Murder at 1600 (1997)

Director:

Dwight H. Little

Writers (WGA):

Wayne Beach (written by) &
David Hodgin (written by)

Release Date:

18 April 1997 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Crime | Drama | Mystery | Thriller

Tagline:

He's a D.C. cop on the outside. She's a Secret Service agent on the inside. Tracking a White House homicide to the First Family's front door.

Plot:

At a time of international incident, the body of a young female staffer is found in a White House wash room...

Plot Keywords:

Secret Service | White House | Detective | Investigation | Murder

Cast

Wesley Snipes	...	Detective Regis
Diane Lane	...	Nina Chance
Daniel Benzali	...	Spikings
Dennis Miller	...	Detective Stengel
Alan Alda	...	Jordan
Ronny Cox	...	President Jack Neil
Diane Baker	...	Kitty Neil
Tate Donovan	...	Kyle Neil
Harris Yulin	...	General Clark Tully
Tom Wright	...	Cooper
Nicholas Pryor	...	Paul Moran
Charles Rocket	...	Jeffrey
Nigel Bennett	...	Burton Cash
Tamara Gorski	...	Young Woman In Bar
Douglas O'Keeffe	...	Assassin - John Kerry
Tony Nappo	...	Luchessi
Mary Moore	...	Carla Town
George R. Robertson	...	Mack Falls
Ho Chow	...	Tepper
James Millington	...	Lt. Marty Dill
John Bourgeois	...	Captain Farr
Peter James Haworth	...	Treasury Guard
David Gardner	...	Speaker Of The House
Cliff McMullen	...	Sniper - Carl
Keith Williams	...	Lawyer Randy Queeg
Grace Armas	...	Screaming Cleaning Woman
David Fraser	...	Brack Electronics
George Sperdakos	...	Reporter - Last Press
Sandra Caldwell	...	Mrs. Wallace
Frank Moore	...	Captain Ford Gibbs
Richard Blackburn	...	Coroner Jimmy Foley
James Gallanders	...	Law Student
Victor Ertmanis	...	Cop Bartender
Richard Fitzpatrick	...	Law Professor
Michael Ricupero	...	Landlord
Chris Gillett	...	V.P. Gordon Dylan
J. Craig Sandy	...	F.B.I. Agent #1
Robert Bidaman	...	V.P. Aide
Carol Anderson	...	Capt. Farr's Asst.
Christopher Kennedy	...	Techy
Michael Kinney	...	Reporter - Jail (as Mike Kinney)
Mike Hambrick	...	CNN Reporter (as Michael Hambrick)
Jackie Bensen	...	TV Reporter #2
Maureen Bunyan	...	TV Reporter #3
Kathryn Klvana	...	TV Reporter #4
Dan Duran	...	CNN Reporter #1
Sheldon Turcott	...	CNN Newscaster #1
Sandi Stahlbrand	...	CNN Reporter #2
Tom Urich	...	CNN News Anchor
Tino Monte	...	Local Newscaster
Raven Dauda	...	Waitress
Michael Dyson	...	Treasury Drone
Aron Tager	...	Treasury Guard #2
Doris E. McMillon	...	Network Reporter #1
Lewis Grenville	...	Network Reporter #3
Mo Kelso	...	Gorgeous Woman (as Moe Kelso)
Junior Williams	...	Medic
Howard Hoover	...	Suit #1
Bryan Renfro	...	Suit #2
Markus Parilo	...	Suit #3
Leigh Bianco	...	Suit #4 (as Leigh E. Brinkman)
Len Wagner	...	Suit #5
Peter Ellery	...	Suit #6
Ray Paisley	...	Suit #7
Brian King	...	Suit #8
Donald Jones	...	Reporter C
Marco Bianco	...	Secret Service
Matt Birman	...	Secret Service
Eric Bryson	...	Secret Service
Walter Masko	...	Secret Service
Branko Racki	...	Secret Service
Mike Chute	...	Secret Service (as Mike Shute)
Tye Tyukodi	...	Secret Service (as Anton Tyukodi)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Lee Eskey	...	Shouter (uncredited)
Babs Hopkinson	...	Cocktail Waitress (uncredited)
Steve Lucescu	...	CIA Hitman #1 (uncredited)
Christopher Northup	...	The Heckler (uncredited)
Ryan Weichel	...	Parking Valet (uncredited)

Directed by
Dwight H. Little		(as Dwight Little)

Writing credits (WGA)
Wayne Beach		(written by) &
David Hodgin		(written by)

