# The People vs. Larry Flynt

The People vs. Larry Flynt is a 1996 American biographical drama film directed by Miloš Forman, chronicling the rise of pornographer Larry Flynt and his subsequent clash with religious institutions and the law. It stars Woody Harrelson, Courtney Love as his wife Althea, and Edward Norton as his attorney Alan Isaacman. The screenplay, written by Scott Alexander and Larry Karaszewski, spans about 35 years of Flynt's life, from his impoverished upbringing in Kentucky to his court battle with Reverend Jerry Falwell, and is based in part on the U.S. Supreme Court case Hustler Magazine v. Falwell.
Despite limited success at the box office, The People vs. Larry Flynt was acclaimed by critics and garnered Harrelson, Love, Norton, and Forman numerous accolades, including a Best Actor nomination for Harrelson and Best Director nomination for Forman at the 69th Academy Awards. Forman won the Golden Globe Award for Best Director.

## Plot

In 1952, 10-year-old Larry Flynt is selling moonshine in Kentucky. Twenty years later, Flynt and his younger brother, Jimmy, run the Hustler Go-Go, a struggling strip club in Cincinnati. In a bid to improve his business, Flynt decides to publish a newsletter for the club featuring nude photos of his strippers, which he names Hustler. The newsletter soon becomes a full-fledged magazine, but sales are weak. After Hustler publishes photos of former first lady Jackie Kennedy Onassis sunbathing nude in 1972, it becomes a national sensation, and Larry decides to focus on it full-time.
Flynt becomes smitten with Althea Leasure, who he allows to work as a stripper despite her being underage. With his success comes enemies – as he finds himself a hated figure of anti-pornography activists. He argues with the activists, declaring that "murder is illegal, but if you take a picture of it, you may get your name in a magazine or maybe win a Pulitzer Prize. However, sex is legal, but if you take a picture of that act, you can go to jail." He becomes involved in several prominent court cases, and befriends his young and idealistic lawyer, Alan Isaacman.
In 1975, Flynt is convicted on pornography charges, but the decision is overturned on appeal; he is released from jail soon afterwards. Ruth Carter Stapleton, a Christian activist and sister of President Jimmy Carter, seeks out Flynt and urges him to give his life to Jesus; this results in Flynt attempting to turn his life around and even push for Hustler to become a more tasteful publication in line with his competitors. However, Althea, who blames molestation by nuns during her years in Catholic school for her problems in life, grows to resent him.
In 1978, during another trial in Georgia, Flynt and Isaacman are both shot by a man with a rifle while they walk outside a courthouse. Isaacman recovers, but Flynt is paralyzed from the waist down and uses a wheelchair for the rest of his life. Broken by the experience, Flynt renounces his faith, turns over control of Hustler to Jimmy and Althea, and moves to Beverly Hills, where he quickly spirals into drug addiction to combat his depression and crippling pain. In 1983, Flynt undergoes surgery to deaden several nerves in his back damaged by the bullet wounds, and as a result, feels rejuvenated. He soon returns to an active role with the publication.
Flynt is soon in court again for leaking videos relating to the John DeLorean entrapment case, and during his courtroom antics, he fires Isaacman, then throws an orange at the judge. He later wears an American flag as an adult diaper along with an Army helmet, and wears T-shirts with provocative messages such as "I Wish I Was Black" and "Fuck This Court." After spitting water at the judge, Flynt is committed to a psychiatric ward, where he sinks into depression again. Flynt publishes a satirical parody ad in which Jerry Falwell tells of a drunken sexual encounter with his mother. Falwell sues for libel and emotional distress. Flynt countersues for copyright infringement, because Falwell copied his ad and used it to raise funds for his legal bills. The case goes to trial in December 1984, but the decision is mixed, as Flynt is found liable for inflicting emotional distress but not libel and is forced to pay damages to Falwell.
Althea, now a morphine addict, visits Flynt and reveals her HIV diagnosis; disgusted to learn that the Hustler staff won't even shake her hand, Flynt arranges a company meeting via phone call and fires everyone. Althea comes to live with him, but later drowns in the bathtub after passing out. Flynt presses Isaacman to appeal the Falwell decision to the Supreme Court of the United States. Isaacman refuses, saying Flynt's courtroom antics humiliated him. Flynt pleads with him, saying that he "wants to be remembered for something meaningful". Isaacman finally agrees to represent him in front of the Supreme Court, in the case Hustler Magazine v. Falwell in December 1987. With Flynt sitting silently in the courtroom, the court overturns the original verdict in a unanimous decision. After the trial, Flynt is shown to be alone in his bedroom watching old videotapes of a happy, healthy Althea and himself before tragedy struck them both.

