Guarding Tess (1994)

A former U.S. First Lady wants a particular Secret Service agent to head her bodyguard detail, even though he can't stand her.

Director:

Hugh Wilson

Writers:

Hugh Wilson, Pj Torokvei

Stars:

Shirley MacLaine, Nicolas Cage, Austin Pendleton

Nominated for 1 Golden Globe. Another 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Shirley MacLaine	...	Tess Carlisle
Nicolas Cage	...	Doug Chesnic
Austin Pendleton	...	Earl Fowler
Edward Albert	...	Barry Carlisle
James Rebhorn	...	Howard Schaeffer
Richard Griffiths	...	Frederick
John Roselius	...	Tom Bahlor
David Graf	...	Lee Danielson
Don Yesso	...	Ralph Buoncristiani
James Lally	...	Joe Spector
Brant von Hoffman	...	Bob Hutcherson (as Brant Von Hoffman)
Harry Lennix	...	Kenny Young (as Harry J. Lennix)
Susan Blommaert	...	Kimberly Cannon
Dale Dye	...	Charles Ivy
James Handy	...	Neal Carlo

Storyline

Doug is a Secret Service Agent who has just completed his stint in charge protecting Tess Carlisle, widow of a former U.S. President, and close personal friend of the President. He finds that she has requested that he not be rotated but instead return to be her permanent detail. Doug is crushed. He wants off her detail. She is very difficult to guard and makes her detail crazy with her whims and demands. Doug returns with no idea of how to continue dealing with her.

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Plot Keywords:

secret service | bodyguard | u.s. president | widow | reference to spiro agnew | 

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Taglines:

A comedy beyond the call of duty.

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for some language

Details

Official Sites:

Sony Movie Channel [United States]

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

11 March 1994 (USA)

Also Known As:

Un ange gardien pour Tess

Filming Locations:

9690 Deerco Road, Timonium, Maryland, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$20,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$7,065,213, 13 March 1994

Gross USA:

$27,058,304

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$27,058,304

Company Credits

Production Co:

Channel Films, TriStar Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

96 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby SDDS

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Austin Pendelton and James Rebhorn both were characters in My Cousin Vinny (1992)

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Goofs

In the hospital scene, where Doug is menacing the chauffeur for information, he draws his S&W double-action revolver. Even after firing it, however, he is shown to cock the hammer repeatedly, as though it were a single-action gun.

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Quotes

Doug Chesnic: [Calming the hospital employee who insisted it's hospital policy that patients leave by wheelchair] The regulations aren't really that sacred, are they?
Doug Chesnic: [while taking his sunglasses] And Tess... Get in the god damn chair.
Tess Carlisle: [while sitting in the wheel chair, with Fredrick pushing from behind, taps hand with her right hand] Hmm. Very good, Douglas. You're going to be all right.

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Connections

Featured in At the Movies: Guarding Tess/Lightning Jack/The Hudsucker Proxy/The Ref/Belle Epoque/Germinal (1994)

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Soundtracks

Shout
Written by Ronald Isley, Rudolph Isley & O'Kelly Isley
Performed by The Isley Brothers
Courtesy of The RCA Records Label of BMG Music

User Reviews

A good, old-fashioned comedy

Guarding Tess is a film that relies on character and dialogue for its impact rather than flashy special effects or frenetic action. The humour is subtle rather than sledge-hammer, a rare achievement for a modern comedy.

The interaction between the eponymous Tess (Shirley MacLaine) and her chief minder (Nicholas Cage)is well scripted and beautifully played. There are also some fine supporting performances from the likes of Richard Griffiths.

Well worth investing 90 minutes of your time to watch.