The Reagans (2003) (TV)

Director:

Robert Allan Ackerman

Writers (WGA):

Carl Sferrazza Anthony (book)
Jane Marchwood (written by) ...

Release Date:

30 November 2003 (USA)

Genre:

Biography | Drama | Romance

Tagline:

The film they didn't want you to see!

Plot Keywords:

Cold War | Reagan Assassination Attempt | Scandal | Suicide Attempt | Governor

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Golden Globes. Another 1 win & 10 nominations

Cast

Judy Davis	...	Nancy Reagan
James Brolin	...	Ronald Reagan
Zeljko Ivanek	...	Michael Deaver
Mary Beth Peil	...	Edith Davis
Bill Smitrovich	...	Alexander Haig
Shad Hart	...	Ron Reagan Jr.
Zoie Palmer	...	Patti Reagan
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Kyle Allatt	...	Angry Student
Alicia Bacile	...	Patti Reagan (teenage)
Tom Barnett	...	Michael Reagan
Rodger Barton	...	Bud McFarlane
Claudia Besso	...	Doria Reagan
Stewart Bick	...	Lew Wasserman
Brandon Blue	...	Ronald Reagan at 17
Terence Bowman	...	AFL-CIO Leader
Lorne Brass	...	Surgeon. Dr. Greenberg
Tatiana Chouljenko	...	Raisa Gorbachev
Leslie Cottle	...	Woman at Party
Elizabeth de la Chevrotière	...	Protestor
Christopher Dyson	...	Bernie Leadon
Tod Fennell	...	Michael Reagan
Richard Fitzpatrick	...	Ben Weldon
Mariah Inger
Don Jordan	...	Dance Teacher
Patrick Kerton	...	Stunt cowboy
Marina Lapina	...	Russian Translator
Sean McCann	...	George Schultz
Frank Moore	...	Don Regan
John Sanford Moore	...	Debate Moderator
Lisa Bronwyn Moore	...	Kathy Reynolds
Michael Daniel Murphy	...	Dancer
Lubomir Mykytiuk	...	Gorbachev
Omari Newton	...	Angry Protester
Sohi Paku	...	Tony's Assistant
Sean Palmer	...	Tony
Mike Paterson	...	Homeless Activist #2
Laura Press	...	Betsy Bloomingdale
Kevin Ryder	...	Campaign Aide
Linda Smith	...	Doris
John Stamos	...	John Sears
Ryan Tilson	...	Michael Reagan Age 5
Linda Tomassone	...	Dorm Girl
Tanya Trombetta	...	Young Patti Davis Reagan
Harald Winter	...	Kohl's Assitant
Kevin Woodhouse	...	Hinckley
Brian Wrench	...	Reporter

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Certification:

Netherlands:12

Filming Locations:

Montréal, Québec, Canada

Company:

Sony Pictures Television

Trivia:

In Montreal, producers built an exact copy of the exterior wall of Washington's Hilton Hotel in order to recreate the Reagan assassination attempt.

Goofs:

Factual errors: President Jimmy Carter phones Reagan to concede the 4 November 1980 election when there is still bright afternoon sunshine at Reagan's house in California. In actuality, Carter called to concede about 6pm Pacific Time, which would have been dusk at Reagan's house.

Quotes:

President Ronald Reagan: If you don't mind, this administration has to pee.

Movie Connections:

Spoofs "Saturday Night Live" (1975)

A Necessary Watch

In the aftermath of Reagan's passing, the entire media is hurriedly engaged in rewriting the truth about this highly-flawed but interesting man. Virtually all of his significant errors, short-comings, and failures are being sanitized, and as his canonization completes itself the myths that remains will be a sham. Every citizen who values the truth should buy this DVD now and watch it before it disappears, just like the truths it reveals are disappearing.

In this remarkably factual production we learn about Reagan the actor, capable and pleasant. We also learn that he snitched off his pals to the HUAC. We learn that during the war he made movies in Culver City for the Army, and later had trouble finding work, finally winding up as GE's spokesman for Death Valley Days on Television, a medium he always held in contempt.

We watch his disdain for the IRS grow as his income skyrockets, and how it matures into a complete repudiation of the Federal Government. And as his resentment of the Federal Government grows, we witness how the shadowy rich seduce him into becoming their tax-cutting puppet, from the Governship of California through 2 terms in the White House.

Most importantly, we learn the truth about the most dysfunctional family ever to inhabit the White House, based largely on Reagan's shocking disinterest in his own flesh and blood.

Mainly, however, we learn the truth about Nancy. Let's just say that the truth as it is revealed here eclipses everything that you though you knew about this shrewd and manipulative woman.

This film contains the truths about Reagan that the Modern Cons don't want you to know. The source-work for this film is beyond reproach, with most of it coming from the writings of Reagans children first published years ago.

Production wise, it's great. James Brolin is uncanny in his capture of the Reagan personna, and he delivers a performance that is charitable and kind. I think it's his best ever. The other performances are equally as good.

Bottom Line: The truth is out there, and this is it.