My Fellow Americans
Directed by	Peter Segal
Produced by	Tracy Barone
Written by	E. Jack Kaplan Richard Chapman Peter Tolan
Starring	Jack Lemmon James Garner Dan Aykroyd
Music by	William Ross
Distributed by	Warner Bros. Pictures
Release date(s)	December 20, 1996
Running time	101 minutes
Language	English
Budget	$22,000,000
All Movie Guide profile
IMDb profile

My Fellow Americans was a 1996 movie starring Jack Lemmon and James Garner as feuding ex-presidents. Dan Aykroyd, Lauren Bacall, John Heard, Wilford Brimley, and Jeff Yagher also appeared in this comedy. It is named for the traditional opening of Presidential addresses to the American people. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Peter Segal is a film director born in 1962. ... John Uhler Lemmon III (February 8, 1925 – June 27, 2001), better known as Jack Lemmon, was a two-time Academy Award-winning American actor. ... James Garner (born April 7, 1928) is an American film and television actor. ... Daniel Edward Aykroyd CM (born July 1, 1952 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada) is an Academy Award-nominated Canadian comedian, actor, screenwriter, and musician. ... William Ross is a popular name William Ross the missionary William Ross the Secretary of State for Scotland in the 1960s William Ross, a Ulster Unionist Party member of Parliament until 2001 William Ross, a Canadian politician William Ross, a fictional character from the Star Trek universe William Ross, leader... Warner Bros. ... is the 354th day of the year (355th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... This is a list of film-related events in 1996. ... John Uhler Lemmon III (February 8, 1925 – June 27, 2001), better known as Jack Lemmon, was a two-time Academy Award-winning American actor. ... James Garner (born April 7, 1928) is an American film and television actor. ... Daniel Edward Aykroyd CM (born July 1, 1952 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada) is an Academy Award-nominated Canadian comedian, actor, screenwriter, and musician. ... This biographical article needs additional references for verification. ... John Heard John Heard (born March 7, 1945 in Washington, DC, USA) is an American actor. ... Allen Wilford Brimley (September 27, 1934) is an American character actor. ... Jeff Yagher is an American actor (b. ... The presidential seal is a well-known symbol of the presidency. ...

Originally Lemmon's perennial collaborator, Walter Matthau, was slated to co-star. However, health problems kept Matthau from appearing in the film and James Garner was instead chosen to star opposite Lemmon in their only project together. Walter Matthau (October 1, 1920 – July 1, 2000) was an Academy Award-winning American comedy actor best-known for his role as Oscar Madison in The Odd Couple and his frequent collaborations with fellow Odd Couple star Jack Lemmon. ...

Synopsis

Former United States Presidents Russell P. Kramer (Lemmon), and Matthew Douglas (Garner) have spent the past thirty years hating each other. The movie starts out with the Republican Senator Kramer of Ohio winning the Presidential election, narrowly defeating Democratic Indiana Governor Matthew "Matt" Douglas in a very close race. We hear Kramer's trademark speech, "Our dreams are like our children . . . " He says he hopes there stay in Washington is for a long time to come. This article includes a list of works cited or a list of external links, but its sources remain unclear because it lacks in-text citations. ... The Republican Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States of America, along with the Democratic Party. ... Federal courts Supreme Court Chief Justice Associate Justices Elections Presidential elections Midterm elections Political Parties Democratic Republican Third parties State & Local government Governors Legislatures (List) State Courts Local Government Other countries Politics Portal      The United States Senate is one of the two chambers of the bicameral United States Congress, the... Official language(s) None Capital Columbus Largest city Columbus Largest metro area Cleveland Area  Ranked 34th  - Total 44,825 sq mi (116,096 km²)  - Width 220 miles (355 km)  - Length 220 miles (355 km)  - % water 8. ... Federal courts Supreme Court Circuit Courts of Appeal District Courts Elections Presidential elections Midterm elections Political Parties Democratic Republican Third parties State & Local government Governors Legislatures (List) State Courts Local Government Other countries Atlas  Politics Portal      Further information: Politics of the United States#Organization of American political parties The Democratic... Official language(s) English Capital Indianapolis Largest city Indianapolis Area  Ranked 38th  - Total 36,418 sq mi (94,321 km²)  - Width 140 miles (225 km)  - Length 270 miles (435 km)  - % water 1. ... For other uses, see Governor (disambiguation). ...

