The Power and the Glory (1941 film)

The Power and the Glory is a 1941 American drama film directed by William K. Howard. It is based on a screenplay by Preston Sturges, which was reportedly influenced by the structure of the novel The Life of Emile Zola.

The film stars Spencer Tracy as Tom Garner, a ruthless and ambitious railroad tycoon. The narrative unfolds in flashback, beginning with Garner's funeral and then tracing his life through the recollections of his friends and associates. These recollections reveal Garner's rise to power, his strained relationship with his wife (Colleen Moore), and his eventual downfall due to his ambition and moral compromises.

While not a direct adaptation of any specific historical figure, the character of Tom Garner bears similarities to prominent railroad barons of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The film explores themes of ambition, corruption, and the price of success in American business.

The Power and the Glory is notable for its innovative narrative structure, which uses multiple flashbacks to build a complex portrait of its central character. Sturges' screenplay, though unconventional for its time, is considered a significant achievement in cinematic storytelling. While not initially a box office success, the film has since been recognized as a pre-cursor to Citizen Kane (1941), which also employed a similar flashback structure.