I remembered vaguely what it was about, a crooked populist politician, but I've always gotten it confused with "All the King's Men", which deals with similar themes.

Still, I don't think its fair to think of it as a particularly prophetic film. The phenomenon it explores is nothing new, it has long been recognized a potential latent flaw in American democracy, and as we have seen, in the politics of other nations as well. In fact, long before motion pictures, art has warned of this particular American nightmare. Did you ever read Jack London's "The Iron Heel"? Other modern examples from Hollywood are the [original] "Manchurian Candidate", "Seven Days in May", and "Network".

I'm surprised the "Liberal Media" hasn't been playing this movie over and over again lately. Aren't they supposed to be brainwashing us day in and day out? This film would be perfect.