It's the kind of movie that when an assassination attempt is made, all the evil white bigots ruthlessly step all over each other in their race to get out while policeman on horseback beat poor black people outside the auditorium. Ineptly directed by Stuart Rosenberg (COOL HAND LUKE) with a hideous score by Lalo Schifrin. With Cloris Leachman, Pat Hingle, Wayne Rogers, Bruce Cabot, Michael Anderson Jr., Clifton James, Don Gordon and Moses Gunn.