IMDb > Dave (1993)
Dave
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Dave (1993) -- To avoid a potentially explosive scandal when the U.S. President goes into a coma, an affable temp agency owner with an uncanny resemblance, is put in his place.
Dave (1993) -- To avoid a potentially explosive scandal when the U.S. President goes into a coma, an affable temp agency owner with an uncanny resemblance, is put in his place.
Dave (1993) -- MyMovieScripts.com - Trailer (Flash)
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Overview

User Rating:
6.8/10   19,503 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Down 33% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Ivan Reitman
Writer (WGA):
Gary Ross (written by)
Contact:
View company contact information for Dave on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
7 May 1993 (USA) more
Genre:
Comedy | Romance more
Tagline:
In a country where anybody can become President, anybody just did more
Plot:
To avoid a potentially explosive scandal when the U.S. President goes into a coma, an affable temp agency owner with an uncanny resemblance, is put in his place. full summary | full synopsis
Plot Keywords:
more
Awards:
Nominated for Oscar. Another 2 wins & 4 nominations more
NewsDesk:
(27 articles)
Top Three Parties: Party Like It's 1984, Chic Boutique, and Gucci Guy
 (From Vanity Fair. 7 April 2009, 4:44 PM, PDT)
On the Late Show: Talk Show Hosts in Movies
 (From IFC. 3 March 2009, 6:35 AM, PST)
User Comments:
Politically naïve and a bit thin but it is amusing, well played light film that will give you a temporary warm feeling inside more (91 total)

Cast

  (in credits order) (verified as complete)

Kevin Kline ... Dave Kovic / Bill Mitchell

Sigourney Weaver ... Ellen Mitchell

Frank Langella ... Bob Alexander

Kevin Dunn ... Alan Reed

Ving Rhames ... Duane Stevenson

Ben Kingsley ... Vice-President Nance
Charles Grodin ... Murray Blum

Faith Prince ... Alice

Laura Linney ... Randi

Bonnie Hunt ... White House Tour Guide
Parley Baer ... Senate Majority Leader
Stefan Gierasch ... House Majority Leader
Anna Deavere Smith ... Mrs. Travis
Charles Hallahan ... Policeman

Tom Dugan ... Jerry
Alba Oms ... Lola

Steve Witting ... Secret Service #1
Kellen Sampson ... David
Lexie Bigham ... White House Guard
Frederic W. Barnes ... Himself
Ronald Brownstein ... Himself
Eleanor Clift ... Herself
Christopher Dodd ... Himself (as Senator Christopher Dodd)
Tom Harkin ... Himself (as Senator Tom Harkin)
Bernard Kalb ... Himself

Larry King ... Himself
Michael Kinsley ... Himself
Morton Kondracke ... Himself

Jay Leno ... Himself
Frank Mankiewicz ... Himself
Chris Matthews ... Himself (as Christopher Matthews)
John McLaughlin ... Himself
Howard Metzenbaum ... Himself (as Senator Howard Metzenbaum)
Abner J. Mikva ... Himself (as Justice Abner J. Mikva)
Robert D. Novak ... Himself
Thomas P. 'Tip' O'Neill ... Himself
Richard Reeves ... Himself

Arnold Schwarzenegger ... Himself
Paul Simon ... Himself (as Senator Paul Simon)
Alan Simpson ... Himself (as Senator Alan Simpson)

Ben Stein ... Himself

Oliver Stone ... Himself
Kathleen Sullivan ... Herself
Jeff Tackett ... Himself
Helen Thomas ... Herself
Nina Totenberg ... Herself
Sander Vanocur ... Himself
John Yang ... Himself

Stephen Root ... Don Durenberger
Catherine Reitman ... Girl at Durenberger's
Dawn Arnemann ... Mom at Durenberger's
Marianna Harris ... Clara
Sarah Marshall ... Diane
Ralph Manza ... White House Barber
George Martin ... President's Physician
Laurie Franks ... White House Nurse
Tom Kurlander ... Trauma Doctor

Dendrie Taylor ... Trauma Nurse
Joe Kuroda ... Japanese Prime Minister
Geneviève Robert ... Vice-President's Wife
Jason Reitman ... Vice-President's Son
Ruth Goldway ... Secretary of Education
Frank Birney ... Director of OMB

Paul Collins ... Secretary of Treasury
Peter White ... Secretary of Commerce
Robin Gammell ... Postmaster General
Heather Hewitt ... Judy

Gary Ross ... Policeman #2

Jeffrey Joseph ... Ellen's Aide (as Jeff Joseph)
Bonnie Bartlett ... Female Senator
Robert Walsh ... Speaker of the House (as Robert V. Walsh)

William Pitts ... Congressional Doorkeeper
Dan Butler ... Reporter
Wendy Gordon ... Announcer
Ben Patrick Johnson ... Announcer

