American President DVD

In director Rob Reiner's THE AMERICAN PRESIDENT, the young, widowed U.S. president--at the peak of his popularity--falls in love with an environmental lobbyist and discovers that mixing his personal life with the presidency isn't as simple as he thought--especially during an election year.

Andrew Shepherd (Michael Douglas) is a handsome, youthful widower and a dedicated Democrat raising a teenage daughter. He also just happens to be the president of the United States of America, and a very popular one at that. Unfortunately, he's also quite lonely, and the life of a president leaves little time for dating. But when he meets luminous lobbyist Sydney Ellen Wade (Annette Bening), he's instantly smitten and impulsively (and somewhat awkwardly) asks her out to a state dinner. Shocked and highly uncertain of what she's getting into, Sydney accepts his invitation, and the courting process begins--to the unrelenting delight of the media. The chief executive's protective staff, however, isn't so sure the romance is a good thing, particularly when political paparazzi capture Sydney spending the night in the presidential bedroom. While intriguing to the press, the affair spells trouble in the form of Republican presidential hopeful Bob Rumson (Richard Dreyfuss), who uses the romance to attack Shepherd's supposed lack of family values and moral instincts. Rumson's ploy works--Shepherd's popularity plummets, weakening his reelection bid, his hand on Capitol Hill, and ultimately threatening his relationship with Sydney. If Shepherd salvages his political career, will it be at the expense of Sydney's love?

Theatrical release: November 17, 1995. Filmed in Washington, D.C. and California. Director Rob Reiner and screenwriter Aaron Sorkin also collaborated on A FEW GOOD MEN. Martin Sheen, who plays A.J. MacInernery in the film, would go on to play the president of the United States himself a few years later on the acclaimed TV series THE WEST WING, executive produced and written by Sorkin. Anna Deveare Smith also appears in the presidental comedy DAVE and on THE WEST WING series. Wildwood Enterprises is Robert Redford's production company. Redford had planned to star in the film (originally titled THE PRESIDENT ELOPES) for years, but pulled out after a script rewrite emphasized politics in addition to romance. The White House interior sets in this film were also used in Oliver Stone's NIXON and Mel Brooks's DRACULA: DEAD AND LOVING IT. The film earned $58.5 million at the box office.

American President Quotes/Excerpts:

"I think it went well. She threatened me, I condescended to her. I think there might be a future there."--President Andrew Shepherd (Michael Douglas) "I'm going to get her flowers. Isn't that what men do when they break a date?"--President Andrew Shepherd "That is not what men do. I know no men who do that."--Robin McColl (Anna Deveare Smith)

American President Reviews:

"...Douglas and Bening are more than up to the challenge, delivering winning turns..." -- Todd McCarthy, Variety

"...A great entertainment....The movie is, above all, a witty and warm romance....One of the year's best films..." -- Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

"...An exuberant romantic comedy..." -- Peter Travers, Rolling Stone

"...[A] very funny film....[Bening] displays a sort of twinkly dynamism that no other actress in Hollywood can quite match..." -- John Wrathall, Sight and Sound

"...A super cast injects it with Teddy Roosevelt vitality..." -- Mike Clark, USA Today

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