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
Sean Palmer	...	Tony
Sohee Park	...	Tony's Assistant
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:

Viacom originally scheduled the series to run on CBS, but moved it to Showtime after protests by the Republican party and a threatened boycott over its portrayal of the Reagan family.

Goofs:

Errors made by characters (possibly deliberate errors by the filmmakers): In the debate between President Carter and Reagan the voice the actor uses is completely wrong. Carter had a very distinctive southern drawl.

Quotes:

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

Movie Connections:

References Bedtime for Bonzo (1951)

Terrific movie, totally SCREWED

Well it's true enough that people decided not to watch this film, which is clear enough from reading their absurdly uninformed opinions about it.

There was an incredible spread of lies about this movie, all published based on a completely unrelated rough draft of an entirely different screenplay, which were quickly distributed via the internet to anyone who enjoys getting fired up. That's a lot of people, and yes, most of them host television shows with screaming people on them. Thanks to the internet, the "American People" did not choose not to support "The Reagans." No, they chose to be prey to brainwashing which was based on lies about a film which had not yet been completed, assembled in the editing room, or therefor seen by anyone including it's own director.

And it IS censorship which is caused by official segments of the Republican party organizing protests and threatening CBS, resulting in a fantastic film being dumped in the grand name of ignorance and hero worship. Apparently three hours of actual study is too much to ask of "the American people" these days.

I have seen this film several times, because out of curiosity I purchased a copy. Now of course we don't know what Nancy Reagan said during downtime at home when her husband was running for office. But if we had to limit our films and television shows to dialogue that can be 100% verified, then we are all doomed to watch nothing but "Survivor" and "The Surreal Life" for the rest of our lives.

Furthermore, anyone with a brain should know that no one, no not even Nancy Reagan, can be pleasant and happy all the time. You watch someone when they know they're in front of a camera and they will not necessarily show you the part of their personality that got them there. Truly objective and humane people would appreciate this film BECAUSE of the negative moments, and the positive ones. I would much rather watch a brilliantly-acted and produced film that seems to be balanced and believable than a live-action cartoon featuring Ronald Reagan as the protagonist.

People who are sick and dying deserve to be respected, surely. However, it must be understood that a film takes time and the producers of this movie certainly could not have decided to time the release of this one just before his death. Is anyone really crazy enough to believe that they had this in mind? Is there a stupider idea for a film director to have? Oh, I know, let's mutilate the reputation of the one of the most beloved American presidents in our history just as he's slowly dying of a dreaded disease. And let's not forget to also destroy the image of his wife Nancy, before airing our expose on Mother Theresa. Yup, that must've been their motivation.

It reminds me of everyone accusing Ellen DeGeneres of coming out in order to bolster her career....and look at all of the people who followed her lead because of the great effect it has on a person's career.