Steve Kmetko ... Announcer
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Bob Bergen ... Additional Voices (voice) (uncredited)
F. Pierre Gatling ... Social Worker Greeter #1 (uncredited)
Ryal Haakenson ... Man at banquet / Hotel Guest (uncredited)

Kirk Jordan ... Man (uncredited)
Mary Kircher ... Congressional Member (uncredited)

Aaron Michael Lacey ... Reporter (uncredited)

Keith Lewis ... Secret Service Agent (uncredited)
Melissa S. Markess ... Politician (uncredited)

Michael Noel ... Reporter (uncredited)

William Shipman ... Restaurant Patron (uncredited)

Paul Speaks ... Secret Service (uncredited)
Sam Wells ... Political Adviser (uncredited)
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Directed by
Ivan Reitman 
 
Writing credits
(WGA)
Gary Ross (written by)

Produced by
Sherry Fadely .... associate producer
Michael C. Gross .... executive producer
Joe Medjuck .... executive producer
Ivan Reitman .... producer
Lauren Shuler Donner .... producer (as Lauren Shuler-Donner)
Gordon A. Webb .... associate producer (as Gordon Webb)
 
Original Music by
James Newton Howard 
 
Cinematography by
Adam Greenberg (director of photography)
 
Film Editing by
Sheldon Kahn 
 
Casting by
Michael Chinich 
Bonnie Timmermann 
 
Production Design by
J. Michael Riva 
 
Art Direction by
David F. Klassen 
 
Set Decoration by
Michael Taylor 
 
Costume Design by
Richard Hornung 
Ann Roth 
 
Makeup Department
Ron Berkeley .... makeup artist
Linda DeVetta .... makeup artist
Robert Norin .... makeup artist
Stephen Robinette .... hair stylist
Christopher Shihar .... hair stylist
Marlene D. Williams .... hair stylist
 
Production Management
Gordon A. Webb .... unit production manager
 
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Kate Davey .... second assistant director
Peter Giuliano .... first assistant director
Michael C. Gross .... second unit director
John M. Morse .... dga trainee (as John Morse)
Rebecca Strickland .... second second assistant director
Robert Webb .... first assistant director: second unit
 
Art Department
Steve Arnold .... set designer
Frank L. Brown .... assistant property master
John Dexter .... set designer
Sara Gardner-Gail .... set decoration buyer
Bill 'Kauhane' Hoyt .... stand-by painter
C.J. Maguire .... property master
Lee Orlikoff .... lead man
Joseph G. Pacelli Jr. .... set designer
William H. Phen Jr. .... propmaker gangboss
Darin Raney .... assistant art department coordinator
Doug Rosenberger .... construction foreman
Terry Scott .... construction coordinator
Darrell L. Wight .... set designer (as Darrell Wight)
 
Sound Department
George H. Anderson .... dialogue editor (as George Anderson)
John H. Arrufat .... dialogue editor
Steve Bartkowicz .... re-recording engineer
Anna Behlmer .... sound re-recording mixer
Stu Bernstein .... sound effects editor
Henry Boger .... additional boom operator
Gary C. Bourgeois .... sound re-recording mixer
Scott Brose .... sound editor
Gene S. Cantamessa .... production sound mixer
Steve Cantamessa .... boom operator
Carmen Flores De Tanis .... assistant adr editor (as Carmen Flores)
Joe Dorn .... adr editor
Michael Dressel .... foley artist
Alison Fisher .... dialogue editor
Richard Friedman .... adr editor
Jessica Gallavan .... supervising adr editor
David Giammarco .... sound effects editor
Robert Glass .... sound re-recording mixer (as Bob Glass)
Avram D. Gold .... adr editor
Meredith Gold .... assistant sound editor
Robert Grieve .... supervising sound editor
Allan Hartz .... dialogue editor
Jonathan Klein .... foley artist
Mary Jo Lang .... foley mixer
Steve Mann .... sound effects editor
John Murray .... foley supervisor
Elmo Ponsdomenech .... sound re-recording mixer
Jennifer Portman .... assistant sound editor
Jeanine Schaack .... first assistant sound editor
Roy Seeger .... assistant sound editor
Linda Whittlesey .... dialogue editor
 
Special Effects by
David Blitstein .... special effects coordinator
Randy Cabral .... special effects
Hans Metz .... special effects technician
 
Visual Effects by
Les Bernstien .... visual effects
Harrison Ellenshaw .... visual effects supervisor
Mark Gutterud .... first assistant camera: VistaVision
Peter Koczera .... digital compositor
Kevin Koneval .... optical supervisor
Paul Lasaine .... matte painting supervisor
Don Lee .... digital compositor
Winston Quitasol .... optical lineup
Wally Schaab .... matte cameraman
Lynda Thompson .... visual effects producer
William L. Arance .... visual effects (uncredited)
Blaine Converse .... visual effects (uncredited)
 
