A list of films screened in the White House has revealed that Saving Private Ryan is President Bush's favourite flick. That's not to say that he doesn't appreciate a good comedy, however, as Austin Powers is also among his top choices.
The revelations come in a new documentary entitled All The Presidents' Films, which has been made with the help of the official White House projectionist Paul Fisher. And it seems the all time favourite film of US presidents is Gary Cooper's 1952 classic, High Noon.Bill Clinton alone watched the flick 30 times during his tenure at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.
In the movie Gary Cooper plays a marshal who, after being deserted by his friends, is forced to face a band of outlaws alone. "The film can be seen as a metaphor for the president," said documentary producer Bert Kearns. "He's the man alone, who has to do the right thing. He's what you think the president would imagine himself to be." Other top choices with America's top men include the Audrey Hepburn classic Roman Holiday and the 1957 war film Bridge On The River Kwai.
The choices of individual presidents also make for some interesting insights. Ronald Reagan preferred films from Hollywood's Golden Age, while Richard Nixon chose musicals from the 30s and 40s.
Despite being a decorated general, Eisenhower refused to watch war films, and always asked for westerns, while Franklin D Roosevelt watched only short films with upbeat endings.
But Jimmy Carter was the biggest cinema lover of them all, viewing some 500 flicks during his presidency. He was also the only president to ask for an X-rated movie, the 1969 Dustin Hoffman classic Midnight Cowboy.
As for the First Ladies of film, Jackie Kennedy generally opted for art house productions, while Hillary Clinton chose uplifting, hopeful stories like Mr Holland's Opus.
Photo: © Alphapress.com
Photo: © Alphapress.com