Produced by
Stephen Brown	....	executive producer
David Eichler	....	associate producer
Anne Kopelson	....	executive producer
Arnold Kopelson	....	producer
Arnon Milchan	....	producer
Michael G. Nathanson	....	executive producer (as Michael Nathanson)
Ralph S. Singleton	....	co-producer

Original Music by
Christopher Young

Cinematography by
Steven Bernstein		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Leslie Jones
Billy Weber

Casting by
Amanda Mackey Johnson
Cathy Sandrich

Production Design by
Nelson Coates

Art Direction by
Dan Yarhi

Set Decoration by
Tedd Kuchera

Costume Design by
Denise Cronenberg

Makeup Department
David R. Beecroft	....	key hair stylist
Clifford Booker	....	hair stylist: Mr. Snipes
Marilyn Terry	....	key makeup artist
Laini Thompson	....	makeup artist: Mr. Snipes

Production Management
Nicholas J. Gray	....	unit production manager
Erica L. Hiller	....	post-production supervisor
Ralph S. Singleton	....	unit production manager: Washington, D.C.

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Jeff J.J. Authors	....	second unit director: Toronto (as Jeff Authors)
Megan Banning	....	first assistant director: second unit, Toronto
Stephen Bélanger	....	third assistant director (as Stephen Belanger)
Rick Kush	....	second assistant director
Michael J. McAlister	....	second unit director: Washington, D.C. (as Michael John McAlister)
Robert Schick	....	second assistant director: Washington, D.C. (as Bob Schick)
Tim Singh	....	third assistant director
Catherine Wallace	....	trainee assistant director
Stuart Williams	....	second assistant director: second unit, Toronto
Michael Zenon	....	first assistant director

Art Department
Billy D. Choi	....	graphic artist
Bill Harman	....	construction coordinator
Ron Hewitt	....	assistant property master
Elis Lam	....	set designer
Sarah Low	....	second assistant art director
Brenda McClennin	....	art department trainee
Ian Nelmes	....	key scenic
Vic Rigler	....	property master
Michael Shocrylas	....	set designer
Sheri O'Roarke Spelling	....	assistant property master
Linda Lee Sutton	....	set decorator: Washington, D.C. (as Linda Sutton)
Gordon White	....	set designer
Denniston Karl Brown	....	on-set greensman (uncredited)
Christopher L. Conner	....	greensman (uncredited)
Kathryn Freund	....	set dresser (uncredited)
Kristina Kilpe	....	set dresser: Washington DC (uncredited)
Peter Legault	....	carpenter (uncredited)
Rhonda Moscoe	....	art department coordinator (uncredited)
Arline Smith	....	model maker (uncredited)
Robert S. Smith	....	assistant head carpenter (uncredited)

Sound Department
Christopher S. Aud	....	sound effects editor (as Christopher Aud)
Kevin Bartnof	....	foley artist
James Beshears	....	adr supervising editor
John Voss Bonds Jr.	....	sound effects editor (as John V. Bonds Jr.)
Kevin E. Carpenter	....	sound re-recording mixer
Bruce Carwardine	....	production sound mixer
Patrick J. Foley	....	dialogue editor
Patricia A. Galvin	....	adr assistant editor (as Patty Galvin)
Jeffrey J. Haboush	....	sound re-recording mixer
Allen Hartz	....	foley editor
J. Paul Huntsman	....	supervising sound editor
Victor Iorillo	....	supervising sound editor
Melissa Lytle	....	assistant sound editor
Peter Melnychuk	....	boom operator
Jeanine Payne	....	first assistant sound editor
Jonathan Phillips	....	assistant sound editor
John F. Reynolds	....	dialogue editor
Jeff Rosen	....	foley editor (as Jeffrey Rosen)
Catherine Rowe	....	foley artist
Robert Schaper	....	sound re-recording mixer
Robb Wilson	....	assistant sound editor (as R. Robb Wilson)
Tim Burd	....	second boom operator (uncredited)
Eric Gotthelf	....	foley mixer (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Allan Cotter	....	special effects foreman (as Al Cotter)
Neil Trifunovich	....	special effects coordinator
Jason Board	....	effects key (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
John Lafauce	....	digital compositor (uncredited)
Robin Saxen	....	visual effects coordinator (uncredited)