## Cast

* Woody Harrelson as Larry Flynt
** Cody Block as young Larry
* Courtney Love as Althea Leasure
* Edward Norton as Alan Isaacman
* Brett Harrelson as Jimmy Flynt
** Ryan Post as young Jimmy
* Donna Hanover as Ruth Carter Stapleton
* James Cromwell as Charles Keating
* Crispin Glover as Arlo
* Vincent Schiavelli as Chester
* Miles Chapin as Miles
* James Carville as Simon Leis
* Richard Paul as Jerry Falwell
* Burt Neuborne as Roy Grutman
* Jan Tříska as Joseph Paul Franklin
* Nancy Lea Owen as Edith Flynt
** Kacky Walton as young Edith
* John Fergus Ryan as Larry Flynt Sr.
** John Ryan as young Larry Sr.
* Ruby Wilson as Singer at Rally
* Norm Macdonald as Network Reporter
* Aurélia Thierrée as Receptionist
* D'Army Bailey as Judge Mantke
* Larry Flynt as Judge Morrissey

### Casting notes

Both Bill Murray and Tom Hanks were considered for the role of Flynt. Flynt's brother, Jimmy, is played by Brett Harrelson, the real-life brother of Woody Harrelson. William J. Morrissey Jr., a Cincinnati court judge who sentenced Flynt in 1977, is played in the film by Larry Flynt himself.

## Release
### Box office

The film opened on December 25, 1996, in a limited release, in 16 theatres, where it was a hit, before expanding to wide release, 1,233 theatres, on January 10, 1997. The film eventually grossed $20,300,385 in the United States and Canada. Internationally it did better grossing $23 million, for a worldwide total of $43 million against a $35 million budget.

### Critical reception

Based on 58 reviews collected by Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an overall approval rating of 88%, with an average score of 7.6/10. The site's consensus states, "The People vs. Larry Flynt pays entertaining tribute to an irascible iconoclast with a well-constructed biopic that openly acknowledges his troublesome flaws." On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 79 out of 100 based on reviews from 24 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".
Feminist Gloria Steinem criticised the sanitized portrayal of Flynt, stating "What's left out [of the film] are the magazine's images of women being beaten, tortured, and raped; women subject to degradations from bestiality to sexual slavery."

