A man joins the political campaign of a smooth-operator candidate for president of the USA.
Director:
Mike Nichols
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Title: Primary Colors (1998)
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Cast
| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| John Travolta | ... | ||
| Emma Thompson | ... | ||
| Billy Bob Thornton | ... | ||
| Kathy Bates | ... | ||
| Adrian Lester | ... | ||
| Maura Tierney | ... | ||
| Larry Hagman | ... | ||
| Diane Ladd | ... |
Mamma Stanton
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| Paul Guilfoyle | ... | ||
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Rebecca Walker | ... |
March
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| Caroline Aaron | ... |
Lucille Kaufman
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Tommy Hollis | ... |
William McCullison (Fat Willie)
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| Rob Reiner | ... | ||
| Ben Jones | ... |
Arlen Sporken
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| J.C. Quinn | ... |
Uncle Charlie
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Edit
Plot Summary
|
Plot Synopsis
Storyline
Jack Stanton is running for president. The election is seen through the eyes of young Henry Burton. Along the way Stanton must deal with a sex scandal. Written by Anonymous
Taglines:
What went down on the way to the top. See more »Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)
Rated R for strong language and sexual references | See all certifications »Parents Guide:
View content advisory »
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Edit
See more on IMDbPro »
See full technical specs »
Details
Language:
EnglishRelease Date:
11 June 1998 (Israel) See more »Also Known As:
Tzev'a Ha-Shilton See more »Filming Locations:
Biltmore Hotel - 506 S. Grand Avenue, Downtown, Los Angeles, California, USA See more »Edit
Box Office
Budget:
$65,000,000 (estimated)Opening Weekend USA:
$12,045,395, 22 March 1998, Wide ReleaseGross USA:
$38,966,057, 21 June 1998Cumulative Worldwide Gross:
$52,055,057Company Credits
Production Co:
Award Entertainment, British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), Icarus Productions See more »
Show more on
IMDbPro »
Technical Specs
Runtime:
Color:
ColorAspect Ratio:
2.35 : 1
Edit
Henry Burton: Does anyone ever learn that?
Susan Stanton: Not the best people.
See more »
Did You Know?
Trivia
The film was made and first released in the year of 1998 which was during the presidency of Democrat American President Bill Clinton which ran between 1992 (election) / 1993 (inauguration) and 1996 (election) and 2000 (election: ineligible to be a candidate) / 2001 (end of term). See more »Goofs
During Thanksgiving at Jack's home, his mother asks everyone to sing "You Are My Sunshine" "in honor of all the southern governors" but her mouth says something completely different. See more »Quotes
Susan Stanton: Isn't that the thing experience teaches you? Not to get burned?Henry Burton: Does anyone ever learn that?
Susan Stanton: Not the best people.
See more »
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Paul Scheer discusses The Disaster Artist and his love of awesomely bad movies. Plus, we dive into the origins of midnight movies and explore how The Room became a cult classic.
Now that the Monica Lewinsky/Bill Clinton circus has played itself out, I finally saw Elaine May's excellent, under-appreciated rendering of the tale of a thinly disguised American politician and his campaign to become President of the United States. The performances in "Primary Colors" are remarkable. John Travolta does an astonishing impersonation of Clinton without being a Saturday Night Live caricature. Emma Thompson is perfect as his long-suffering wife, always waiting for the other shoe to drop revealing his indiscretions. Kathy Bates deserved her Academy Award nomination as his public relations trouble-shooter. Her not quite over-the-top performance is the heart of this opus. Last, but not least, Adrian Lester is the idealist young African American in charge of his campaign. This impassioned portrayal bodes well to a successful future in films. Mike Nichols has directed Miss May's script with intelligence and humor. See it now, after all the gossiping has died down, for an insightful, entertaining glimpse into the world of politics.