Winter Kills (1979)

The Pickering Commission concluded that a lone gunman killed U.S. President Timothy Kegan (John Warner) in 1960, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Nineteen years later a dying man confesses to be the real shooter hired to kill him. Kegan's brother and filthy rich father investigate.

Director:

William Richert

Writers:

Richard Condon (book), William Richert (written for the screen)

Stars:

Jeff Bridges, John Huston, Anthony Perkins

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jeff Bridges	...	Nick Kegan
John Huston	...	Pa Kegan
Anthony Perkins	...	John Cerruti
Eli Wallach	...	Joe Diamond
Sterling Hayden	...	Z.K. Dawson
Dorothy Malone	...	Emma Kegan
Tomas Milian	...	Frank Mayo
Belinda Bauer	...	Yvette Malone
Ralph Meeker	...	Gameboy Baker
Toshirô Mifune	...	Keith
Richard Boone	...	Keifitz
David Spielberg	...	Miles Garner
Brad Dexter	...	Captain Heller One
Michael Thoma	...	Ray Doty
Ed Madsen	...	Captain Heller Two

Storyline

Nineteen years after President Timothy Kegan (John Warner) was assassinated, his brother Nick (Jeff Bridges) discovers a dying man claiming to have been the gunman. While trying to avoid his wealthy and domineering father's attempts to control his actions, Nick follows the clues that have been handed to him. As he progresses, it becomes increasingly difficult to discern the real trails from the dead ends, and increasing dangerous as unknown parties try to stop Nick from uncovering the truth.

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Plot Keywords:

male objectification | sleeping naked | sleeping shirtless | sleeping nude | waking up naked | 

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Taglines:

From the author of THE MANCHURIAN CANDIDATE.

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Mystery | Thriller

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Certificate:

R

Did You Know?

Trivia

Though this movie is obviously referential to President John F. Kennedy and his assassination, the name of the assassinated President, Timothy Kegan, also coincidentally referenced the then next incoming President of the United States after this movie debuted, which was President Ronald Regan, as the name "Kegan" has a similar spelling and sounding to the name "Reagan".

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Goofs

When Yvette refuses Nick's marriage proposal, she puts her right hand on his face. When the angle changes she suddenly has both hands on his face.

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Quotes

Pa Kegan: Where are your values in life?
Nick Kegan: I honestly don't know.
Pa Kegan: Do you get laid? I ask you, do you get laid?
Nick Kegan: Yeah.
Pa Kegan: Do you know how many times your brother got laid when he was in office?
Nick Kegan: What are you, the National Inquirer?
Pa Kegan: One thousand seventy-two, and with a schedule like his.

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Alternate Versions

Reissued in 1983 with deleted scenes restored.

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Connections

Featured in No Subtitles Necessary: Laszlo & Vilmos (2008)

User Reviews

A surreal, over-the-top look at American politics & power

Winter Kills once was available on videotape; no longer. That's a pity because it's a stylish, fun-packed phantasmagoria about American power as expressed through American politics. (Since the source material was written by Richard Condon -- of Manchurian Candidate and Prizzi's Honor fame -- the points are not subtle; merely irresistible.) Based loosely on the Kennedy saga (as what isn't these days: look at Dominick Dunne's oeuvre), the film casts Jeff Bridges, at his most young and vital, as the baby brother of a slain president. Trying to track down clues to the assassination, he embarks on one of those labyrinthine quests undertaken by the likes of the poisoned protagonist in D.O.A. or Mike Hammer in Kiss Me Deadly. Of course, the clues boomerang back, leading him into the viperish nest of his own family, especially his father, a randy old psycho played to the hilt by John Huston. But even this filthy rich patriarch doesn't work the strings anymore; they've gone corporate, become systemic, and are pulled by a bland bureaucrat played by Anthony Perkins. This movie is a mad midway ride, overflowing with cameos that pop up like death's-heads in the funhouse. Watch for Liz Taylor, as a fabled madame, silently mouthing a profanity.

Details

Official Sites:

Official Site

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

11 May 1979 (USA)

Also Known As:

Winter Kills

Filming Locations:

Death Valley National Park, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$6,500,000 (estimated)

Gross USA:

$1,083,799

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$1,083,799

Company Credits

Production Co:

Winter Gold Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

97 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.39 : 1