Stunts
Tom Bishop	....	stunt player
Shane Cardwell	....	stunt coordinator
Phil Chiu	....	stunt player
Shelley Cook	....	stunt player
Brian Jagersky	....	stunt player (as Brian Jagarsky)
Erin Jarvis	....	stunt player
Danny Lima	....	stunt player
Steve Lucescu	....	stunt player
Craig MacLachlan	....	stunt player
Edward A. Queffelec	....	stunt player (as Ed Queffelec)
Peter Szkoda	....	stunt player
Ron Van Hart	....	stunt player
John Walsh	....	stunt player
Jeff Ward	....	stunt player
Matt Birman	....	stunt performer (uncredited)
Mike Chute	....	stunt performer (uncredited)
Ned Corrigan	....	utility stunts (uncredited)
Jalil Jay Lynch	....	stunt double: Wesley Snipes (uncredited)
Charles Page	....	stunts (uncredited)
Jeff Ward	....	stunt double: Wesley Snipes (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Suzanne Batinovic	....	second assistant camera: "b" camera
Sam Bojin	....	rigging gaffer
Ralph Brandofino	....	first assistant camera: "b" camera, Washington, D.C. (as Ralph Brandifino)
Jim Bridges	....	still photographer: Washington D.C.
Gary Brostrom	....	key grip: Washington, D.C. (as Gary Brostom)
Russell Caldwell	....	chief lighting technician: Washington D.C. (as Russ Caldwell)
Angelo Colavecchia	....	camera operator
Cylvan Desrouleaux	....	second assistant camera
John Escapa	....	first assistant camera: "b" camera
Daniel C. Gold	....	camera operator: "a" camera, Washington, D.C. (as Dan Gold)
Barry Goodwin	....	assistant chief lighting technician
Gail Harvey	....	still photographer
John Hobson	....	camera operator: "b" camera
Dennis Lynch	....	first assistant camera: "a" camera, Washington, D.C.
Dave Mikutsky	....	electrician: Washington D.C.
Kevin Murphy	....	rigging gaffer
Christopher Nethercoat	....	best boy grip (as Chris Nethercoat)
Norman O'Halloran	....	chief lighting technician (as Norm O'Halloran)
Andrew W. Peart	....	video assist (as Andrew Peart)
Ron Renzetti	....	dolly grip
Erich Roland	....	camera operator: "b" camera, Washington D.C.
Dave C. Sheridan	....	first assistant camera (as Dave Sheridan)
Robert M. Stevens	....	director of photography: second unit, Washington D.C. (as Robert Stevens)
Randy Tambling	....	key grip
Paul Van der Linden	....	director of photography: second unit, Toronto (as Paul Van Der Lindern)
Paul Bolton	....	electrician (uncredited)
Robbi Hinds	....	director of photography: second unit, Toronto (uncredited)
Jay Kemp	....	best boy electric: Washington D.C. (uncredited)
Richard Klompus	....	video assist: Washington D.C. (uncredited)
Thomas Loizeaux	....	camera operator (uncredited)
David Reppen	....	rigging grip (uncredited)
Peter Rosenfeld	....	camera operator: "b" camera (uncredited)
Paul Wilson	....	electrician (uncredited)

Casting Department
Ross Clydesdale	....	casting: Toronto
Elizabeth Lang	....	casting associate: Los Angeles
Mia Levinson	....	casting associate (uncredited)
Jane Rogers	....	extras casting (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Gail Filman	....	costume supervisor: second unit, Toronto
Gayle Franklin	....	assistant costume supervisor
Brenda Gilles	....	costume supervisor

Editorial Department
Albert Alarr	....	assistant editor: Los Angeles
Dale E. Grahn	....	color timer (as Dale Grahn)
Mo Henry	....	negative cutter
Karen Kory	....	first assistant editor: Los Angeles
Darren O'Grady	....	assistant editor: Los Angeles
Brigitte Rabazo	....	assistant editor: Toronto (as Brigitte Ravazo)
Kim Roseborough	....	first assistant editor: Toronto
Trudy Yee	....	assistant editor: Los Angeles
Bill Daly	....	post-production executive (uncredited)

Music Department
Pete Anthony	....	orchestra conductor
Pete Anthony	....	orchestrator
Robert Fernandez	....	orchestra scoring mixer (as Bobby Fernandez)
Tanya Noel Hill	....	assistant music editor
Will Kaplan	....	music editor
Thomas Milano	....	music editor
David Reynolds	....	score coordinator
Christopher Young	....	orchestrator
Anna Bonn	....	orchestrator (uncredited)
Tom Boyd	....	musician: oboe soloist (uncredited)
M.B. Gordy	....	musician: percussion (uncredited)
James Thatcher	....	musician: french horn (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Fred Ionson	....	transportation coordinator
Bruce Raymer	....	transportation captain
Danny Mortenson	....	unit transportation coordinator (uncredited)

