At one point, speaking in hypotheticals, Goodwin confronts Van Doren and asks, off the record, if he cheated. "Would you do it?" Van Doren asks. And Goodwin can still answer, "No." But Redford and Attansio let us know that Goodwin has indeed been corrupted, by virtue of the prejudices revealed in his own investigation.

Anti-Semitism is also addressed, as Stempel cries that WASPs tend to win over Jewish contestants — and Goodwin's research bears it out. Later, Goodwin's wife accuses him of being an "Uncle Tom of the Jews" because he's being so hard on Stempel and so soft on Van Doren.

Meanwhile, "Quiz Show" manages to work on several levels — as morality play, as mystery, as comedy, as thriller. In fact, it's hard to think of one movie that has succeeded on so many levels since, well, since "All the President's Men."

The performances here are all first-rate, right down to the smallest parts — with special kudos to Paul Scofield, who plays Van Doren's father. In fact, if I have a complaint, it is simply that Fiennes and Morrow's accents tend to wander a bit . . . but, trust me, that's carping.

Few films are so intellectually complicated while still being so commercially entertaining — and if "Quiz Show" doesn't manage to earn a passel of Oscar nominations, there is no justice.

But then, as this movie finally demonstrates . . . often in life, there is no justice.

"Quiz Show" is rated PG-13 for some profanity and vulgar remarks.