US Presidents on Screen
In a couple of hours from now on, the US of A, will decide who will reside at 1600 Pennsylvania Avnue, or more popularly the White House. A million Americans from US and across the world, will cast or would have already done so. The voters are a mixed group, ranging from blue collar workers in Ohio to yuppies in Manhattan, from wine growers in California to auto industry workers in Detroit, from well off suburbanites to inner city folks, grappling with poverty and unemployment.
In a way these polls are crucial not just for US, but the world also. This election would officially bring an era to the Bush years in US history. 8 years of rule, marked by sheer ineptitude, bungling, show boating and ego pandering. George W Bush , would go down in history as one of the worst candidates to have ever sat in Oval Office, and before some people start to jump on me. Let me make it clear, i am not Liberal-Leftist, but more of a centrist with right leaning tendencies. And i have no admiration either for Mr.Castro in Cuba or Mr. Chavez in Venezuela , and yes the Communist crimes are as bad, but i would not take that as an excuse, for condoning Georgie’s rule or his antics.
A Unilateral and totally needless war with Iraq, which has just resulted in more chaos, more body bags and a badly hit economy. Freebies and tax cuts to his rich corporate buddies, especially the Oil companies, and a bail out package for a bunch of Wall Street executives and bankers, whose Greed has led to the collapse of savings of thousands of investors and ordinary middle class Americans. A racially polarized America, where “The Other” is the Enemy. A kind of crony capitalism, that benefited only a few fat cats, the collapse of the medical and education system in US. Dubious theories like Creationism and Intelligent Design , gaining respectability. Total disregard for Global warming, denouncing the scientific community as doomsday sayers. And a Government filled with con men, hucksters, and Neo Cons.
Well i do support Barack Obama, not just because he is Black and Young, but the fact is John McCain, has shown no inclination to tread a different path, and espouses the same old tired rhetoric. And honestly speaking, regardless of how sexy she is, Sarah Palin, in the White House, is pretty unappetizing a prospect. While i do hope Obama makes it to the White House, realistically speaking, it would be a real tough job for him, if and when he makes it. An economy in crisis, a society totally polarized, mired in military misadventure, it is surely a crown of thorns that await him, and it remains to be seen how he delivers.
So how does Hollywood fare when it comes to showing the person at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue?
George Washington, the first President, really does not have too many memorable movies. In fact compared to the movies on Civil War, Hollywood does not have really memorable movies on the American War of Independence. There was the 1985 dud Revolution, featuring an ensemble cast of Al Pacino, Donald Sutherland, Natassja Klinski, which had British actor Frank Windsor playing Washington. The other movie in which Washington came on screen, was in the 2000 movie The Patriot, where Terry Layman, played the role of George Washington albeit in a cameo. Though for me, The Patriot was more like a Sunny Deol masala flick in Hollywood, the Revolution backdrop was just incidental.
In 1972, there was this movie 1776, about Declaration of Independence, where we had actors William Daniels and Ken Howard playing John Adams and Thomas Jefferson respectively. But don’t have much idea about the movie. Nick Nolte played Thomas Jefferson in the 1995 flick Jefferson in Paris. The movie though was more an account of Jefferson’s tenure as an ambassador in Paris, just before the French Revolution. It deals with his love affairs with Maria Cosway(Greta Scacchi), a beautiful artiste, and later with Sally Hemmings(Thandie Newton), his wife’s half sister, who is of mixed race. Though this Ivory-Merchant period piece, has all the detailing and splendour, its absolutely sluggish pace puts it off.
One of the most famous acts was that of Antony Hopkins as President John Quincy Adams, in the 1997 movie Amistad, based on the true story of slaves revolting on a Spanish slave ship. Though Hopkins gives a fabulous performance as the former President who argues on the behalf of the slaves, Spielberg’s tendency to indulge in grandstanding, makes it short of a classic. In fact Antony Hopkins is the only actor i guess to have been nominated twice for playing real life Presidents. He got a Best Supporting Actor nomination for Amistad, and later a Best Actor nomination for Nixon. Amistad also had Nigel Hawthorne, playing the role of another President Martin Van Buren who actually refers the case to the US supreme court.
Charlton Heston, interestingly has portrayed Andrew Jackson, twice on screen. The 1953 movie The Presidents Lady is a biopic of Jackson, and in the 1958 movie The Bucaneer, where he appeared in a supporting role. Comming to Abraham Lincoln, i think he holds the record in the maximum number of times portrayed on screen. Cecil B De Mille’s 1936 epic, The Plainsman, shows Abe in a cameo in the opening scene. Two interesting movies are Young Mr.Lincoln in 1940, which has Henry Fonda playing a younger Abe, and deals with his struggle to be a lawyer, while Abe Lincoln in Illinois, has Raymond Massey in the title role, and depicts Lincoln’s life from his early days as a lawyer in Illinois to his becomming the President. Raymond Massey also made a cameo appearance as Lincoln, in the 1962 Western epic How The West was Won.
Teddy Roosevelt was portrayed on screen, by actor Brian Keith, in the 1975 movie The Wind and the Lion, where Sean Connery plays a Berber rebel in Morroco, who kidnaps an American woman, prompting Teddy Roosevelt to launch into a Big Stick diplomacy. Quite an interesting movie. Comming to the other Roosevelt, FDR, Edward Hermann’s cameo in Annie, Jon Voight as FDR in Pearl Harbor and Kenneth Branagh in Warm Springs, are the more famous ones. Actor Gary Sinise, played Harry Truman, in a HBO movie, while Keene Curtis portrayed Eisenhower in I.Q., a delightful rom com starring Tim Robins and Meg Ryan.
