What if Watergate was even MORE absurd? Buck Henry wrote this acid-drenched fever dream.
A "play on words" about a fictional political scandal concerning covert arms deals and double-dealing government operatives, satirizing the Watergate hearings of 1972-1973.
Writing
Buck Henry's pun-dense script demands multiple viewings
Acting
Richard Kiley's booming gravity vs. the absurdity
Director
Michael Engler
Tim Reid
Chip Chatworth
Marcia Strassman
Merry Chase
Buck Henry
Clay Fielder
Richard Kiley
Archer Bowman
Ed Begley Jr.
Steward Butler
Mark L. Taylor
Foster Child
David Ogden Stiers
Shepherd Hunter
Henry Jones
Oral Proctor
Bruno Kirby
Abel Lamb
Ron Vawter
Nat Picker
Jerry Orbach
Clifton Byers
Ben Stein
Marvin Rotweiler
Ken Howard
Secretary of State Courtleigh Bishop
Pat Morita
Senator Naito
James Coburn
Major Manley Battle
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Buck Henry adapted this from his own 1989 stage play, which ran just 23 performances on Broadway—making this film arguably the definitive version.
Released during the 1992 election cycle, it bombed because audiences were exhausted by ACTUAL political scandals; the 2.0 TMDB score reflects 30 years of collective trauma, not quality.
US