The film then skips forward four years, to the Democrat Douglas' landslide win over the incumbent Kramer. Kramer later states 80 million voted against him. By the end of his first term, Douglas is well-known for his infidelity. Then it skips forward another four years, to the point where Kramer's former Vice President William "Bill" Haney (Aykroyd) defeats Douglas. Haney's Vice President Ted Matthews (John Heard) is widely seen as an idiot and becomes a continuing embarrassment for the Haney administration. Finally it skips ahead three years. Federal courts Supreme Court Circuit Courts of Appeal District Courts Elections Presidential elections Midterm elections Political Parties Democratic Republican Third parties State & Local government Governors Legislatures (List) State Courts Local Government Other countries Atlas  Politics Portal      Further information: Politics of the United States#Organization of American political parties The Democratic... John Heard John Heard (born March 7, 1945 in Washington, DC, USA) is an American actor. ...

At this point, Kramer is spending most of his time writing a large number of books, and speaking at various inconsequential functions. Kramer continues to use the "Our dreams are like our children" line at every opportunity. Douglas is in New York, putting the finishing touches to his own book. Douglas is also going through a divorce. Kramer and Douglas are sent to a funeral by Haney, and spend almost the entire trip arguing with each other. For the record label, see Divorce Records. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ...

Soon, the Democrats find out about Olympia, a series of kickbacks to a defense contractor organised by Haney when he was Vice-President. Democratic Party Chairman Joe Hollis (Brimley) encourages Douglas to investigate further whilst Haney and his Chief of Staff, Carl Witnaur (Bradley Whitford, who appears in The West Wing in a similar role), plot to have Kramer take the blame. Hollis tells Douglas that the Democrats would support him if he wanted to run for office again. Douglas takes the offer hoping to beat Haney and get back into the Oval Office. When the rumors of Olympia begin to suggest that Kramer was involved, Kramer begins his own investigation. This article is about political corruption. ... Joshua B. Bolten, the current White House Chief of Staff. ... Bradley Whitford (born October 10, 1959 in Madison, Wisconsin) is an Emmy Award-winning American actor. ... The West Wing is a popular and widely acclaimed American television serial drama created by Aaron Sorkin and produced and co-written by John Wells. ...

At this point, the contractor who was involved in the kickback becomes very nervous. The NSA Chief, Colonel Paul Tanner (Everett McGill), arranges to assassinate the contractor. White House officials then take both former Presidents on Marine One, and tell them that Haney wants to see them at Camp David. Some way in to the flight, it turns out the helicopter is heading south, to what would later be revealed as North Carolina. Douglas realizes something is very wrong, then he and Kramer force the pilots to land the helicopter. They leave just before the helicopter explodes. Lieutenant General Keith B. Alexander, 16th and current director of the NSA (2005–). The National Security Agency/Central Security Service (NSA/CSS) is the United States governments cryptologic organization that was officially established on November 4, 1952. ... Everett McGill (b. ... Marine One lifting off of the White House south lawn. ... The West Wing, see NSF Thurmont (The West Wing). ... Official language(s) English Capital Raleigh Largest city Charlotte Area  Ranked 28th  - Total 53,865 sq mi (139,509 km²)  - Width 150 miles (240 km)  - Length 560[1] miles (901 km)  - % water 9. ...

Kramer and Douglas are left in the middle of nowhere. They decide to go to Kramer's Library in Ohio to obtain a record the penny-pinching Kramer kept of all meals served during his time in the White House, which will prove Haney was present at a key meeting with the contractor. During a series of misadventures, the two ex-Presidents meet a variety of ordinary Americans and see the effects their terms in office have had. Official language(s) None Capital Columbus Largest city Columbus Largest metro area Cleveland Area  Ranked 34th  - Total 44,825 sq mi (116,096 km²)  - Width 220 miles (355 km)  - Length 220 miles (355 km)  - % water 8. ...

After several close encounters with NSA agents, they arrive in Ohio and discover there is no evidence. Douglas and Kramer then kidnap Witnaur and take him to Hollis' home, where he reveals the full plot to blame Kramer for Olympia. But Witnaur knows nothing about the assassination of the contractor, and the attempts to kill the Presidents, which was all Tanner's doing. Hollis arranges for Douglas and Kramer to meet with a journalist to tell their story, but they decide to go straight to the White House to confront Haney directly. Official language(s) None Capital Columbus Largest city Columbus Largest metro area Cleveland Area  Ranked 34th  - Total 44,825 sq mi (116,096 km²)  - Width 220 miles (355 km)  - Length 220 miles (355 km)  - % water 8. ...