Other crew
Glennis Bastien	....	assistant production coordinator
Celeste Butt	....	assistant location manager
Jane Conway	....	animal wrangler
Robert Dawson	....	title designer
Carol Flaisher	....	location manager: Washington D.C.
Dorigen Fode	....	location manager
Karen Fouts	....	production accountant
Jessica Goldberg	....	assistant: Mr. Little
Sarah James	....	production coordinator
Lorraine Jamison	....	unit publicist: Toronto
Lisa Kalushner	....	assistant video unit coordinator
Paul Kenyon	....	assistant location manager
Dusan Kovacevic	....	staff assistant
Erla Lank	....	staff assistant
Lyn Lucibello	....	production accountant
Juan Carlos Montalvo	....	staff assistant (as Juan Montalvo)
Gary Mueller	....	video unit coordinator
Claudia O'Hehir	....	executive assistant: Mrs. Kopelson
Terry Ostrow	....	assistant: Mr. Kopelson (as Terri Ostrow)
Jae Pak	....	staff assistant
Angelique Phillips	....	staff assistant
Dave Pratt	....	staff assistant
Jennifer Ro	....	assistant: Mr. Kopelson
C.J. Robertson	....	first assistant accountant
Alycia Rossiter	....	staff assistant
Lee Schauer	....	staff assistant
Carrie Seeley	....	assistant: Mr. Snipes
Margie Shields	....	assistant: Ms. Lane
Meghan Sea Treese	....	assistant: Stephen Brown
Laurance Wiese	....	staff assistant (as Laurence Wiese)
Mimi Wolch	....	script supervisor
Kris Wood	....	video and computer playback operator
Kathleen Beall	....	location scout (uncredited)
Bruce Buck	....	helicopter pilot (uncredited)
G. Michael Currie	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Tim Downs	....	production assistant: second unit (uncredited)
Erin Flynn	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Matthew Gross	....	production executive (uncredited)
Jeff Johnson	....	set medic: Washington D.C. (uncredited)
Delaney Williams	....	stand-in (uncredited)

Thanks
David Hodgin	....	in memory of

Production Companies

• Warner Bros (presents)
• Regency Enterprises (in association with)

Distributors

• Warner Bros (1997) (USA) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. Entertainment (1997) (Canada) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (1997) (UK) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (1997) (Spain) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (1997) (France) (theatrical)
• Warner Home Video (1997) (USA) (DVD)
• Warner Bros. (1997) (Japan) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (1997) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (1997) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Warner Home Video (1998) (USA) (VHS)
• Warner Home Video (1998) (Netherlands) (VHS) (rental)
• Warner Bros. (1998) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Argentina Video Home (1998) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Argentina Video Home (1998) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Warner Home Video (1999) (Netherlands) (VHS) (retail)
• Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) (2000) (USA) (TV)
• Warner Home Video (2002) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (1999) (Germany) (DVD)
• Warner Home Vídeo (Brazil) (DVD)
• Warner Home Vídeo (Brazil) (VHS)

Special Effects

• Pacific Title Digital (visual effects)
• Computer Film Company, The (CFC) (digital compositing)
• Global Effects Inc.

Other Companies

• 1600 Limited Partnership  production services
• By David's  caterer
• Cable News Network (CNN)  the producers wish to thank (as Cable News Network)
• Canadian Film and Television Producer's Association  the producers wish to thank (as The Canadian Film and Television Production Association)
• District of Columbia Office of Motion Picture and TV Development  the producers wish to thank (as The Mayor's Office of Motion Picture & Television, District of Columbia)
• International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE)  this picture made under the jurisdiction of (as I.A.T.S.E.)
• Kodak Canada  motion picture products (as Kodak)
• Kodak  motion picture products
• Lightnin' Production Rentals  transportation equipment
• Monarchy Enterprises B.V.  copyright owner: original score ©1997
• National Park Service, National Capital Region  the producers wish to thank (as National Park Service, National Capital Area)
• Ontario Film Development Corporation  the producers wish to thank: Director of Location, Promotion and Services
• Pacific Title  titles and opticals
• Panavision  cameras and lenses (as Panavision®)
• Panavision  cameras and lenses (as Panavision®)
• Regency Entertainment  copyright owner: original score ©1997 (as Regency Entertainment [USA] Inc.)
• Starcraft Services  craft service (as Starcraft)
• Toronto Film and Television Office, The  the producers wish to thank: Film Commissioner (as Toronto Film and Television Office)
• United States Park Police  the producers wish to thank (as The United States Park Police)
• Warner Bros  copyright owner: original score ©1997 (as Warner Bros. Productions Limited)

