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:

limousine driver | car cigarette lighter | secret service | bodyguard | u.s. president | 

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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

Did You Know?

Trivia

The scenes from the nominating convention for President Carlisle is snippets from the Republican Convention in 1984. You can briefly see a "Reagan-Bush" sign.

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Goofs

When reporting the last know location of Mrs. Carlisle's Lincoln, Agent Chesnic reports her vehicle heading East at the Chester Exit off Interstate 71. However, Chester, Ohio is located in Rural Southeastern Ohio; nowhere near an interstate.

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Quotes

Doug Chesnic: [standing next to him] Where is she Earl?
Earl Fowler: [dismissively, sitting the hospital bed] Speak to my lawyer Agent... Agent Dougie.

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Connections

Featured in The 52nd Annual Golden Globe Awards (1995)

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Soundtracks

Joy To The World
Written by Isaac Watts (uncredited) and Lowell Mason (uncredited)
Courtesy of Capitol/OGM Production Music

User Reviews

OK comedy drama

GUARDING TESS takes a crochety, ailing, widowed former First Lady (MacClaine) and one very reluctant Secret Service agent (Cage) and pairs them on a path that spells almost certain doom for one of them. She can't get along with anyone, including her grown son who ignores her. And Cage just can't get along with her. Naturally, over time, they form a strong bond. Then the unexpected happens. Their world is turned upside down when she is kidnapped. The movie shifts into high melodrama at this point and never lets up until the end. The music begins to thunder down on us, Cage badly overacts, mostly yelling and bellowing, and the film almost goes off the rails. Austin Pendleton hams it up as the First Lady's neurotic driver, and frankly he's not very good in this one. A mostly entertaining little movie that soon enough gets too big for its britches. See it and decide for yourself.

Details

Official Sites:

Sony Movie Channel [United States]

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

11 March 1994 (USA)

Also Known As:

Guarding 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 Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1