IMDb > The American President (1995)
The American President
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The American President (1995) More at IMDbPro »

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The American President (1995) -- Comedy-drama about a widowed US president and a lobbyist who fall in love. It's all aboveboard, but "politics is perception" and sparks fly anyway.
The American President (1995) -- MattTrailer.com - Trailer (Flash)

Overview

User Rating:
6.8/10   21,721 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Down 16% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Writer (WGA):
Aaron Sorkin (written by)
Contact:
View company contact information for The American President on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
17 November 1995 (USA) more
Genre:
Tagline:
Why can't the most powerful man in the world have the one thing he wants most?
Plot:
Comedy-drama about a widowed US president and a lobbyist who fall in love. It's all aboveboard, but "politics is perception" and sparks fly anyway. full summary | full synopsis
Plot Keywords:
Awards:
Nominated for Oscar. Another 8 nominations more
NewsDesk:
(19 articles)
ABC Saying Good Morning to George Stephanopoulos?
 (From . 4 December 2009, 7:30 AM, PST)

ABC Saying Good Morning to George Stephanopoulos?
 (From E! Online. 4 December 2009, 7:30 AM, PST)

User Comments:
Warm, fun film with a big heart more (187 total)

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)
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Additional Details

MPAA:
Rated PG-13 for some strong language.
Runtime:
114 min
Country:
Language:
Color:
Color (Technicolor)
Aspect Ratio:
2.35 : 1 more
Sound Mix:

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
Before the movie starting shooting, 'Michael J. Fox' was still keeping his Parkinson's disease a secret. He felt he would lose the role if Rob Reiner found out. During a basic and routine fitness screening, Fox was terrified that clinicians would detect the periodic shaking in his left hand and eventually connect it to Parkinson's. Fortunately for Fox, he took his medication in time to quell the shaking and the test amounted to nothing more than checking heart rate and blood pressure. more
Goofs:
Factual errors: While discussing their nervousness about their budding relationship, the President (Michael Douglas) tells the lobbyist (Annette Benning) that all the other first ladies were married to their husbands before they came to the White House. However Grover Cleveland was a bachelor when he was first elected in 1884. He did marry Frances Folsom in the White House in 1886. more
Quotes:
Janie: The 10:15 event has been moved inside to the Indian Treaty Room.
President Andrew Shepherd: 10:15 is American Fisheries?
Janie: Yes sir. They're giving you a 200-pound halibut.
President Andrew Shepherd: Janie, make a note. We need to schedule more events where somebody gives me a really big fish.
Janie: Yes sir.
[starts making note]
President Andrew Shepherd: Janie, I'm kidding.
Janie: [Stops and starts to smile] Of course, sir.
more
Movie Connections:
Soundtrack:
Brandenburg Concerto No. 5 MVT 1 more

FAQ

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22 out of 34 people found the following comment useful.
Warm, fun film with a big heart, 15 February 2002
Author: bob the moo from Birmingham, UK

US President Andrew Shepherd is a widower who was sweep into power on the back of great public sympathy. Three years into his presidency he meets and falls for Sydney Ellen Wade, an environmental lobbyist. Eventually they begin to date against the counsel of his advisors, giving his rivals (most notably Senator Rumson) and the media the ammunition they need to begin to attack his presidency.

This is not exactely a political thriller. In fact it is as far removed from reality as you could imagine. However that's the point, this film doesn't pretend to be anything other than a romantic comedy - it has some political wranglings but it is very far from the (still very tidy and clean) rule of Martin Sheen's President in TV's The West Wing. However the story is nicely handled and Rob Reiner is natually very good at this type of thing. Here it occasionally is far too sickly sweet and sentimental, but most of it works well.

Douglas is good in the lead and looks quite acceptable as the President of the US - lets be honest, if it was him or "oil baron" Bush who would you pick? Bening is also good as Sydney but neither have anything outside of the usual romantic leads to do. The real strength here is the supporting cast - both in terms of class and sheer enterainment value.To name a few - Sheen, MJ Fox, Mathis, Dreyfuss - all big names, all funny performances.

Overall this is a big sloppy romantic comedy, but it's done with so much class that it's hard not to like it. Not brillant, but very enjoyable all the same.

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One of the most evil movies ever made.....insidious cardinal1953
Anyone notice Barrack? kconn777
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Was good until the ending speech ksn1-1
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My Daughter bryceheugel
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