Stunts
John Calvin Doyle .... stunt limo driver
 
Camera and Electrical Department
William D. Barber .... second camera operator
Hans Bjerno .... camera operator: Wescam, second unit
Ralph Brandofino .... first assistant camera: second unit
Michael A. Chavez .... first assistant camera
Alan Cohen .... second assistant camera
Glenn Corbett .... rigging gaffer
François Duhamel .... still photographer
John J. Ellingwood .... second assistant camera
Brad Emmons .... rigging gaffer
Cary Fisher .... camera operator: second unit
Ken Fisher .... assistant camera
James W. Gavin .... aerial photographer: second unit
Robert Gray .... key grip
Steve Hastings .... best boy rigger
Dennis J. Laine .... first assistant camera
Kevin J. Lang .... assistant chief lighting technician
Steven C. McGee .... chief lighting technician
Mark Mele .... rigging electrician
Paul Murphey .... video playback operator
Peter Norman .... director of photography: second unit
David Norris .... camera technician: Wescam camera
Bill Roe .... camera operator
Alan Shultz .... dolly grip
Jeff Triandos .... best boy grip
James Wirosko .... assistant chief lighting technician
Elizabeth Ziegler .... Steadicam operator
Richard H. Kryder .... lighting technician (uncredited)
Rick Strodel .... grip (uncredited)
 
Casting Department
Lia Abbate .... casting assistant
Alan Berger .... casting associate
Jimmy Jue .... extras casting
Mariann H.W. Lee .... extras casting
 
Costume and Wardrobe Department
Mark Bridges .... assistant costume designer
William Dean .... wardrobe assistant
Gary Jones .... assistant costume designer
Michelle Kurpaska .... key costumer
Adrienne Manhan .... costumer
James W. Tyson .... costume supervisor (as Jim Tyson)
David Page .... costumer: Mr. Kline (uncredited)
 
Editorial Department
Clay Cambern .... assistant film editor
Janice Campion .... assistant film editor
Dale E. Grahn .... color timer
Daniel R. Padgett .... assistant editor
Reine-Claire .... assistant editor
Saul Saladow .... assistant film editor
 
Music Department
Chris Boardman .... orchestrator
Brad Dechter .... orchestrator
Sandy DeCrescent .... orchestra contractor
James Newton Howard .... orchestrator
Michael Mason .... score co-producer
Shawn Murphy .... score mixer
David Olson .... assistant music editor
Marty Paich .... conductor
Steven L. Smith .... music preparation
Jim Weidman .... music editor
 
Transportation Department
Robert Foster Jr. .... driver
Doug Johnson .... transportation captain
Craig Pinkard .... transportation coordinator
 
Other crew
Paula Benson-Himes .... production secretary
Bob Bergen .... voice: special vocal effects
Matthew J. Birch .... assistant: Ms. Shuler-Donner
Michael J. Burmeister .... location manager
Paul A. Calabria .... animal trainer
Jordan Chinich .... production assistant
John Crowder .... assistant location manager: second unit
James Dew .... animal trainer
Yvonne Goessling .... assistant: Ivan Reitman
Roselle Gordon .... staff assistant
Kurt Greufe .... production assistant
Karen Hale Wookey .... script supervisor
Brian O. Haynes .... location manager
Brad Hill .... staff assistant
John J. Kelly .... assistant accountant
Luis Lara .... caterer
Adam Leichtman .... production assistant
Kathy Liska .... assistant: Ms. Shuler-Donner
Karin McElhatton .... animal trainer
Jonathan McGarry .... staff assistant
Marcus Miller .... assistant: Mr. Gross
Kathryn Mindala .... assistant accountant
Janice Naehu .... assistant: Mr. Medjuck
Tiffany Owens .... staff assistant
Yvonne Owens .... assistant: Mr. Reitman
Peggy Pridemore .... location manager: second unit
Anne S. Reilly .... unit publicist
Burton Sharp .... adr group coordinator
Jody Spilkoman .... staff assistant
Sib Ventress .... assistant production secretary
Phil Wise .... technical advisor: White House
Ray Zimmerman .... production accountant
Patrick Burn .... location scout (uncredited)
Bill Daly .... post-production accountant manager (uncredited)
Jack E. Herman .... extras set coordinator (uncredited)
 
Thanks
Elliot M. Kaplan .... special thanks
 

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Additional Details

Parents Guide:
View content advisory for parents
Runtime:
110 min
Country:
USA
Language:
English
Color:
Color
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Dolby SR
Certification:
Iceland:L | South Korea:15 | Argentina:13 | Australia:PG | Canada:PG | Chile:TE | Finland:S | France:U | Germany:6 | Italy:T | Norway:11 | Spain:T | Sweden:7 | UK:12 | USA:PG-13 | Singapore:PG
Filming Locations:
Baltimore, Maryland, USA more
Company:
Donner/Shuler-Donner Productions more

