The Distinguished Gentleman (1992)

User Rating:

5.6/10   

Director:

Jonathan Lynn

Writers (WGA):

Marty Kaplan (story) and
Jonathan Reynolds (story) ...

Release Date:

4 December 1992 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Crime

Tagline:

From con man to congressman

Plot:

A Florida con man uses the passing of the long time Congressman from his district who he just happens to share a name with...

Plot Keywords:

Congressman | Lobbyist | Cancer | Election | Van

Awards:

4 wins

US TV Schedule:

Tue. Nov. 10	1:05 PM	MAX
Sun. Nov. 15	1:20 PM	MAX
Thur. Nov. 19	6:35 PM	MAX

Cast

Eddie Murphy	...	Thomas Jefferson Johnson
Lane Smith	...	Dick Dodge
Sheryl Lee Ralph	...	Miss Loretta
Joe Don Baker	...	Olaf Andersen
Victoria Rowell	...	Celia Kirby
Grant Shaud	...	Arthur Reinhardt
Kevin McCarthy	...	Terry Corrigan
Charles S. Dutton	...	Elijah Hawkins
Victor Rivers	...	Armando
Chi McBride	...	Homer (as Chi)
Sonny Jim Gaines	...	Van Dyke
Noble Willingham	...	Zeke Bridges
Gary Frank	...	Iowa
Daniel Benzali	...	'Skeeter' Warburton
Cynthia Harris	...	Vera Johnson

Runtime:

112 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Iceland:L | Australia:M | Argentina:13 | Canada:14 (Nova Scotia) | Canada:AA (Ontario) | Canada:G (Quebec) | Canada:PA (Manitoba) | Finland:S | Singapore:NC-16 | Spain:T | Sweden:11 | UK:15 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Baltimore, Maryland, USA

Company:

Hollywood Pictures

Trivia:

A longer version of the sex scene between Kimberly and Johnson was shot but never used. The scene ran over 4 minutes.

Goofs:

Continuity: The videotape at the end sounds different when played back than the actual conversation that took place.

Quotes:

Thomas Jefferson Johnson: Terry, tell me something. With all this money coming in from both sides, how does anything ever get done?
Terry Corrigan: It doesn't. That's the genius of the system.

Movie Connections:

Featured in The Cutting Edge: The Magic of Movie Editing (2004)

Soundtrack:

SOUL TRIILOGY III

You may think that, I couldn't possibly comment...

Normally, I dont like Eddie Murphy films. This is a definite exception. He is not as over the top as in a lot of his roles, and carries it off with charm and substance, a little like Will Smith does now.

The plot (concerning a con man who decides theres more money to be made in politics) is for the most part hilarious, but seriously falls down into schmaltz once he starts developing a conscience.

Also, it is not as scathing about the American political system as it could be, giving out the impression that apart from a few bad apples, the majority of politicians do have the publics best interests at heart.

Anyone who enjoyed this should try and check out the English tv series "Yes, Minister". It is written by the director of this film (Jonathan Lynn) and is really much more effective in dealing with the British political system. Another british series along these lines is "House of Cards" and its follow ups, which really pulls no punches at all. And stars Ian Richardson. What more could you possibly want?