Presidential Movies That Were Showing

Cinema Presence for Presidents

The first movie screened for President Jimmy Carter, (two days after his inaugural): All the President's Men. Jimmy Carter was the heaviest movie watcher of all president's to date with 465 personal screenings in 4 years.

Lyndon Johnson saw the fewest and slept through most of them. He liked documentaries, and especially anything related to him, like the monthly 'shorts' made by a Navy crew that followed him around as historical record. Johnson's personal favorite was a documentary called 'The President'. It was made to show other countries how the United States smoothly transferred power when a president was killed. He saw it 12 times in the White House and took a copy of it with him to Texas.

President Eisenhower's favorite films included 'The Bridge Over the River Kwai', 'High Noon', 'Seven Brides for Seven Brothers', and 'Angels in the Outfield'. Eisenhower did not like Audie Murphy, WW II's most decorated soldier. He said, "Murphy was too small to beat up those big guys." Eisenhower didn't like Robert Mitchum either, stating, "he got tangled up with drugs" and "('he') wouldn't watch a movie with him in it." Once an aide of Eisenhower's called white house projectionist, Mr. Paul Fischer inquiring about a good western. Fischer replied, "I've only got one and it's with 'Mitchum'." The movie played and as soon as Robert Mitchum came on screen, Eisenhower got up and walked out.

Eleanor Roosevelt wrote an article for Photoplay magazine: "Why We Roosevelts Are Movie Fans" In the article she named some of the family's favorites: 'Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs', anything with Shirley Temple, and 'The Adventures of Tom Sawyer'.

In January of 1943 President Roosevelt took fresh reels of 'Casablanca' to show Winston Churchill during their secret conference overlooking the actual Casablanca.

*General Charles DeGaulle asked for a print of 'Casablanca' to show his staff.

President Kennedy watched fewer than 20 films while in the White House. When 'Spartacus' opened in 1961 the president requested a white House screening. But a 65 millimeter projector was needed. (The White House was equipped with a 35 millimeter projector.) Kennedy took off with his secret service agents to view the epic at a local theater. On the way out of the theater Kennedy told the theater manager, "It was the best movie he had ever seen, better than 'Ben-Hur'." A reporter heard the exchange and since that time, any movie requested for viewing by a president is delivered to the White House by the Motion Picture Association of America with any customized projection equipment it may need.

President Nixon liked the film 'Dark Victory'. His other choices were 'The Shoes of the Fisherman', 'Hello Dolly!', and 'True Grit'. Nixon's favorite by far was 'Patton'. He saw it several times. Mr. Herb Klein, director of communications confirmed Nixon watched 'Patton' again the night before he ordered the secret bombing of Cambodia.

President Reagan viewed most of his movies at Camp David. His tastes ranged from Hitchcock to Woody Allen, Westerns and classics like 'The Maltese Falcon'. He averaged two bowls of buttered popcorn per film ... three bowls watching Gandhi.

President Clinton has already said his favorite film of all time is 'High Noon'. At the White House he enjoys slapsticks like the 'Naked Gun' series, artsy stuff like 'Enchanted April', and 'Strictly Ballroom'. ( Hillary and Tipper occasionally take their secret service entourage out to the movies, they especially enjoyed 'Sense and Sensibility'.) Clinton is very in tune with whats 'hot' in Hollywood and he enjoys catching the current favorites. "We read the entertainment pages like everyone else," he said and we choose "the hottest first-run films." Clinton liked 'Shine' and a little film called, 'Slingblade' written, directed, and starring Billy Bob Thornton another good ole' boy from Arkansas.

Melinda Whiteley Church

International News Service, Inc.

Sources:

Paul Fischer, White House Projectionist, 1953 to 1986

PhotoPlay Magazine

**Cinema Presence for Presidents**
The first movie screened for President Jimmy Carter, (two days after his inaugural): All the President's Men. Jimmy Carter was the heaviest movie watcher of all president's to date with 465 personal screenings in 4 years. Lyndon Johnson saw the fewest and slept through most of them. He liked documentaries, and especially anything related to him, like the monthly 'shorts' made by a Navy crew that followed him around as historical record. Johnson's personal favorite was a documentary called 'The President'. It was made to show other countries how the United States smoothly transferred power when a president was killed. He saw it 12 times in the White House and took a copy of it with him to Texas. President Eisenhower's favorite films included 'The Bridge Over the River Kwai', 'High Noon', 'Seven Brides for Seven Brothers', and 'Angels in the Outfield'. Eisenhower did not like Audie Murphy, WW II's most decorated soldier. He said, "Murphy was too small to beat up those big guys." Eisenhower didn't like Robert Mitchum either, stating, "he got tangled up with drugs" and "('he') wouldn't watch a movie with him in it." Once an aide of Eisenhower's called white house projectionist, Mr. Paul Fischer inquiring about a good western. Fischer replied, "I've only got one and it's with 'Mitchum'." The movie played and as soon as Robert Mitchum came on screen, Eisenhower got up and walked out. Eleanor Roosevelt wrote an article for Photoplay magazine: "Why We Roosevelts Are Movie Fans" In the article she named some of the family's favorites: 'Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs', anything with Shirley Temple, and 'The Adventures of Tom Sawyer'. In January of 1943 President Roosevelt took fresh reels of 'Casablanca' to show Winston Churchill during their secret conference overlooking the actual Casablanca. *General Charles DeGaulle asked for a print of 'Casablanca' to show his staff. President Kennedy watched fewer than 20 films while in the White House. When 'Spartacus' opened in 1961 the president requested a white House screening. But a 65 millimeter projector was needed. (The White House was equipped with a 35 millimeter projector.) Kennedy took off with his secret service agents to view the epic at a local theater. On the way out of the theater Kennedy told the theater manager, "It was the best movie he had ever seen, better than 'Ben-Hur'." A reporter heard the exchange and since that time, any movie requested for viewing by a president is delivered to the White House by the Motion Picture Association of America with any customized projection equipment it may need. President Nixon liked the film 'Dark Victory'. His other choices were 'The Shoes of the Fisherman', 'Hello Dolly!', and 'True Grit'. Nixon's favorite by far was 'Patton'. He saw it several times. Mr. Herb Klein, director of communications confirmed Nixon watched 'Patton' again the night before he ordered the secret bombing of Cambodia. President Reagan viewed most of his movies at Camp David. His tastes ranged from Hitchcock to Woody Allen, Westerns and classics like 'The Maltese Falcon'. He averaged two bowls of buttered popcorn per film ... three bowls watching Gandhi. President Clinton has already said his favorite film of all time is 'High Noon'. At the White House he enjoys slapsticks like the 'Naked Gun' series, artsy stuff like 'Enchanted April', and 'Strictly Ballroom'. ( Hillary and Tipper occasionally take their secret service entourage out to the movies, they especially enjoyed 'Sense and Sensibility'.) Clinton is very in tune with whats 'hot' in Hollywood and he enjoys catching the current favorites. "We read the entertainment pages like everyone else," he said and we choose "the hottest first-run films." Clinton liked 'Shine' and a little film called, 'Slingblade' written, directed, and starring Billy Bob Thornton another good ole' boy from Arkansas. Melinda Whiteley Church International News Service, Inc. Sources: Paul Fischer, White House Projectionist, 1953 to 1986 PhotoPlay Magazine

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