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
The House of Delegates Chamber in the State Capitol building in Richmond, VA doubled for the House Chamber of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, DC. While the movie was being filmed, many members of the Virginia House of Delegates and visitors to the Capitol that day were used as extras. more
Goofs:
Factual errors: In the opening scene, the American flag on the presidential helicopter is backwards. more
Quotes:
Dave: You know, I've always wondered about you guys. You know, about how you're trained to take a bullet for the president?
Duane: What about it?
Dave: Is that really true? I mean, would you let yourself be killed to save his life?
Duane: Certainly.
Dave: So, now that means you'd get killed for me too.
more
Movie Connections:
Featured in "The Rotten Tomatoes Show: Echelon Conspiracy/Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun Li/Crossing Over (#1.1)" (2009) more
Soundtrack:
Don't more

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User Comments

   (Comment on this title)
19 out of 36 people found the following comment useful.
Politically naïve and a bit thin but it is amusing, well played light film that will give you a temporary warm feeling inside, 9 September 2004
Author: bob the moo from Birmingham, UK

Dave Kovic is a small town guy – friendly, hard working and on the side of the downtrodden. He is also a dead ringer for President Bill Mitchell. So when the President is keen to get away for a night of passion with his secretary, Dave is paid to be a silent stand in at a minor walk & shake event. However, when Mitchell suffers a stroke and is incapacitated, his advisors refuse to relinquish control to the Vice President and instead install Dave as the full time temporary replacement. Despite initial nerves, Dave takes to the public side of the job – his easy natural winning over the public and his change from a dour president to a man of the people is put down to the stroke. But with time in the job, Dave realises the problems in the government and Bill's marriage – and resolves to change it, despite the internal resistance he is met with.

With the recent cinematic attacks on Bush's Government over Iraq (Control Room, F9/11 and others), Bush must be wishing that he was being given the light touch that Hollywood gave to Bill Clinton at the time. The American President and Dave were bought light comedies with only very mild comment on the nature of government – so mild that they would barely even count as a cross word in comparison to the full on attacks on Bush! Regardless of the politics of Hollywood, few people would have come to this film looking for anything in the way of social or political comment but rather a rather cosy comedy with the usual liberal idealism (we would all like to think we would change things for the better if we got in power – but the realities of the world mean few can in any significant way). In this regard the film is relatively smug and cosy affair that is fun to watch but utterly naïve at the same time!

The plot never gets close to the mix of comedy and comment that West Wing (in its day) had but it never really tries to. If anything the film is like very light wish fulfilment. We wish we had politicians like Dave – even those with opposing beliefs would admire a man who was upright, honest, open and responsible but, regardless of who is in charge when you watch this movie, it will only ever be wish fulfilment and the warm feeling you might have when you finish the movie will last only as long as it takes for the news to come on afterwards. Despite this it does work as a comedy with a (and I shudder to use this overused phrase) Capraesque sense of America to it; many will hate it for this very reason but I found it to be a pleasantly distracting affair even if I never really bought it as a serious piece and fully acknowledge that it was a rather naïve piece of fluff!

The cast is very good and contains good names in relaxed mode but still turning out suitable performances for the material. Kline is pretty good and makes for an enjoyable character as Dave – he puts on his best Jimmy Stewart personae and matches the material for every idealistic point. This is not a criticism of Kline but a compliment, he did what the material required and he made it better and easier to watch by his performance. Weaver has less to do and less fun is had; she is an important part of the story and she does 'melt' well as the film progresses but she is an aside, only necessary to provide romance and some drive at key moments. Langella is good value in a role that represent modern politics well and Dunn floats around well enough. Rhames' subsequent fame makes his small role seem strange but he does well with what he is given. Kingsley and Grodin are very enjoyable in their roles for different reasons and again it is strange to see Linney in a very small role given her later fame. The film is packed with cameos from politics and Hollywood, although the non-US viewer will struggle to recognise many of the congressmen etc (in fact, could US viewers name these people) but the standout cameo of the film goes to Oliver Stone who, in the film's funniest moment, allows his famous paranoia/conspiracy theory reputation to be lampooned on Larry King!

Overall this is a politically naïve, rather preachy bit of liberal wish fulfilment – but to leave it at that is to miss the point of the film. While it is this, it is also an amusing little comedy that delivers a warm glow as we see the story of Dave – a politician the like of which we will probably never see outside of a cinema. Enjoy it for what it is, have a warm fuzzy feeling for a bit, then forget it for the thin comedy that it is.

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