Dick (1999)

Director:

Andrew Fleming

Writers (WGA):

Andrew Fleming (written by) &
Sheryl Longin (written by)

Release Date:

4 August 1999 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Tagline:

He was tricky. They were better.

Plot:

Story of two girls who wander away from a White House tour and meet President Nixon.

Plot Keywords:

White House | Dog | Watergate | President | Richard Nixon

Awards:

4 nominations

Cast

Kirsten Dunst	...	Betsy Jobs
Michelle Williams	...	Arlene Lorenzo
Dan Hedaya	...	President Richard M. Nixon
Will Ferrell	...	Bob Woodward
Bruce McCulloch	...	Carl Bernstein
Teri Garr	...	Helen Lorenzo
Dave Foley	...	Bob Haldeman
Jim Breuer	...	John Dean
Ana Gasteyer	...	Rose Mary Woods
Harry Shearer	...	G. Gordon Liddy
Saul Rubinek	...	Henry Kissinger
Devon Gummersall	...	Larry Jobs
Ted McGinley	...	Roderick
Ryan Reynolds	...	Chip
G.D. Spradlin	...	Ben Bradlee

Also Known As:

Dick, les coulisses de la présidence (France)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for sex-related humor, drug content and language.

Runtime:

94 min

Country:

France | Canada | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

USA:PG-13 (certificate #36541) | Finland:K-3 | Iceland:L | South Korea:15 | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Canada:14 (Nova Scotia) | Canada:AA (Ontario) | Chile:14 | France:U | Germany:6 | Portugal:M/12 (video premiere) | Singapore:PG | Spain:T | UK:12

Filming Locations:

Lawrence Park C.I., Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Company:

Canal+ Droits Audiovisuels

Trivia:

Most of the clothes used on the film are original polyester clothes from the 1970s. They were bought brand new from a warehouse.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: Larry Jobs is said to become a millionaire by inventing Quaaludes, but Methaqualone was first introduced to the US market in 1965.

Quotes:

Arlene Lorenzo: Dick frightens me!

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Siskel & Ebert & the Movies: (1999-08-07)" (1999)

Soundtrack:

Baby I'm a Want You

Overlooked and hilarious

This was a huge bomb when it came out in 1999--it was badly advertised and disappeared quickly. That's a shame because it's a very fun movie. If ever a film should be rediscovered, it's this one. Two very dumb teenage girls (beautifully played by Kirsten Dunst and Michelle Williams) in the early 70s, get separated from their tour of the White House, and accidentally meet Nixon. They start walking his dog Checkers and, inadvertently, discover all about Watergate without even knowing it! It sounds silly (and it is) but damned if it doesn't work! Dunst and Williams are totally believable (and very lovable) as the teenagers. Dan Hedaya does a perfect interpretation of Nixon. As for everybody else, I couldn't tell you. I'm no whiz on Watergate and who Nixon's staff was in the 70s. But the script is sharp, everyone has wonderful comic timing and the best bits were done by Will Ferrell and Bruce McCulloch who make Woodward and Bernstein out to be total idiots. Also an excellent selection of 70s songs which always complement the action. The final gag played on Nixon is uproarious! Well worth watching.