The People vs. Larry Flynt is a 1996 film directed by Miloš Forman about the rise and legal problems of pornographic magazine editor Larry Flynt. It stars Woody Harrelson, Courtney Love, Edward Norton, Brett Harrelson, Donna Hanover, James Cromwell, Crispin Glover, and Vincent Schiavelli.

The movie was written by Scott Alexander and Larry Karaszewski. It is based, in part, on the U.S. Supreme Court case Hustler Magazine v. Falwell.

It was nominated for Academy Awards for Best Actor in a Leading Role (Woody Harrelson) and Best Director.

Cast

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Edward Norton played a single lawyer throughout the entire film, whereas in real life Flynt had many different lawyers during his legal battles. (Alan Isaacman, for whom Edward Norton's character is named, argued the landmark Supreme Court case for Flynt. But he was not, as the film depicts, the lawyer who was wounded in the 1978 shooting of Flynt. The wounded lawyer was Gene Reeves Jr.)

Larry Flynt had a cameo appearance, playing the ruling judge in the scene depicting his first trial.

One of the issues addressed in the film is,"...ask yourself the question, what is more obscene: sex or war?" In the movie, Woody Harrelson, as Flynt, explains that murder is illegal, but if you take a picture of it you may get your name in Time Magazine or maybe win a Pulitzer Prize. However, he continues, sex is legal, but if you take a picture of that act, you can go to jail. The question of which is more obscene is even more arresting considering the consequences of each.

External link

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1996 films | Drama films | Films featuring a Best Actor Academy Award nominated performance | Films directed by Miloš Forman

Larry Flynt – Die nackte Wahrheit | Larry Flynt - Oltre lo scandalo | The People vs. Larry Flynt