The People vs. Larry Flynt (1996)

The People vs. Larry Flynt (1996)
Pursued by opponents who say his "Hustler" magazine breaks decency laws, pornographer Larry Flynt (Woody Harrelson) hires lawyer Alan Isaacman (Edward Norton) to help fight his legal battles. A zealot shoots the men near a Georgia courthouse, and though Flynt discovers he'll never walk again, his fighting spirit -- like his love for stripper Althea Leasure (Courtney Love) -- stays strong. Ultimately, the unlikely free speech warrior takes his biggest case to a showdown at the Supreme Court.
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Release Date: December 25th, 1996

DVD Release Date: November 11th, 1997

R |2 hr 10 min

Plot Summary

Pursued by opponents who say his "Hustler" magazine breaks decency laws, pornographer Larry Flynt (Woody Harrelson) hires lawyer Alan Isaacman (Edward Norton) to help fight his legal battles. A zealot shoots the men near a Georgia courthouse, and though Flynt discovers he'll never walk again, his fighting spirit -- like his love for stripper Althea Leasure (Courtney Love) -- stays strong. Ultimately, the unlikely free speech warrior takes his biggest case to a showdown at the Supreme Court.

Cast: Woody Harrelson, Courtney Love, Ed Norton, James Cromwell, Crispin Glover, James Carville, Brett Harrelson, Donna Hanover

Director: Milos Forman

Genres: Drama

Production Co: Columbia Pictures Corporation, Phoenix Pictures, Illusion Entertainment, Ixtlan Corporation

Distributors: Sony Pictures Entertainment, Columbia Pictures, Columbia Tristar

Keywords: Melodramatic, Love, 1970s, Judge, 1950s, Fascinating, Creative, Transformation, Underdog, 1980s, Amusing

Cast & Crew

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Ratings & Reviews

100
Mike ClarkUSA Today
Forman finesses the story's grimmer aspects as he did in "Cuckoo's Nest," and his ability to switch moods on a dime remains unsurpassed. show more
100
Roger EbertChicago Sun-Times
Love proves she is not a rock star pretending to act, but a true actress, and Harrelson matches her with his portrait of a man who has one thing on his mind, and never changes it. show more
88
Michael WilmingtonChicago Tribune
There's a gentleness and open-mindedness in that touch and throughout the film that's a little at odds with the shallower script. But, in the end, that humanity pays. [27 Dec 1996]