My Fellow Americans (1996)

Two former U. S. Presidents, hated rivals, join forces to expose the current, corrupt President at the risk of their lives.

Director:

Peter Segal

Writers:

E. Jack Kaplan (story), Richard Chapman (story)

Stars:

Jack Lemmon, James Garner, Dan Aykroyd

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jack Lemmon	...	President Russell P. Kramer
James Garner	...	President Matt Douglas
Dan Aykroyd	...	President William Haney
John Heard	...	Vice President Ted Matthews
Wilford Brimley	...	Joe Hollis
Lauren Bacall	...	Margaret Kramer
Sela Ward	...	Kaye Griffin
Everett McGill	...	Col. Paul Tanner
Bradley Whitford	...	Carl Witnaur
James Rebhorn	...	Charlie Reynolds
Esther Rolle	...	Rita
Conchata Ferrell	...	Woman Truck Driver
Jack Kehler	...	Wayne
Connie Ray	...	Genny
Tom Everett	...	NSA Agent Wilkerson

Storyline

Kramer and Douglas, two former presidents from opposite ends of the political spectrum, become reluctant allies when they become the target of a conspirator in President Haney's administration. The two ex-presidents realize they have an enemy within the government and set out to find evidence that will clear their names. The search takes them across the Southern Appalachians; along the way they meet a homeless couple, thwart kidnapers in the parking lot of a fast-food restaurant, and find themselves marching in a gay pride parade.

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Plot Keywords:

president | former president | ex president | voting results | election returns | 

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Taglines:

A comedy about life, liberty and the pursuit of two ex-presidents.

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Genres:

Adventure | Comedy

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for salty language and innuendo

Details

Official Sites:

Warner Bros. WB Shop / Warner Archive

Country:

USA

Language:

English Spanish

Release Date:

20 December 1996 (USA)

Also Known As:

Grumpy Old Presidents

Filming Locations:

Black Mountain, North Carolina, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$21,500,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$2,860,334, 22 December 1996, Wide Release

Gross USA:

$22,294,341, 16 March 1997

Company Credits

Production Co:

Peters Entertainment,Storyline Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

101 min

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital SDDS

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The train used in the movie is a functioning tourist train located outside the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in North Carolina.

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Goofs

The helicopter used as Marine 1 is not a VH-3 - it is either a Sikorsky S-62 (civilian version) or an ex-USCG HH-52A SeaGuard with the hoist removed, and painted to look like Marine 1 (with a fake exhaust on the right side). When the helo takes off, windshield wipers are clearly visible on the windscreen - when the cockpit is shown from the inside, there are no wipers. Also, there is no rotor brake cylinder mounted on the windscreen center post. Finally, the entire Caution Advisory Panel is lit up and this would be a requirement to land immediately. Furthermore, you cannot have normal conversation in an HH-52A - you use the ICS - the InterCom System, with either helmets or headsets equipped with microphones and press-to-talk switches. And - the President always debarks from the left side of Marine 1 - this shows them leaving from the right side.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Edwin Newman: It has been described as one of the most vicious presidential races in the history of American politics, and one of the closest. The Republican nominee, Senator Russell P Kramer of Ohio, is practically dead even in the polls with his bitter rival, Democratic Governor Matt Douglas of Indiana. To say there is no love lost between these two candidates is a gross understatement. And yet tonight, in spite of their almost overwhelming distaste for each other, one of these men will have ...

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Connections

Spoofs The Great Escape (1963)

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Soundtracks

Across the Field
Written by W.A. Dougherty Jr.

User Reviews

Great Comedy!

I have to say that I totally disagree with the last comment I read on this movie. I think it's a very funny, well acted comedy. I think I watched it about six times in the last four years and it never fails to crack me up, I've enjoyed it as much the last time as the first time. Jack Lemmon is a great comedy actor and so is James Garner. It splashes of the screen that they had fun playing their parts. They play very well of each other. The script may not be the best written script ever, but it certainly contains a whole bunch of very funny one-liners, as well as a good deal of visual comedy. The casting is good also the supporting roles from Jon Heard, Dan Aykroyd, Wilford Brimley and Lauren Baccal.

All in all it is a very entertaining film, witch I recommend to anyone who is seeking for an evening of letting all tensions gliding of you and having many good laughs.

On a scale 1-10, I give it an 8.