Colonel Tanner knows the two ex-Presidents will be coming to the White House and imposes strict security. Douglas and Kramer slip through with the help of a cook (Esther Rolle). They make it through to the Oval Office only to discover Haney is giving a press conference in the gardens, and the story of their deaths in a helicopter crash has been released to the press. The NSA has them trapped, which was Tanner's plan. However, they use a secret tunnel to exit the White House. They hijack and ride police horses through the grounds to get to Haney, pursued by the NSA, police and security. The two are finally saved when a Secret Service sniper decides to disobey orders to shoot them, and instead shoots Tanner, who is himself about to shoot the ex-Presidents. This article or section needs copy editing for grammar, style, cohesion, tone and/or spelling. ... Esther Rolle (November 8, 1920–November 17, 1998) was an American actress. ... The Oval Office from above The Oval Office is the official office of the President of the United States. ...

Arriving in the middle of the president's speech, Kramer and Douglas are reluctantly welcomed by Haney, and tell him they need to talk. Back in the Oval office, they play him a tape of his Chief of Staff's confession. Haney agrees to resign, whilst Douglas and Kramer are introduced to the sniper who saved them, who turns out to be a gay man who they had encountered earlier in the film. As Haney delivers his resignation speech, Kramer and Douglas muse on Matthews' elevation to the post. They realise that the only way he could have become President was if something like this had happened. When they confront him, he admits the truth, thinking he's now safe and explaining that his apparent stupidity was really just a "fakade" [sic]. But Kramer and Douglas have the last laugh, recording his admission for later release to the press. This lands Matthews in a Federal Prison.

The film ends nine months later, with Matthews being sent to prison and Douglas and Kramer, running on the same ticket as independents in the Presidential election, arguing which of them is nominee for President. Douglas first takes the podium when he throws a dollar to distract Kramer. We assume he announces himself later to be the nominee, but that is uncertain.

Timeline

First scenario The year is not mentioned but Kramer's wife states that when Kramer fakes not drinking liquor, she says "Russell don't do that, it's so George Bush" indicating that Kramer might have been President after Bush and won the Republican nomination from him in 1992 and losing in 1996 to Douglas. In turn Douglas won the 1996 election and lost the 2000 election to Haney. Haney resigned in 2003 and Matthews served from 2003-2004.

• Russell P Kramer 1992-1996
• Matthew Douglas 1996-2000
• Bill Haney 2000-2003
• Ted Matthews 2003-2004

Second scenario The second scenario is that still keeping George Bush in the timeline, Ronald Reagan served one term and chose not to run and Bush was President after. So Kramer won the nomination in 1989 and served until 1993. Douglas served from 1993 to 1997 and Haney was 1997-2000. Matthews must have been 2000 to 2001

• Russell P Kramer 1989-1993
• Matthew Douglas 1993-1997
• Bill Haney 1997-2000
• Ted Matthews 2000-2001

However, it is worth noting that the Macarena is heard at a couple of different points during the Presidents' trip to Ohio, indicating that the action is meant to be taking place about the actual time of the film's release at the height of the Macarena's popularity. Macarena may mean: Macarena. ...

Filming

Most of the principal filming for the movie was done in the mountains of Western North Carolina including scenes in: Dillsboro, along the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad; Waynesville, where a giant clown sign crashes through their windshield as they try to flee; and in Asheville, where they meet the "Marching Dorothys" (from the Wizard of Oz, played by members of the Western Carolina University marching band) at a gay pride parade. Dillsboro is a unincorporated community located in Jackson County, North Carolina. ... The Great Smoky Mountains Railroad is a heritage railway with depots and attractions in Dillsboro, NC and Bryson City, North Carolina. ... Location in North Carolina Country United States State North Carolina County Haywood County Incorporated 1871 Mayor Henry Foy Area    - City 20. ... Asheville City Hall. ... The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, see The Wizard of Oz (adaptations). ... Western Carolina University is one of the sixteen public universities that make up the University of North Carolina System. ...

Quotes

• "Our dreams are like our children . . ." - Kramer's catch phrase

• Kramer: When you were in the White House, who was the person you were most excited to meet?
  

Douglas: Nelson Mandela.
Kramer: I'm not a reporter.
Douglas: Ella Fitzgerald.

• Kramer: You could spit into a petri dish and create a whole new civilization

• Last lines of the movie.
  

(Douglas and Kramer argue over who runs for president) Douglas: My fellow Americans.
Kramer: You son of a . . .

• Douglas after licking the lid of Kramers coffee: Decaf, you pussy.

External link

• My Fellow Americans at the Internet Movie Database