Assassination (1987)

A presidential bodyguard is assigned to protect an objecting first lady, as repeated attempts are made on her life.

Director:

Peter R. Hunt (as Peter Hunt)

Writer:

Richard Sale

Stars:

Charles Bronson, Jill Ireland, Stephen Elliott

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Charles Bronson	...	Jay Killian
Jill Ireland	...	Lara Royce Craig
Stephen Elliott	...	Fitzroy
Jan Gan Boyd	...	Charlotte Chang
Randy Brooks	...	Tyler Loudermilk
James Lemp	...	Eddie Bracken (as Erik Stern)
Michael Ansara	...	Sen. Bunsen
James Staley	...	Briggs
Kathryn Leigh Scott	...	Polly Sims
James Acheson	...	Osborne Weems
Jim McMullan	...	The Zipper
Billy Hayes	...	Pritchard Young (as William Hayes)
William Prince	...	H.H. Royce
Charles Howerton	...	President Calvin Craig
Chris Alcaide	...	Chief Justice

Storyline

Jay Killian (Charles Bronson) had been a Secret Service agent guarding the President, but for the inauguration of the recently elected president, he is assigned to the first lady, Lara Royce (Jill Ireland). Lara, a perpetually indignant, arrogantly feministic lady, initially hates the methodical and rules-following Killian, and so she does all she can to avoid him and disregard his safety procedures. The story complicates when repeated attempts are made on Lara's life. Eventually, the shaken Lara decides to trust Killian's instincts and precautionary methods, and the pair embark on a difficult and often perilous cross-country journey, with the assassins close on their heels.

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Plot Keywords:

the white house | washington monument washington d.c. | assassin | bodyguard | first lady | 

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Taglines:

Only Jay Killian stood between the President's wife and assassination.

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Genres:

Action | Drama | Thriller

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Certificate:

PG-13

Did You Know?

Trivia

The leading male and female characters pose as a married couple to avoid unwanted notice from their terrorist pursuers; Charles Bronson and Jill Ireland actually were husband and wife at the time.

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Goofs

In the long shot of Killy on the bike right after the freight train's whistle starts to blow, you can see a very great distance behind Killy down the empty track, with no pursuing hitman's pickup truck visible, even though it is always shown following fairly close behind Jay and Lara in previous and subsequent shots.

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Quotes

Charlotte Chong: Killy, why don't you move in permanently?
Jay Killion: I don't want to die from a terminal orgasm!

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Connections

Featured in The Go-Go Boys: The Inside Story of Cannon Films (2014)

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Soundtracks

March
(uncredited)
from Invasion U.S.A. (1985)
Composed by Jay Chattaway

User Reviews

A fun action film.

Let me start by saying that Charles Bronson is one of my favorite actors and I think my mom found this one on VHS at a flea market back in 2015.

This movie is honestly pretty good, it's entertaining if not a little corny in places but I love it anyway.

Charles is a bad ass action hero in these action movies I'm a fan of his Death Wish films I haven't seen him in a lot but I'm planing on trying to find more with him.

I like in this story that he plays a secret service agent hired to protect the First lady who he doesn't really like, that I feel is a nice change of pace, then your typical standard story, it made for some nice levels of comedy.

Overall, I give it a 6/10. It's just a fun action film that you can sit back enjoy, and see

Charles Bronson kick some terrorist ass.

Highly recommended.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

9 January 1987 (USA)

Also Known As:

The President's Assassin

Filming Locations:

Washington, District of Columbia, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$5,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$2,787,449, 11 January 1987

Gross USA:

$6,075,793

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$6,075,793

Company Credits

Production Co:

The Cannon Group, Golan-Globus Productions, Major Studio Partners

Technical Specs

Runtime:

88 min (DVD)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (TVC)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1