Guarding Tess

Director: Hugh Wilson 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 HOME ENTERTAINMT
Region Code:	1
Presentation:	[Full Frame, Wide Screen]
Sound:	[Dolby Digital Stereo, Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround]
Language:	English
Time:	1:35:00
Sales rank:	13,273

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
Edward Albert	Barry Carlisle
James Rebhorn	Howard Shaeffer
Richard Griffiths	Frederick
John Roselius	Tom Bahler
David Graf	Lee Danielson
Don Yesso	Ralph Buoncristiani
James Lally	Joe Spector
Brant von Hoffman	Bob Hutcherson
Susan Blommaert	Kimberly Cannon
Dale Dye	Charles Ivy
James Handy	Neal Carlo
Stephen S. Chen	Jimmy
Katie O'Hare	Barbara
Mark Conway	Caleb Harrison
David L. King	Derrick Hastings
Jane Beard	Kidnapper
Michael Gabel	Kidnapper
Kelly Williams	Mr. Porter
Beverly Brigham	Autograph Seeker
Teman Treadway	FBI Man
Kyle Duvall	FBI Man
Andrew C. Botthby	FBI Man
Sharief Paris	FBI Man
Gary Glaesser	FBI Man
Brian Deenihan	Plainclothes Guard
Julie Kurzava	Opera Singer
Michael Consoli	Opera Singer
Brenna McDonough	Doctor
John Leonard Thompson	Young Doctor
Saige Spinney	Waitress
Gerald Gough	Store Manager
George Gomes	James Carlisle
Bob Child	Shaeffer's Assistant
John Louis Fischer	Crew Member
Diana Sowle	Hairdresser
Maggie Linton	Carlo's Secretary
Jim Hild	Helicopter Doctor
Will Bellais	Major Domo
Matilde Valera	Yvonne Hernandez
Marie McKenzie	Nurse
Al Cerullo Jr.	Helicopter Pilot
Michael A. Echols	Orderly
James Redhorn	Actor
Hugh Wilson	Actor,The President
Harry Lennix	Kenny Young
Aleta Helena Chappelle	Actor
Edward Albert Jr.	Actor
Michael Convertino	Composer

Technical Credits

Hugh Wilson

Pj Torokvei

Hugh Wilson	Director,Screenwriter
Connie Brink	Special Effects
Aleta Chappelle	Casting
Jery Hewitt	Stunts
Douglas Retzler	Special Effects
Ned Tanen	Producer,Producer
Pj Torokvei	Screenwriter,Screenwriter
Randle Akerson	Sound Effects
Harry Cheney	Sound Effects
Martin Elfand	Producer
Chuck Jeffreys	Stunts
Aleta Helena Chappelle	Casting
James Sabat	Sound/Sound Designer

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).