All the King's Men tells the story of a journalist (John Ireland) who follows the political career of Willie Stark. When we first see Stark he seems like a very soft spoken honest Joe who wants just to do what is right for the people. I frankly think Crawford actually honestly overdid the softness and naivety of Willie at the beginning of the film and frankly made him seem to nice, and modest. Crawford makes no indication at all that there is anything but good in Stark, who is passionate for the good of the people and nothing else.
Old Willie though changes a little too rapidly when told that he is being used by the higher ups. He changes basically as soon as he finds out and changes to an very confidant passionate speaker who learns how to fiery up the people to vote for him. I will say Crawford gives the right passionate bluster to his speech and into the new Willie, but I find him changing into this far more confidant Willie lacks a proper transition. The film does not really give it enough time, but Crawford really failed to use the little time he really had to make it convincing. He also failed to show of hidden aspects of Willie beforehand in the earliest moments, due to the simple nice guy portrayal he did.
Willie Stark as soon as he becomes a knowledgeable confidant politician he seems to become a completely evil and manipulative one. I think Crawford and the film again are to blame, the film does force this instant transition, but also Crawford almost immediately begins to portray Willie in this evil fashion. Again a failed transition but this does lead to Crawford portrayal as the power hungry Stark. This is by far the best part and aspect of Crawford's performance one that he pretty much fully succeeds with. Crawford has the perfect manipulative command to Willie in his power hungry form. As he smiles gleefully of his new found power clearly enjoying it well. I also thought his smooth control over his sessions where he deals with his enemies are quite effective and believable. Crawford also keeps the right intensity of Willie who dislikes whenever anything is not going his way, again he keeps it smooth and builds his anger but hides in public in the proper slimy politician fashion.
Now is Crawford perfect in as the evil Clark well when he is being actually evil, but I really did not entirely buy him as being seen as this great man by the public. Crawford's speeches consists of angered rhetoric, and he lacked a charm in the role necessary I think for his character to completely fool the public in this way. Crawford does indeed put on a false show in public well enough, but I think he needed more charm and charisma to be fully convincing. I also think his many liaisons with many women has the same problem. Yes he is a powerful guy and they easily could be attracted to that, but the utter devotion seems a little hard to believe, due to the lack of charisma he shows especially in the scenes with the women. Crawford mostly did character work and perhaps that is what suited him best. If he only had to do the evil Willie in a Supporting character role his performance would have been completely brilliant, but since he is required to show so much with the character's changes and transition his performance falls short overall. Overall his performance is lacking most of the time, but he still excels very well in specific moments.
