Follow the Money

In 1976, America was still reeling from the Watergate scandal. President Nixon had resigned and public faith in its politicians had been shaken to its core. Into this febrile climate arrived All the President’s Men, a film that would become one of the most celebrated American movies of the 20th century.

But this is not the story as told on screen, it’s the story behind it.

In 1972, as reporters Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein’s investigation gripped the nation, Robert Redford secured the film rights. He persuaded his friend, Oscar-winning screenwriter William Goldman, to adapt the book while the scandal was still unfolding. But what began as an exciting collaboration soon became a creative battleground.

While Goldman agonised over structure and clarity with the sprawling investigation material, the journalists argued for accuracy and Redford pushed for urgency. As production intensified, Goldman felt less like an artist and more like a machine, churning out draft after draft to satisfy competing visions until he eventually left the project. The film went on to critical acclaim with Goldman winning another Oscar for his work. But the cost was personal, with his friendship with Redford becoming collateral damage.

50 years on, Follow the Money revisits the creation of a landmark film and the price paid for turning history into art. It’s a drama about power, authorship and Hollywood, a reminder that success is sometimes measured in broken friendships as much as awards.

Written by Ayad Andrews

William Goldman: James Purefoy
Robert Redford: Rupert Evans
Bob Woodward: Tom Brittney
Carl Bernstein: Kevin Bishop
Alan J. Pakula: Matt Addis
Ilene Jones: Lorelei King

Sound Designer: Jon Calver
Producer: Liz Anstee

A CPL production for BBC Radio 4