Robert Redford’s Question
“There is this great scene at the end of the 1972 satirical political movie The Candidate, which is about a man (played by Robert Redford) who runs for the United States Senate in California believing that he has no chance of winning and therefore nothing to lose. Because he doesn’t expect victory, he is surprised to find himself on election night having just been elected senator from California. Robert Redford’s character is dumbfounded and overwhelmed by the shocking result. In his hotel, cheering supporters swarm the narrow hallways as he pushes his way through them, desperately trying to get his campaign manager alone so they can speak privately. The two men succeed in ducking down another hallway and grabbing a few seconds alone in an empty room. As the supporters push their way into that room, too, eager to escort the newly elected senator to the ballroom for the victory speech, Robert Redford’s character mouths a question to the campaign manager, a question that the movie does not even attempt to address as the scene fades to black: “What do we do now?”
That’s the question I wrote this book to answer.”
I’m writing from DFW airport, on my way to a conference in Alabama. I’ve been thinking about Robert Redford today, having heard the news of his death at the age of 89.
I’m on my way to speak publicly for the very first time about my forthcoming book, Love Goes First. I’ll be delivering a pre-conference workshop on the book, and then a main stage talk about the basic idea: if we want to change the world, we have to go first, because love goes first. My wife is with me, and I’m looking forward to the opportunity. One of the things I’m excited about is seeing my book in print for the very first time—though the official release date is not until October, copies will be available at the conference for purchase. (And everyone who attends my pre-conference workshop will receive a copy of Love Goes First, hot off the presses.)
“What Do We Do Now?”
When I sat down to think about how to open my new book Love Goes First, my mind immediately went to that closing scene from The Candidate that I described above.
It’s not 1995 or 1955 any more.
In our time, what do we do? The culture seems to be spinning out of control.
I think these days a lot of us feel like Robert Redford does at the end of the movie. Here’s the scene:
Robert Redford was one of the greats, and he will be missed.
When I was in high school and college, my brother and I would rent a movie from the video store nearly every weekend we could, and we watched a lot of great movies. These days, I rarely watch a movie, but every now and then I’ll sneak out of the office on an afternoon and go to see something by myself.
The news of Robert Redford’s death got me talking to my family on the way to school this morning about the great Robert Redford movies that I’ve seen. What follows is a list, in no particular order, of some of my favorites.
The Sting (1973)
The soundtrack alone (Scott Joplin’s “The Entertainer”) makes this a fun movie. That scene on the train when Paul Newman cheats Robert Shaw’s mob boss—such a fun scene.
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969)
Great movie and a great mustache on Sundance, played by Robert Redford. (Have never really liked the ending, however.)
Barefoot in the Park (1967)
A young Jane Fonda and a young Robert Redford—how great is that? I always remember the scene where the young husband keeps his one necktie inside the dictionary, so it will be clean and pressed for the morning. Also, Robert Redford’s character gets the mother of all headcolds in the movie—that detail has stuck with me.
The Candidate (1972)
See the description above. The movie must have stuck with me, since when it came time to write my book, I decided to open by describing its closing scene.
Out of Africa (1985)
“I had a farm in Africa, at the foot of the Ngong hills.” I like the memoir more than the movie, but still, a gorgeous film.
Three Days of the Condor (1975)
I just read the novel on which the film is based last month. I remember liking the movie better, though it’s been a while since I saw it.
The Natural (1984)
The main theme from that soundtrack—it’s like the sound of heaven. I saw this as a little kid when I lived in Africa, and then watched it again as an adult. The whole scene in which Roy Hobbs gets shot by Kim Basinger was much darker than I remembered. Still, that final scene, with the sparks falling from the floodlights—what’s better than that? Also, WONDERBOY ⚡️!
A River Runs Through It (1992)
Now, Robert Redford doesn’t technically appear in it, but he is the director and the voice-over narrator for Norman Maclean’s beautiful prose. I love this movie.
Sneakers (1992)
A really fun and suspenseful-but-not-too-suspenseful techno-thriller about a bunch of hackers—remember when Hollywood used to make those kinds of movies? Also stars River Phoenix, before his untimely death, and Sydney Poitier. I bet if you went back and watched it now, the tech would be laughable. But I really liked it when it came out.
An Unfinished Life (2005)
Robert Redford is a gruff, cruel old man, who lives with his friend Morgan Freeman in remote Wyoming. His estranged daughter-in-law Jennifer Lopez shows up, bringing with her a granddaughter he didn’t know he had. The final scene is terrifying and the emotional transformation of the old man will break your heart. A movie about grief and how life has to go on in spite of it.
All Is Lost (2013)
Starring Robert Redford…and literally no one else—no one else even appears in the film. It was appropriate therefore that I saw this movie in the theater by myself. Robert Redford is sailing alone in the middle of the Pacific Ocean until there is a problem and, finally, all is lost. An ending that is perfectly ambiguous.
Charles Robert Redford, Jr (1936-2025). In memoriam.
P.S. I’m finishing up this post late Tuesday evening in my hotel room in Montgomery. Stopped by the church where the conference will be held and saw them setting up the bookstore. Guess what I saw for the first time?!
