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)

Gross USA:

$27,053,498

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

The scene in the Secret Service office, where the television shows civil unrest in Agua Dulce, affecting the president in the film (voiced by Hugh Wilson), the footage shown was actual news coverage from June 1992 when President George Bush (Bush 41) was in Panama for a speech. As a mass of protesters were present, gunshots and tear gas broke out, causing Bush to be evacuated.

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Goofs

The "Ohio" state route signs in the movie are wrong, as the real ones have the outline of the state. The signs are Maryland signs (where the movie was filmed) with the word "Ohio" covering the word "Maryland".

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Quotes

Frederick: [sitting at the counter, preparing Tess' breakfast in the kitchen] Just back to pick up your accoutrements?
Doug Chesnic: [while making coffee] Speak English Fred.
Frederick: [Doug walks out of the kitchen and up the stairs to 'Tess' bedroom] Just back to pick up your shit?

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Connections

Referenced in On Cinema: 'Need for Speed' and 'Walk of Shame' (2014)

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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

very enjoyable

When this movie was bought, I at first wasn't keen on watching it except because of Nicolas Cage I thought it might be alright.

Well when I sat down to watch this movie I was quite surprised to how entertaining this movie actually was.

There were funny parts that would put a smile on my face and some that made me laugh out loud. There were also great drammatical parts later in the film that just added to the fine touches of making a great film.

The chemistry between Nicolas Cage and Shirley MacLaine worked so well and their performances entertaining and often funny.

A great movie about learning to appreciate what is given to you and not wasting energy on what you cannot get. A gem of a movie, I recommend it.