Paul D. Fischer Movies
- 2003
Ever since President Woodrow Wilson attending a private presentation of The Birth of a Nation in 1915, special screenings of the latest motion pictures has been a regular part of life in the White House. Narrated by Martin Sheen, the cable-TV documentary All the President's Movies looks at the movie going habits of America's chief executives, from Dwight D. Eisenhower to George W. Bush. The bulk of the program is based on the personal logs of Paul Fischer, who served as White House projectionist from 1953 to 1986, unspooling more than 5000 first-run films. Among the nuggets of information dispensed are the particular favorite films of certain presidents (Eisenhower loved the 1951 baseball yarn Angels in the Outfield, while Richard M. Nixon hauled out Patton in moments of crisis) and a number of White House "firsts" (What was the first X-rated movie shown before a president? The answer: Midnight Cowboy -- and the president was Jimmy Carter). Also covered are the years following Fischer's retirement, wherein we learn that the second President Bush was a fan of the Austin Powers films, among other things. Originally designed as a three-part miniseries, All the President's Movies debuted as a single, three-hour special courtesy of the Bravo channel. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Martin Sheen, Paul D. Fischer, (more)
Harvey Fierstein's Pulitzer Prize-winning Broadway hit was adapted for the screen by Fierstein himself. The playwright also repeats his stage role of female impersonator Arnold Beckoff, aka nightclub entertainer "Virginia Hamm." The three-part plotline, whittled down to accommodate the film's 117-minute running time, concerns Arnold's seriocomic efforts to find a lasting relationship. We first meet Arnold in 1971, when his heart is broken by his bisexual lover, Ed (Brian Kerwin). Next we find Arnold in 1973, enjoying short-lived happiness with his true love, Alan (Matthew Broderick). The final act takes place in 1980: Arnold, still grieving over Alan's sudden death and struggling to raise the young boy that the couple had adopted, has a long-anticipated showdown with his uncompromising mother, superbly played by Anne Bancroft. A witty film that is by turns touching and outrageous, Torch Song Trilogy works well despite its somewhat soft-pedaled approach to the material. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Anne Bancroft, Matthew Broderick, (more)
Rating Systems
Blockbuster
BLOCKBUSTER name, design and related marks are trademarks of Blockbuster L.L.C.
2013 Blockbuster L.L.C. All rights reserved.
Portions of Content Provided by Rovi Corporation. 2013 Rovi Corporation.