Wag the Dog


1h 45m 1997

Brief Synopsis

Less than two weeks before election day, a scandal erupts that threatens to cripple the President's bid for a second term. But before the incident can cause irreparable damage, a mysterious fixer is called to the White House. The ultimate spin doctor, Conrad Brean has the uncanny ability to manipulate politics, the press and most importantly--the American people. Anticipating the frenzied press corps, Brean deftly deflects attention from the President by creating a bigger and better story -- a war. With the help of Stanley Motts, a famed Hollywood producer and his irreverent entourage, Brean assembles an unlikely crisis team who orchestra a global conflict unlike any ever seen on CNN.

Film Details

Also Known As
cortina de humo, La, hommes d'influence
MPAA Rating
Genre
Adaptation
Comedy
Drama
Political
Satire
Release Date
1997
Distribution Company
ALLIANCE RELEASING/NEW LINE CINEMA (NEW LINE)
Location
Los Angeles, California, USA

Technical Specs

Duration
1h 45m

Synopsis

Less than two weeks before election day, a scandal erupts that threatens to cripple the President's bid for a second term. But before the incident can cause irreparable damage, a mysterious fixer is called to the White House. The ultimate spin doctor, Conrad Brean has the uncanny ability to manipulate politics, the press and most importantly--the American people. Anticipating the frenzied press corps, Brean deftly deflects attention from the President by creating a bigger and better story -- a war. With the help of Stanley Motts, a famed Hollywood producer and his irreverent entourage, Brean assembles an unlikely crisis team who orchestra a global conflict unlike any ever seen on CNN.

Crew

Steve Abrams

Dolly Grip

Chuck Ainlay

Music Producer

Chuck Ainlay

Music

Halo Amrani-gor

Other

Ken Arlidge

Director Of Photography

Nick Arnds

Grip

Roger Awad

Other

Rhonda Baer

Location Manager

Shelley Barbour

Assistant

Larry Beinhart

Source Material (From Novel)

