The Carpetbaggers (1964)

6.5PG150 minDirector: Edward Dmytryk

1964 film

The Carpetbaggers is a 1964 American drama film directed by Edward Dmytryk, based on the best-selling 1961 novel The Carpetbaggers by Harold Robbins and starring George Peppard as Jonas Cord, a character based loosely on Howard Hughes, and Alan Ladd in his last role as Nevada Smith, a former Western gunslinger turned actor. The supporting cast features Carroll Baker as a character extremely loosely based on Jean Harlow as well as Martha Hyer, Bob Cummings, Elizabeth Ashley, Lew Ayres, Ralph Taeger, Leif Erickson, Archie Moore and Tom Tully.

The film is a landmark of the sexual revolution of the 1960s, venturing further than most films of the period with its heated sexual embraces, innuendo, and sadism between men and women, much like the novel, where author Dawn Sova asserts "there is sex and/or sadism every 17 pages".

Plot summary adapted from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

FAQ

What is The Carpetbaggers about?
The Carpetbaggers (1964) — Upon the death of his father in 1928, Jonas Cord Jr., who has thus far led a wild life, assumes control of the Cord business empire centered on a Nevada chemical company, that control despite the animosity that existed between father and son about business issues. With the except
Is The Carpetbaggers based on a true story?
See the production background and source material details on the official Wikipedia article.
Is The Carpetbaggers scary?
Content rating: PG. See the reviews tab for parental guidance and tone notes.