Wag the Dog (1997) - Turner Classic Movies

Brief Synopsis

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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.

Cast & Crew

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Barry Levinson

Robert De Niro

Dustin Hoffman

Anne Heche

Kirsten Dunst

John Cho

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.

Director

Barry Levinson

Cast

Robert De Niro

Dustin Hoffman

Anne Heche

Kirsten Dunst

John Cho

George Gaynes

Harland Williams

Jennifer Manley

Richard Lawson

William H. Macy

Derrick Morgan

Jim Cox

Maurkice Woods

Edwin T Morgan

Merle Haggard

Drena De Niro

Michael Reid Davis

Stephanie Kemp

Alberto Vazquez

Sean Masterson

Ron Mccoy

Garry R Roleder

Michelle Levinson

Chris Ellis

Suzie Plakson

Denis Leary

Edrie Warner

John Michael Higgins

J Patrick Mccormack

Andrea Martin

Willie Nelson

Woody Harrelson

Jack Esformes

Michael Belson

James Belushi

Jenny Byrne

Guy Fletcher

Kenneth Kern

Suzanne Cryer

David Koechner

Phil Morris

Pops Staples

Bernard Hocke

Brant Cotton

Jason Cottle

Crew

Steve Abrams

Chuck Ainlay

Chuck Ainlay

Halo Amrani-gor

Ken Arlidge

Director Of Photography

Nick Arnds

Roger Awad

Rhonda Baer

Location Manager

Shelley Barbour

Larry Beinhart

Source Material (From Novel)

Richard Bennett

Alison Benson

Roger Blanc

Lee Bognar

Location Assistant

Mike Boudry

Bob Bowen

Music Coordinator

Michael W Brennan

Paul Broucek

Lindakay Brown

Dialogue Editor

Gil Carreras

Mauni Caves

Location Assistant

Robin Chambers

Ellen Chenoweth

Barry Clint

Rick Colosimo

Chad Cromwell

Blair Daily

Post-Production Supervisor

Brad Davis

Assistant Production Accountant

Michael De Luca

Executive Producer

Robert De Niro

Amy Demarte

Greg Dennison

Special Effects Assistant

Joseph Dianda

Ted Eccles

Segment Producer

Tony Eckert

Hedi El Kholti

Post-Production Accountant

R Shawn Ensign

Avy Eschenasy

Jamie Franta

Liegh French

David Gamerman

Joe Louis Garcia

Emily Glatter

Production Coordinator

Ben Gold

Assistant Sound Editor

J R Grubbs

Sound Effects Editor

Madeleine R Gubbins

Holly Hagy

Production Coordinator

Terry Ham

Set Production Assistant

Jim Hanson

Special Effects Foreman

Geoff Harding

Location Assistant

Hilary Henkin

Tammy High

Timothy Hillman

Unit Location Manager

Lora Hirschberg

Production Assistant

Tim Holland

Doc Kane

Mark S. Kaufman

Dennis King

Special Effects Coordinator

Mark Knopfler

Mark Knopfler

Carlos Kotkin

Scott Larue

Mary Helen Leasman

Nancy Lefkowitz

Adam Leichtman

Chris Leidholdt

Jim Leidholdt

Alan Jay Lerner

William Leslie

Barry Levinson

Stu Linder

Diane Linn

Jeanne Lipsey

Frederick Loewe

Kimberly Lynn

Location Assistant

David Mamet

Cathy Marshall

Fredrick W Marx

Scott Maziroff

Marilyn Mccoppen

Eric Mcleod

Eric Mcleod

Unit Production Manager

Roger Meilink

Sean Mennie

Camera Assistant

Frank 'pepe' Merel

Barron Miller

Location Assistant

Kevin Milligan

Set Production Assistant

Daniel P Moore

Video Assist/Playback

Al Nelson

Craig Owens

Production Assistant

Romano Paoletti

Set Production Assistant

Scott Patten

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

Ed Reife

Special Effects Assistant

Charlene Richards

Robert Richardson

Director Of Photography

Dale Riggs

Special Effects Assistant

Jane Rosenthal

Claire Rudnick Polstein

Executive Producer

Rita Ryack

John Sanchez

Production Assistant

Claire Sanfilippo

Dialogue Editor

Dana Sano

Amy Sayres

Assistant Director

Gregor Schaer

Camera Operator

Amy Schmidt

Assistant Director

Lori Silfen

Michael Silvers

Dialogue Consultant

Maria Spaeth

Greg Steele

Robert Studenny

Christopher Swartout

Assistant Director

Ezra Swerdlow

Executive Producer

Gregor Tavenner

David Terry

Wynn Thomas

Production Designer

Dennie Thorpe

Louise Tolan

Production Assistant

Tami Treadwell

Kelly Uchimura

Jana Vance

Raymond Vigil

Production Assistant

Harriet Voyt

Bonnie Weis

Production Supervisor

Bonnie Weis

Production Accountant

Ray L. Wilkerson

Special Effects Assistant

Mark Jan Wlodarkiewicz

Glenn Worf

Mary Works

Assistant Sound Editor

Mark Worthington

Debra Zane

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.

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