The media these days are full of Kings and crowns with the irrepressible cartoonists merrily lampooning the political royals. Even during the reign of the indomitable ‘Mister Dharmister’ the allure of royalty was subtly alive with henchmen striving to link him to some obscure royal lineage. They did call him ‘Uthumano’, particularly the state electronic media.

In this stupid scenario let’s take a peek at a 1949 movie, "All the King’s Men" - Not exactly a reflection of the hilarious situation here today but a very disturbing political tragedy, something to ponder about.

Based on "Robert Penn Warren’s (US’s first poet laureate) Pulitzer Prize winning novel about a politically corrupt Southern demagogue, Willie Stark". "Man is conceived in sin and born in corruption", he sermonizes.

Willie Stark was modelled on Louisiana governor, Huey "the Kingfisher" Long who was a virtual dictator. Even when appointed a senator he was still in total command and ran Louisiana from Washington. He was killed in September 1935 while preparing to run for president.

The movie won the 1949 Oscar for the Best Picture. Broderick Crawford received the Best actor award as the belligerent and bullying Willie Stark. It was a landmark picture that shocked and shamed the American conscience.