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated R for sexuality, violence and some language

Runtime:

107 min | Argentina:108 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Canada:13+ (Québec) | Canada:14 (Nova Scotia) | Canada:AA (Ontario) | Canada:PA (Manitoba) | Finland:K-16 | Germany:16 | Netherlands:16 | Norway:15 | Peru:14 | Portugal:M/12 | Singapore:M18 | South Korea:18 | Spain:13 | Sweden:15 | UK:15 (cut) | USA:R | Iceland:14 | Iceland:16 (video rating) | France:Unrated | Philippines:PG-13

Filming Locations:

36-42 Maitland Street, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Company:

Warner Bros

Trivia:

The 13 July 1996 draft of the script credits 'Wayne Beach' and David Hodgin as writers, with revisions by Steven Maeda, Vince McKewin, and Anthony Peckham. Beach and Hodgin are the only two who received credits.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: At the beginning of the film, after Regis has knocked out a suicidal bureaucrat, an accompanying patrol officer's pistol clearly has a bright orange dummy gun barrel.

Quotes:

President Neil:Jesus, Alvin. You really had her killed, didn't you? She was 25. She was a child!
Alvin Jordan:She was a casualty of war!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Bad Movie Beatdown: BMB Spoony Experiment: Tekken (#3.21)" (2011)

No Hollywood stereotypes, at last

Murder at 1600 is an enjoyable thriller. There are some formula aspects as other reviewers have mentioned, but on the whole the plot – a murder within 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue – leaves the viewer in some suspense. As a "whodunnit", the movie succeeds, and as for this reviewer, the murderer and the actual conspiracy isn't evident till near the end. Wayne Beach and the late David Hodgin create enough plot twists to keep most viewers guessing. Director Dwight Little keeps things tight and well-paced. There is a good sense of logic to Murder at 1600's execution.

It's arguably one of the best films Snipes has starred in. Known more for his tough-guy roles in Passenger 57 and Demolition Man, it's refreshing to see Snipes as a detective who relies more on thinking than weaponry. Revelations keep Snipes' character, Det Harlan Regis, pursuing new leads – just as any logical audience member would. Regis, a history buff who has recreated battles with miniature models in his living room and a well-respected detective, puts both his police training and interests to use. Beach and Hodgin have also humanized Regis: he is about to be evicted – a fact that is quickly introduced in the film's opening sequence – and he and his fellow tenants' problem is solved in a refreshing way.

Diane Lane plays a Secret Service agent, Nina Chance, who begins to suspect a cover-up at the White House and assists Regis. It's established early on that she brought home the gold in sharpshooting at the 1988 Olympics – and her skills are put to good use in several action scenes. Unlike most TV heroines, her aim doesn't get better as the ending nears. There's a welcome consistency that's seldom seen from Hollywood, where the hero often loses a fight at the beginning yet miraculously triumphs at the end. It's a real pleasure to see Lane back in a high-calibre film; for too long we've seen her in forgettable fare such as Judge Dredd and Knight Moves. Lane's acting ability should keep her in the limelight, one hopes – she is an actress who doesn't deserve to fade in her 40s. This will depend on whether the establishment will come to its senses about its ageist attitude toward actresses.

The cast is ably supported by the menacing Daniel Benzali; Alan Alda comes to Snipes's aid as the National Security Adviser to the President; Ronny Cox is a president in crisis as American troops are held hostage in North Korea; Tate Donovan as the president's playboy son. Every character, with the exception of Snipes's sidekick played by Dennis Miller, has a part to play in the plot; thanks to a better-than-usual casting job by the duo of Amanda Johnson and Cathy Sandrich (often good with mysteries) the roles are very well filled.

And refreshingly for Hollywood, we do not have a male European-American hero saving the day with his African-American sidekick. There have been enough biases against minorities in casting films. And there have also been enough films that take things too far the other way. The race issue is never played in this film: director Dwight Little treats each character as a regular person, just like in real life where the majority of us don't give an iota what colour or creed someone is.

Some parts of Christopher Young's score are not terribly fitting although on the whole he does a good job. Sound effects are well handled in this film as is the editing; both contribute well to the suspense and the mood. Steven Bernstein's photography cuts between the real and created White Houses well, and contributes well to the film's overall effect.

This is one of the best and most logical films that has come out of Hollywood for some time. It will not insult many viewers' intelligence for starters. While not 100 per cent original, it is a very well-made film that rests on a solid plot and direction.