### Accolades

| Award | Category | Nominee(s) | Result |
| 20/20 Awards | Best Director | Miloš Forman | Nominated |
| 20/20 Awards | Best Actor | Woody Harrelson | Nominated |
| Academy Awards | Best Director | Miloš Forman | Nominated |
| Academy Awards | Best Actor | Woody Harrelson | Nominated |
| Artios Awards | Outstanding Achievement in Feature Film Casting – Drama | Francine Maisler and Jo Doster (location casting) | Won |
| Awards Circuit Community Awards | Best Director | Miloš Forman | Nominated |
| Awards Circuit Community Awards | Best Actor in a Leading Role | Woody Harrelson | Nominated |
| Awards Circuit Community Awards | Best Actress in a Supporting Role | Courtney Love | Nominated |
| Awards Circuit Community Awards | Best Original Screenplay | Miloš Forman | Nominated |
| Awards Circuit Community Awards | Honorable Mentions (The Next Ten Best Picture Contenders) | Miloš Forman | Nominated |
| Berlin International Film Festival | Golden Bear | Miloš Forman | Won |
| Boston Society of Film Critics Awards | Best Supporting Actor | Edward Norton | Won |
| Boston Society of Film Critics Awards | Best Supporting Actress | Courtney Love | Won |
| Chicago Film Critics Association Awards | Best Film | Best Film | Nominated |
| Chicago Film Critics Association Awards | Best Director | Miloš Forman | Nominated |
| Chicago Film Critics Association Awards | Best Actress | Courtney Love | Nominated |
| Chicago Film Critics Association Awards | Best Screenplay | Scott Alexander and Larry Karaszewski | Nominated |
| Chicago Film Critics Association Awards | Most Promising Actor | Edward Norton | Won |
| Chicago Film Critics Association Awards | Most Promising Actress | Courtney Love | Won |
| Critics' Choice Awards | Best Picture | Best Picture | Nominated |
| Critics' Choice Awards | Best Supporting Actor | Edward Norton | Nominated |
| Critics' Choice Awards | Best Supporting Actress | Courtney Love | Nominated |
| Czech Lion Awards | Best Foreign Film | Best Foreign Film | Nominated |
| European Film Awards | Achievement in World Cinema Award | Miloš Forman | Won |
| Florida Film Critics Circle Awards | Best Supporting Actor | Edward Norton | Won |
| Florida Film Critics Circle Awards | Best Supporting Actress | Courtney Love | Won |
| Golden Globe Awards | Best Motion Picture – Drama | Best Motion Picture – Drama | Nominated |
| Golden Globe Awards | Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama | Woody Harrelson | Nominated |
| Golden Globe Awards | Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama | Courtney Love | Nominated |
| Golden Globe Awards | Best Director – Motion Picture | Miloš Forman | Won |
| Golden Globe Awards | Best Screenplay – Motion Picture | Scott Alexander and Larry Karaszewski | Won |
| Kansas City Film Critics Circle Awards | Best Film | Best Film | Won |
| Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards | Best Supporting Actor | Edward Norton | Won |
| Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards | Best Supporting Actress | Courtney Love | Runner-up |
| MTV Movie Awards | Best Breakthrough Performance | Courtney Love | Nominated |
| National Board of Review Awards | Top Ten Films | Top Ten Films | 10th Place |
| National Board of Review Awards | Freedom of Expression | Miloš Forman and Oliver Stone | Won |
| National Society of Film Critics Awards | Best Supporting Actor | Edward Norton | 3rd Place |
| New York Film Critics Circle Awards | Best Film | Best Film | Runner-up |
| New York Film Critics Circle Awards | Best Supporting Actress | Courtney Love | Won |
| Online Film & Television Association Awards | Best Picture | Oliver Stone, Janet Yang and Michael Hausman | Nominated |
| Online Film & Television Association Awards | Best Drama Picture | Oliver Stone, Janet Yang and Michael Hausman | Nominated |
| Online Film & Television Association Awards | Best Director | Miloš Forman | Nominated |
| Online Film & Television Association Awards | Best Actor | Woody Harrelson | Nominated |
| Online Film & Television Association Awards | Best Drama Actor | Woody Harrelson | Nominated |
| Online Film & Television Association Awards | Best Drama Actress | Courtney Love | Nominated |
| Online Film & Television Association Awards | Best Supporting Actress | Courtney Love | Won |
| Online Film & Television Association Awards | Best Screenplay – Written Directly for the Screen | Scott Alexander and Larry Karaszewski | Nominated |
| Political Film Society Awards | Exposé | Exposé | Nominated |
| Political Film Society Awards | Human Rights | Human Rights | Nominated |
| Satellite Awards | Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama | Courtney Love | Won |
| Satellite Awards | Best Screenplay – Original | Scott Alexander and Larry Karaszewski | Won |
| Screen Actors Guild Awards | Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role | Woody Harrelson | Nominated |
| Society of Texas Film Critics Awards | Best Actor | Woody Harrelson | Nominated |
| Society of Texas Film Critics Awards | Best Supporting Actor | Edward Norton | Won |
| Southeastern Film Critics Association Awards | Best Supporting Actor | Edward Norton | Won |
| Writers Guild of America Awards | Paul Selvin Honorary Award | Scott Alexander and Larry Karaszewski | Nominated |
The film is recognized by American Film Institute in these lists:
* 2008: AFI's 10 Top 10:
** Courtroom Drama Film – Nominated