Documentary Special Part of Month-Long Exploration of Politics in the Movies, with Co-Host Appearance by CNN’s Wolf Blitzer
As Americans prepare to head the polls, Turner Classic Movies (TCM) will explore how Hollywood has portrayed the democratic process with the all-new documentary special A Night at the Movies: Hollywood Goes to Washington. Produced by Amblin Television and award-winning filmmaker and author Laurent Bouzereau, the one-hour special will premiere Friday, Oct. 5, at 8 p.m. (ET) as part of a month-long film series entitled American Politics on Film.
A Night at the Movies: Hollywood Goes to Washington will provide an in-depth look at the treatment of politics in cinema. Beginning with the genre's most defining movies, the special will explore how filmmakers have approached politics in their storytelling. A Night at the Movies: Hollywood Goes to Washington will examine films about political campaigns and political conspiracies, and the portrayal of American presidents in the movies.
Among the many interviewees featured in A Night at the Movies: Hollywood Goes to Washington are filmmakers Oliver Stone (JFK, Nixon, W.), Rob Reiner (The American President), Gary Ross (Dave, The Hunger Games); and Rod Lurie (The Contender); actors Illeana Douglas (To Die For) as well as granddaughter of Melvin Douglas and James Cromwell (The Queen, W.); actor/politician Fred Thompson (The Hunt for Red October, In the Line of Fire); producer Marc Frydman (The Contender); political consultant and commentator James Carville (The War Room); screenwriter Bob Gale (Back to the Future); author and film critic Julie Salamon (The Devil's Candy); and Projecting Hollywood co-author Terry Christensen.
Each Friday in October under the banner American Politics on Film, TCM will showcase some of Hollywood's most notable films with political angles or storylines. Following the premiere of A Night at the Movies: Hollywood Goes to Washington on Oct. 5, TCM will present two Frank Capra classics: Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939), starring James Stewart, and Meet John Doe (1941), starring Gary Cooper.
On Oct. 26, CNN News anchor Wolf Blitzer will co-host the night with such films as Advise & Consent (1962), Seven Days in May (1964) and All the President's Men (1976) in support of the upcoming November Presidential election.
The following is a complete schedule of TCM's American Politics on Film (all times Eastern):
Friday, Oct. 5
8 p.m. – A Night at the Movies: Hollywood Goes to Washington (2012) – Premiere
9 p.m. – Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939)
11:15 p.m. – A Night at the Movies: Hollywood Goes to Washington (2012) – Encore
12:15 a.m. – Meet John Doe (1941)
Friday, Oct. 12
8 p.m. – Born Yesterday (1950)
10 p.m. – A Night at the Movies: Hollywood Goes to Washington (2012) – Encore
11 p.m. – The Great McGinty (1940)
12:30 a.m. – I Married a Witch (1942)
Friday, Oct. 19
8 p.m. – A Face in the Crowd (1957)
10:15 p.m. – The Glass Key (1942)
11:45 p.m. – Flamingo Road (1949)
1:30 a.m. – A Night at the Movies: Hollywood Goes to Washington (2012) – Encore
Friday, Oct. 26
8 p.m. – Advise & Consent (1962)
10:30 p.m. – All the President's Men (1976)
1 a.m. – Seven Days in May (1964)
Laurent Bouzereau, who writes, produces and directs TCM's A Night at the Movies specials, is an award-winning filmmaker and author. Bouzereau has created many documentaries on the making of films and on some of the world’s most acclaimed filmmakers, including Steven Spielberg, Peter Bogdanovich, Brian De Palma, William Friedkin, Alfred Hitchcock, David Lean, George Lucas, and many others. Bouzereau directed “Roman Polanski: A Film Memoir” and the upcoming TCM original documentary: “Don’t Say No Until I finish Talking: The Story of Richard D. Zanuck.” He has also written or co-written 11 books on cinema, including The Art of Bond and, most recently, Alfred Hitchcock: Piece by Piece.
TCM launched the A Night at the Movies franchise in October 2009 with A Night at the Movies: The Suspenseful World of Thrillers. Subsequent specials have focused on movie epics, horror films and holiday classics. TCM's A Night at the Movies documentary specials are executive-produced by Darryl Frank and Justin Falvey (TNT’s Falling Skies).
