The Best Man

"The other party is in disarray. Five men vie for the party nomination for president. No one has a majority as the first ballot closes and the front-runners begin to decide how badly they want the job."

Cast

Henry Fonda

as William Russell

Cliff Robertson

as Joe Cantwell

Edie Adams

as Mabel Cantwell

Margaret Leighton

as Alice Russell

Shelley Berman

as Sheldon Bascomb

Lee Tracy

as President Art Hockstader

Ann Sothern

as Sue Ellen Gamadge

Gene Raymond

as Don Cantwell

Kevin McCarthy

as Dick Jensen

Mahalia Jackson

as Mahalia Jackson

Howard K. Smith

as Howard K. Smith

John Henry Faulk

as Gov. T.T. Claypoole

Richard Arlen

as Sen. Oscar Anderson

Penny Singleton

as Mrs. Claypoole (scenes deleted)

George Kirgo

as Speechwriter

George Furth

as Tom

Anne Newman Bacal

as Janet (as Anne Newman)

Mary Lawrence

as Mrs. Merwin

H.E. West

as Sen. Lazarus

Michael MacDonald

as Zealot

William R. Ebersol

as Gov. John Merwin

Natalie Masters

as Mrs. Anderson

Marie Blake

as Cleaning Woman (as Blossom Rock)

Bill Stout

as Bill Stout

Tyler McVey

as Chairman

Sherwood Keith

as Doctor

Leoda Richards

as Convention Attendee (uncredited)

Gore Vidal

as Delegate (uncredited)

John Alban

as Banquet Guest (uncredited)

Fred Aldrich

as Delegate (uncredited)

Leon Alton

as Russell Supporter (uncredited)

Don Ames

as Supporter (uncredited)

David Armstrong

as Russell Campaign Worker (uncredited)

Billy Beck

as Party Guest (uncredited)

George Bruggeman

as Reporter (uncredited)

Donald Chaffin

as Supporter (uncredited)

Dick Cherney

as Reporter (uncredited)

Noble 'Kid' Chissell

as Man at Pool (uncredited)

Rupert Crosse

as Reporter (uncredited)

Jack Daly

as Photographer (uncredited)

George DeNormand

as Cantwell Supporter (uncredited)

Kenneth Gibson

as Reporter (uncredited)

Herschel Graham

as Campaign Worker (uncredited)

Sam Harris

as Cantwell Supporter (uncredited)

Crew

Lyle R. Wheeler

Production Design

Robert Goodstein

Unit Manager

George E. Swink

Assistant Editor

Jack Solomon

Sound

Robert Johannes

Camera Operator

Don Hall

Sound Editor

Marion Rosenberg

Producer's Assistant

Dorothy Jeakins

Costume Supervisor

Kay Thackery

Script Supervisor

Kathleen Dennis

Wardrobe Designer

Ted Tetrick

Wardrobe Designer

Ben Lane

Makeup Artist

Virginia Jones

Hairstylist

Richard Mansfield

Set Decoration

Max Frankel

Property Master

Ben Hersh

Production Supervisor

Dick Moder

Assistant Director

Hal Ashby

Editorial Consultant

Jim Henrikson

Music Editor

Franklin J. Schaffner

Director

Haskell Wexler

Director of Photography

Tom Mankiewicz

Production Executive

Stuart Millar

Presenter

Lawrence Turman

Presenter

Lynn Stalmaster

Casting Director

Gore Vidal

Screenplay

Gore Vidal

Story

Robert Swink

Editor

Mort Lindsey

Original Music Composer

Stuart Millar

Producer

Lawrence Turman

Producer