Chappaquiddick (2017)

Depicting Ted Kennedy's involvement in the fatal 1969 car accident that claims the life of a young campaign strategist, Mary Jo Kopechne.

Director:

John Curran

Writers:

Taylor Allen, Andrew Logan

Stars:

Jason Clarke, Kate Mara, Ed Helms

4 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jason Clarke	...	Ted Kennedy
Kate Mara	...	Mary Jo Kopechne
Ed Helms	...	Joseph Gargan
Bruce Dern	...	Joseph Kennedy
Jim Gaffigan	...	Paul Markham
Olivia Thirlby	...	Rachel
Clancy Brown	...	Robert McNamara
Taylor Nichols	...	Ted Sorensen
John Fiore	...	Chief Arena
Gillian Mariner Gordon	...	Cricket (as Gillian Gordon)
Katie Henoch	...	Suzy (as Kate Henoch)
Lexie Roth	...	Nance
Angela Hope Smith	...	Maryellen
Vince Tycer	...	David Burke
Victor Warren	...	Stephen Smith

Storyline

The scandal and mysterious events surrounding the tragic drowning of a young woman, as Ted Kennedy drove his car off the infamous bridge, are revealed in the new movie starring Jason Clarke as Ted Kennedy and Kate Mara as Mary Jo Kopechne. Not only did this event take the life of an aspiring political strategist and Kennedy insider, but it ultimately changed the course of presidential history forever. Through true accounts, documented in the inquest from the investigation in 1969, director John Curran and writers Andrew Logan and Taylor Allen, intimately expose the broad reach of political power, the influence of America's most celebrated family; and the vulnerability of Ted Kennedy, the youngest son, in the shadow of his family legacy.

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Plot Keywords:

one word title | car | accident | police office | island | 

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Taglines:

The Untold True Story

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Genres:

Drama | History | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for thematic material, disturbing images, some strong language, and historical smoking

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

USA Sweden

Language:

English

Release Date:

6 April 2018 (USA)

Also Known As:

Chappaquiddick

Filming Locations:

Ipswich, Massachusetts, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$13,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$5,765,854, 8 April 2018

Gross USA:

$17,395,520

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$18,263,470

Company Credits

Production Co:

Apex Entertainment, Chimney, DMG Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

106 min

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

In the film, Kennedy is rowed across the Katama Bay Channel to Edgartown after the accident. Kennedy testified that he swam the 500 feet. How Kennedy returned to the mainland is one of the many inconsistencies with the events of that night. Columnist Jack Anderson reported a month after the incident that Kennedy was taken to shore by boat, as shown in the film.

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Goofs

One of Kennedy's advisers uses the term "as pure as Mother Teresa." Although the BBC aired a documentary in the UK on Mother Teresa in 1969, it was not until 1971 that the US knew of her work through the book, " Something Beautiful for God."

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Quotes

Joseph Kennedy: You'll never be great.

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Connections

Featured in Late Night with Seth Meyers: Edie Falco/Jason Clarke/Sarah McBride/Steve Smith (2018)

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Soundtracks

It's a New Day
Written by Rod Simmons, John Washington, Chester Florance, & William Carter
Performed by The Sensations
Courtesy of The Numero Group
By arrangement with Bank Robber Music

User Reviews

better late than never....

Better late than never that the true story of the Chappaquidick coverup gets major attention. For the Kennedys, laws and rules were always for the little people. I'm of a generation old enough to remember Chappaquidick. It's good that the younger crowd gets to see how the Kennedys operate. Disgusting how Ted, backed by his army of fixers and p.r. hacks, portrays himself and his family as victims, when he was responsible for a young girl's death. My only complaint about the movie is that it's too kind to him, leaning on the "dad made me do it" and the myth of Kennedy family devotion to "public service." As a resident of Massachusetts I am ashamed that after this miscarriage of justice the voters of this state re-elected this execrable miscreant. By the way it's been reported that "powerful people" tried to stop the release of this movie.