Though Oliver Stone’s JFK did not actually depict Kennedy, neverthless he was the main backdrop for the movie, dealing with the aftermath of his assasination. Another notable role was Bruce Greenwood as JFK in 13 Days, a story about Cuban missile crisis. Comming to Richard Nixon, he was the topic of Oliver Stone’s 1995 biopic Nixon. It is one of the most comprehensive movies on Nixon’s life, though accused of distortion. Starting off with Nixon’s childhood, his younger days, and his eventual marriage to Pat Ryan, the movie explores Nixon’s alcoholic tendencies, and finally culminates in Watergarte. Oliver Stone, being a Liberal, showcases his political tendencies, where it shows Nixon as being part of a system that is dominated by the military-industrial complex, the election funding and the media, which he calls as “The Beast”. An excellent performance from Hopkins as Nixon, and an equally effective performance from Joan Allen as his wife, makes this movie worth a watch.
The 1999 flick, Dick starring Michelle Williams and Kirsten Dunst, was a more comical and parody look at Watergate. It is the story of 2 teen girls, who inadvertently get mixed up with the Watergate break in. Of the later day presidents Ronald Reagan, was a movie star himself, and both Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter were totally colorless. Surprisingly inspite of Monica Gate, Bill Clinton has never been the subject of a biopic, though the Robert De Niro movie Wag The Dog, deals with a fictional US president, who takes the help of his spin doctor, to divert the electorate from a sex scandal, by staging a fake war. I have not yet seen W dealing with George Bush Jr, though the movie has not had a good response so far.
For all the faults of the US political system, the fact is that a young Barack Obama, with not much experience, nor any influential backing, and comming from a modest background, could actually secure nomination as President against a Hilary Clinton, who was more experienced, and had the influential backing of her husband. Whatever be the merits and demerits of Obama, the fact remains he got the nomination, after a long and tough campaign, where he had to prove himself at every stage. Could we see an Obama in our Indian political system, dominated by dynasties? Or am i asking for too much?
Tags: Abraham Lincoln, American Presidents, Andrew Jackson, Antony Hopkins, Barack Obama, Bill Clinton, charlton heston, FDR, George Bush, Harry Truman, Henry Fonda, John McCain, John Quincy Adams, Jon Voight, Raymond Massey, Richard Nixon, Teddy Roosevelt, Watergate, White House
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Firstly, the present financial crisis in US is NOT AT ALL because of war. NOT AT ALL. Also war is not started by Bush. DESPERATE attempts were made by Bill CLinton to wage a war and go in history books. BODY OF LIES captures all this (Watch it in case you missed). It was again Bill Clinton who granted HOME LOANS on basis on GOOD WILL. He scantioned home loans on NO CREDIT BASIS. This is the root cause for today’s financial crisis. From January 08, the housing market in US started collapsing. This resulted in everything else. War is NOT AT ALL reason.
Bush had taken lot of heat. This is mainly coz much of it was made by MEDIA. Unemployment rate is same as when Bill Clinton was President. Media channels like CNN were bought by many crooked politicians. This includes even in present Presidential race. That is why they endorse Obama more and McCain less.
If you really understand the policies of both is is McCain’s policies which are far far far better than Obama’s. But Media made Obama into a GOD already.
Just to give 1 example, Obama wants to regulate economy. Then US will no more be a CAPITALIST ECONOMY.
I can go on and on with all these.
Just wanted to tell audience not to buy what channels tell.
i felt tat robin williams movie ‘man of the year’ should have had a mention in this post. tat was a nice take on the run upto elections and before/after election results. really hilarious.
on a more serious note, US election results will affect everybody. so, all eyes on US today…as always…but with hopes for the best and fearing the worst.
As Tina Fey tweeted (twittered) this morning, “Please make the right choice today.”
Dick may be my favorite presidential movie. It forever cemented my fondness for the multifaceted Michelle Williams.
Bill Clinton was very much the model for “Primary Colors,” even if it wasn’t overtly stated.
You forgot to mention “Dave,” a pretty good duel-identity movie starring Kevin Kline, and “Air Force One,” a blockbuster-type soul-stirrer (not really) starring Harrison Ford.
I enjoyed Dick, no pun intended.
All the broadcast news organizations have called the election for Obama just now.
just watching that! Yep!
Obama Hussein Barack, take a bow as 44th President of US, the first non white, and also the first President without much experience.
There is a long road to be travelled, but for now tis Party time
OBAMA HAS WON.
Obama-338
Mc Cain-156
This is a landslide win.
And not just a mere victory.
Decades back, Martin Luther King Jr, said “I have a dream” and hoping that Black people could take their rightful place in US.
And his dream has come true today. King’s spirit would be smiling up there somewhere in heaven.
No one even gave him a chance, when he pitched in against Hilary Clinton in the primaries, in fact many saw him as a wanna be, including the media, which is now singing his praises.
But this man, fought, backing himself, and won the hearts of many, and won the nomination.
Barack Obama will soon take over as Prez, and in one hopes he would give a new direction to the nation.
Hmmm. Not a big Hollywood flick but the television series had Martin Sheen as a JFK. Pretty good series too. And Martin looked and felt like JFK, at least from what we see from footages of the real JFK.
And as an aside, Hollywood has had quite a few fictional presidents, from the downright ludicrous (Harrison Ford in Air Force One is tops) to the slightly restrained Michael Douglas in American President to the best of them all, Llyod Bridges in Hot Shots. If at all, the americans should vote for that guy (the screen character) as president.