American President (1995)

Editor's Note 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?

	David Paymer
	Anna Deavere Smith
	Annette Bening
	Richard Dreyfuss
	Michael J. Fox
	Michael Douglas
	Martin Sheen
	Samantha Mathis
	Aaron Sorkin - Screenwriter
	Rob Reiner - Director

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.

"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)

Rolling Stone
"...An exuberant romantic comedy..." 11/30/1995 p.76

Sight and Sound
"...[A] very funny film....[Bening] displays a sort of twinkly dynamism that no other actress in Hollywood can quite match..." 01/01/1996 p.36

USA Today
"...A super cast injects it with Teddy Roosevelt vitality..." 11/17/1995 p.1D

Variety
"...Douglas and Bening are more than up to the challenge, delivering winning turns..." 11/06/1995

Chicago Sun-Times
"...A great entertainment....The movie is, above all, a witty and warm romance....One of the year's best films..." 11/17/1995 p.41