The Reagans (TV 2003)

Director:

Robert Allan Ackerman

Writers:

Carl Sferrazza Anthony (book), Jane Marchwood,

Stars:

Judy Davis, James Brolin, Zeljko Ivanek

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

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
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
Richard Fitzpatrick	...	Ben Weldon
Vlasta Vrana	...	Ed Meese
Francis X. McCarthy	...	Dr. Loyal Davis (as Francis Xavier McCarthy)
Frank Moore	...	Don Regan
Aidan Devine	...	Bill Shelby
John Stamos	...	John Sears
Stewart Bick	...	Lew Wasserman
Tom Barnett	...	Michael Reagan

Storyline

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Plot Keywords:

governor | reagan assassination attempt | assassination attempt | u.s. president | husband wife relationship | 

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Taglines:

The film they didn't want you to see!

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Genres:

Biography | Drama | Romance

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Details

Country:

USA Canada

Language:

English

Release Date:

30 November 2003 (USA)

Also Known As:

A Reagan család

Filming Locations:

Montréal, Québec, Canada

Company Credits

Production Co:

Sony Pictures Television, Storyline Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

180 min

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Did You Know?

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.

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Goofs

Reagan and studio exec are shown walking through picturesque Universal Studios back lot sets late at night, only to enter a door to European building in which he will pose for publicity photos with a chimp for Bedtime for Bonzo. In reality such photos have been shot in photo gallery or sound stage nowhere near back lot and certainly not late at night.

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Quotes

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

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Connections

References Bedtime for Bonzo (1951)

User Reviews

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.