The Distinguished Gentleman (1992)

In the conniving world of politics, even a professional shyster like Thomas Jefferson Johnson (Eddie Murphy) can find himself outmatched. After using name recognition to get elected, ... See full summary »

Director:

Jonathan Lynn

Writers:

Marty Kaplan (story), Jonathan Reynolds (story)

Stars:

Eddie Murphy, Lane Smith, Sheryl Lee Ralph

4 wins.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Eddie Murphy	...	Thomas Jefferson Johnson
Lane Smith	...	Dick Dodge
Sheryl Lee Ralph	...	Miss Loretta
Joe Don Baker	...	Olaf Andersen
Victoria Rowell	...	Celia Kirby
Grant Shaud	...	Arthur Reinhardt
Kevin McCarthy	...	Terry Corrigan
Charles S. Dutton	...	Elijah Hawkins
Victor Rivers	...	Armando
Chi McBride	...	Homer (as Chi)
Sonny Jim Gaines	...	Van Dyke
Noble Willingham	...	Zeke Bridges
Gary Frank	...	Iowa
Daniel Benzali	...	'Skeeter' Warburton
Cynthia Harris	...	Vera Johnson

Storyline

In the conniving world of politics, even a professional shyster like Thomas Jefferson Johnson (Eddie Murphy) can find himself outmatched. After using name recognition to get elected, Johnson enjoys many of the same financial perks as other politicians. However, while investigating the connection between electric companies and cancer in young children, he unexpectedly develops a conscience. Unfortunately, fellow Congressman Dick Dodge (Lane Smith) isn't about to let him rock the boat.

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Plot Keywords:

congressman | lobbyist | political humor | political comedy | campaigning | 

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Taglines:

From con man to congressman

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Genres:

Comedy | Crime

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language and a scene of sexuality

Details

Official Sites:

Jonathan Lynn - Director

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

4 December 1992 (USA)

Also Known As:

De estafador a senador

Filming Locations:

Downtown, Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$50,000,000 (estimated)

Gross USA:

$46,666,502

Company Credits

Production Co:

Hollywood Pictures, Touchwood Pacific Partners 1

Technical Specs

Runtime:

112 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

This comedy about an African-American politician was made and released just under a decade or nine years before another, Head of State (2003) starring Chris Rock. The earlier movie The Man (1972) had a story-line centered around, "The First Black President of the United States", as a tagline for the picture stated, with his inauguration featuring prominently on movie poster's for the 1970s film. Actor James Earl Jones was interviewed about portraying a fictional black U.S. president in The Man (1972) a few days before Barack Obama was sworn in as President on 20th January 2009. Jones said that he had misgivings about the film, mostly because they were blindsided when the project, which had been planned and budgeted as a tele-movie, was then released in theaters, and he wished that they'd had more time and resources to make a stronger final film.

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Goofs

When congressman Johnson first sits down with Celia Kirby and her assistant Ira Schecter , Johnson asks Ira about how much he pays for auto insurance and Ira states that he owns a 1982 Dodge Dart. The Dodge Dart was manufactured from 1960 through 1976 and then again from 2013 through the present. There is no such thing as a 1982 Dodge Dart.

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Quotes

Thomas Jefferson Johnson: We're not going to show you Jeff Johnson waving a flag. We're not going to show you Jeff Johnson kissing babies. We're not going to show you Jeff Johnson doing anything because you already know what Jeff Johnson can do. Tomorrow, vote Jeff Johnson. The name you know.

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Connections

Featured in Moyers & Company: Big Money, Big Media, Big Trouble (2012)

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Soundtracks

THE POLITICS OF LOVE
Written and Performed by Phil Marshall

User Reviews

Highly Entertaining

This overlooked Eddie Murphy from 1992 gem is much better than most critics would have you believe. Murphy plays a charming con man who swindles his way into Congress through voter inattention -- they think he's the incumbent, who is actually deceased. What starts as a game to merely soak the job for all it's worth turns into an unlikely effort to make a real difference. Several scenes are laugh-out-loud, particularly early on. Though a shade overlong, the story is engaging enough to keep the viewer's attention, and it serves up some nice potshots at how bloated and self-serving government has become. One of Murphy's best 'non-family' entries.