Guarding Tess

Director: Hugh Wilson

Overview

Hugh Wilson directs Nicolas Cage and Shirley MacLaine in the comedy Guarding Tess, which comes to DVD with a widescreen anamorphic transfer that preserves the original theatrical aspect ratio of 1.85:1. A closed-captioned English soundtrack is rendered in Dolby Digital 5.1, while English, Spanish, and French soundtracks have been recorded in Dolby Digital Surround. Subtitles are accessible in all three of those languages as well. Supplemental materials include the theatrical trailer. This is a fine release from Columbia/TriStar that boasts excellent sound and picture quality.

Product Details

Release Date:	04/15/1998
UPC:	0043396787094
Original Release:	1994
Rating:	PG-13
Source:	Sony Pictures
Region Code:	1
Presentation:	[Full Frame, Wide Screen]
Sound:	[Dolby Digital Stereo, Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround]
Time:	1:35:00
Sales rank:	8,959

Special Features

Languages: English [two-channel and 5.1 Dolby Digital], Spanish, French; Subtitles: English, Spanish, French; Theatrical trailer; Scene selections; Full-screen and widescreen formats

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Shirley MacLaine	Tess Carlisle
Nicolas Cage	Doug Chesnic
Austin Pendleton	Earl Fowler
Edward Albert	Barry Carlisle
James Rebhorn	Howard Shaeffer
Richard Griffiths	Frederick
John Roselius	Tom Bahlor
David Graf	Lee Danielson
Dale Dye	Charles Ivy
James Handy	Neal Carlo
Susan Blommaert	Kimberly Cannon
Aleta Helena Chappelle	Actor
Don Yesso	Ralph Buoncristiani
James Lally	Joe Spector
Brant Van Hoffman	Bob Hutcherson
Harry J. Lennix	Kenny Young
Katie O'Hare	Barbara
Michael Gabel	Kidnapper
Hugh Wilson	The President
John Louis Fischer	Crew Member
Diana Sowle	Hairdresser
Al Cerullo	Helicopter Pilot

Technical Credits

Hugh Wilson	Director,Screenwriter
Charley Beal	Art Director
Connie Brink	Special Effects
Henry Bronchtein	Asst. Director
Aleta Helena Chappelle	Casting
Michael Convertino	Score Composer
Martin Elfand	Producer
Jonathan Filley	Associate Producer
Sue Gandy	Costumes/Costume Designer
Chuck Jeffreys	Stunts
Peter Larkin	Production Designer
Sid Levin	Editor
Brian Reynolds	Cinematographer
Leslie Rollins	Set Decoration/Design
Ann Roth	Costumes/Costume Designer
James J. Sabat	Sound/Sound Designer
Ned Tanen	Producer
Nancy Graham Tanen	Producer
Peter Torokvei	Screenwriter
Allen Weisinger	Makeup

Scene Index

Side #1 -- Widescreen
0. Scene Selections
1. Start [7:12]
2. Another Tour Begins [5:42]
3. Where The Action Is [1:28]
4. Emergency Alarm [1:25]
5. Golf [2:13]
6. By The Book [:57]
7. At The Diner [2:47]
8. Preparing For Mozart [4:28]
9. A Night At The Opera [5:19]
10. Ranking First Ladies [1:10]
11. "She Took Off!" [2:58]
12. A Chat With Earl [:52]
13. Letting Doug Go [3:25]
14. A Call From AFO [1:27]
15. Outside The House [1:38]
16. Heading West; Brain Scan [5:12]
17. Memories [3:20]
18. Highball With Doug [3:41]
19. All Is Forgiven [:35]
20. Planning The Visit [2:06]
21. Known Today? [1:24]
22. Fax From Washington [4:27]
23. Down By The Lake [3:44]
24. Washington Arrives [12:03]
25. Interrogation [2:15]
26. At The Farmhouse [1:35]
27. Digging Tess [6:37]
28. "Get In The Chair!" [5:12]
Side #2 -- Full Screen
0. Scene Selections
1. Start [7:12]
2. Another Tour Begins [5:42]
3. Where The Action Is [1:28]
4. Emergency Alarm [1:25]
5. Golf [2:13]
6. By The Book [:57]
7. At The Diner [2:47]
8. Preparing For Mozart [4:28]
9. A Night At The Opera [5:19]
10. Ranking First Ladies [1:10]
11. "She Took Off!" [2:58]
12. A Chat With Earl [:52]
13. Letting Doug Go [3:25]
14. A Call From AFO [1:27]
15. Outside The House [1:38]
16. Heading West; Brain Scan [5:12]
17. Memories [3:20]
18. Highball With Doug [3:41]
19. All Is Forgiven [:35]
20. Planning The Visit [2:06]
21. Known Today? [1:24]
22. Fax From Washington [4:27]
23. Down By The Lake [3:44]
24. Washington Arrives [12:03]
25. Interrogation [2:15]
26. At The Farmhouse [1:35]
27. Digging Tess [6:37]
28. "Get In The Chair!" [5:12]

Menu

Side #1 -- Widescreen
   Play Movie
   Language/Audio Set-Up
   Subtitles
   Theatrical Trailer
Side #2 -- Full Screen
   Play Movie
   Language/Audio Set-Up
   Subtitles
   Theatrical Trailer

Editorial Reviews

Although director Hugh Wilson's television background is sometimes overly evident in this comedy that plays too much like the feature-length pilot for a sitcom series, the film is a satisfying story told with some welcome craftsmanship and featuring two solid lead performances. Although he misfires at least as often as he succeeds, Nicolas Cage is a bold actor who doesn't mind taking creative chances, so it's a delightful surprise that he plays his Secret Service agent character with the mix of frustration and ramrod-straight uptightness called for by the script. His silent rages are among the film's best scenes. Similarly, his co-star Shirley MacLaine has been known to go a bit overboard with her brassy crab routine, but she's note-perfect here as the depressed, tart-tongued widow tormenting her staff and suffering in silence from depression and a secret illness. Both actors ground a story in reality that is well conceived and tightly structured but occasionally wanders into credulity-straining territory. Its setting is less grand but Guarding Tess (1994) makes a nice cinematic companion piece to two other cheerful, politics-centered comedies of the mid-decade: Dave (1993) and The American President (1995).

All Movie Guide - Karl Williams