Word: rheinhardt
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Dates: during 1970-1979
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...into the big, clean American sound of WUSA, the sound of a decent generation." The disk jockey is a drunken, apolitical animal named Rheinhardt (Paul Newman), whose job is to plug crypto-fascism for good ole WUSA, a right-wing New Orleans radio station. By night he delivers his spiel under the heel of the station's jackboot-minded owner (Pat Hingle). By day he wallows in booze and self-pity ("I had it made and I woke up one morning, I looked down and fell off my life") in the arms of his pathetic paramour, a hooker named...
Having saddled themselves with Stuart Rosenberg's direction, the Newmans wander through a series of disconnected episodes. While rising to radio preeminence, Rheinhardt is plagued by the do-good blandishments of a social worker named Rainey (Anthony Perkins), who is taking a welfare survey in New Orleans' black slums. Rheinhardt underscores Rainey's presence by calling him a "cornpone Christ." Sure enough, Rainey falls to bloody martyrdom in a contemporary Pilate's court-a barbaric red, white and blue rally sponsored by WUSA. Geraldine's symbolic vulnerability propels her to suicide, while Rheinhardt...