Richard Bennett

Music

Alison Benson

Assistant

Roger Blanc

Other

Lee Bognar

Location Assistant

Mike Boudry

Adr

Bob Bowen

Music Coordinator

Michael W Brennan

Dolly Grip

Paul Broucek

Music

Lindakay Brown

Dialogue Editor

Gil Carreras

Color Timer

Mauni Caves

Location Assistant

Robin Chambers

Assistant

Ellen Chenoweth

Casting

Barry Clint

Grip

Rick Colosimo

Grip

Chad Cromwell

Music

Blair Daily

Post-Production Supervisor

Brad Davis

Assistant Production Accountant

Michael De Luca

Executive Producer

Robert De Niro

Producer

Amy Demarte

Assistant

Greg Dennison

Special Effects Assistant

Joseph Dianda

Key Grip

Ted Eccles

Segment Producer

Tony Eckert

Foley Mixer

Hedi El Kholti

Post-Production Accountant

R Shawn Ensign

Grip

Avy Eschenasy

Production

Jamie Franta

Grip

Liegh French

Voice Casting

David Gamerman

Lighting

Joe Louis Garcia

Grip

Emily Glatter

Production Coordinator

Ben Gold

Assistant Sound Editor

J R Grubbs

Sound Effects Editor

Madeleine R Gubbins

Other

Holly Hagy

Production Coordinator

Terry Ham

Set Production Assistant

Jim Hanson

Special Effects Foreman

Geoff Harding

Location Assistant

Hilary Henkin

Screenplay

Tammy High

Construction

Timothy Hillman

Unit Location Manager

Lora Hirschberg

Production Assistant

Tim Holland

Sound Editor

Doc Kane

Adr Mixer

Mark S. Kaufman

Music

Dennis King

Special Effects Coordinator

Mark Knopfler

Music

Mark Knopfler

Music Producer

Carlos Kotkin

Assistant

Scott Larue

Other

Mary Helen Leasman

Foley Editor

Nancy Lefkowitz

Assistant

Adam Leichtman

Assistant

Chris Leidholdt

Key Grip

Jim Leidholdt

Grip

Alan Jay Lerner

Song

William Leslie

Dolly Grip

Barry Levinson

Producer

Stu Linder

Editor

Diane Linn

Adr

Jeanne Lipsey

Assistant

Frederick Loewe

Song

Kimberly Lynn

Location Assistant

David Mamet

Screenplay

Cathy Marshall

Accountant

Fredrick W Marx

Other

Scott Maziroff

Accountant

Marilyn Mccoppen

Adr Editor

Eric Mcleod

Coproducer

Eric Mcleod

Unit Production Manager

Roger Meilink

Rigging Gaffer

Sean Mennie

Camera Assistant

Frank 'pepe' Merel

Rerecording

Barron Miller

Location Assistant

Kevin Milligan

Set Production Assistant

Daniel P Moore

Video Assist/Playback

Al Nelson

Other

Craig Owens

Production Assistant

Romano Paoletti

Set Production Assistant

Scott Patten

Best Boy Grip

Reinhart Peschke

Lighting Technician

Kait Pickering

Assistant Production Coordinator

Julie Pitkanen

Script Supervisor

Steven Pollock

Segment Producer

Susan Popovic

Assistant Sound Editor

Paul Prokop

Production Associate

Mark Ralston

Assistant Engineer

Joshua Ravetch

Production

Ed Reife

Special Effects Assistant

Charlene Richards

Adr Mixer

Robert Richardson

Director Of Photography

Dale Riggs

Special Effects Assistant

Jane Rosenthal

Producer

Claire Rudnick Polstein

Executive Producer

Rita Ryack

Costumes

John Sanchez

Production Assistant

Claire Sanfilippo

Dialogue Editor

Dana Sano

Music

Amy Sayres

Assistant Director

Gregor Schaer

Camera Operator

Amy Schmidt

Assistant Director

Lori Silfen

Music

Michael Silvers

Dialogue Consultant

Maria Spaeth

Assistant

Greg Steele

Adr Mixer

Robert Studenny

Grip

Christopher Swartout

Assistant Director

Ezra Swerdlow

Executive Producer

Gregor Tavenner

Assistant

David Terry

Dolly Grip

Wynn Thomas

Production Designer

Dennie Thorpe

Foley Artist

Louise Tolan

Production Assistant

Tami Treadwell

Adr

Kelly Uchimura

Other

Jana Vance

Foley Artist

Raymond Vigil

Production Assistant

Harriet Voyt

Assistant

Bonnie Weis

Production Supervisor

Bonnie Weis

Production Accountant

Ray L. Wilkerson

Special Effects Assistant

Mark Jan Wlodarkiewicz

Music Editor

Glenn Worf

Music

Mary Works

Assistant Sound Editor

Mark Worthington

Art Director

Debra Zane

Casting

Film Details

Also Known As
cortina de humo, La, hommes d'influence
MPAA Rating
Genre
Adaptation
Comedy
Drama
Political
Satire
Release Date
1997
Distribution Company
ALLIANCE RELEASING/NEW LINE CINEMA (NEW LINE)
Location
Los Angeles, California, USA

Technical Specs

Duration
1h 45m

Award Nominations

Best Actor

1997
Dustin Hoffman

Best Adapted Screenplay

1997

Quotes

Trivia

Miscellaneous Notes

Winner of the 1997 award for Best Supporting Actress (Anne Heche) from the National Board of Review.

Released in United States Winter December 25, 1997

Limited Release in United States January 2, 1998

Wide Release in United States January 9, 1998

Released in United States on Video July 1, 1998

Released in United States February 1998

Released in United States July 1998

Shown at Berlin International Film Festival (in competition) February 11-22, 1998.

Shown at Karlovy Vary International Film Festival July 3-11, 1998.

Hilary Henkin and David Mamet were nominated for the 1997 award for Best Screenplay Based on Material Previously Produced or Published by the Writers Guild of America (WGA).

Based on the Larry Beinhart satirical novel "American Hero," though the filmmakers changed the premise that George Bush started the Gulf War to boost his approval rating.

Special Thanks to cast & crew for completing principal photography in 29 days!

2nd unit photography wrapped March 4, 1997.

Began shooting January 13, 1997.

Completed shooting February 26, 1997.

Released in United States Winter December 25, 1997

Limited Release in United States January 2, 1998

Wide Release in United States January 9, 1998

Released in United States on Video July 1, 1998

Released in United States February 1998 (Shown at Berlin International Film Festival (in competition) February 11-22, 1998.)

Released in United States July 1998 (Shown at Karlovy Vary International Film Festival July 3-11, 1998.)

Winner of The Special Jury Prize at the 1998 Berlin International Film Festival.