Dana and Tom with 5x Club Member, Christine Duncan, and Adam Freed (Managing Editor and Senior Film Critic at (MovieArcher.com)) discuss The American President (1995) for its 30th Anniversary: directed by Rob Reiner, written by Aaron Sorkin, cinematography by John Seale, music by Marc Shaiman, editing by Robert Leighton, starring Michael Douglas, Annette Bening, Martin Sheen, Michael J. Fox, and Richard Dreyfuss.
Plot Summary: President Andrew Shepherd (Michael Douglas) is a widowed, popular U.S. president preparing for re-election. His life changes when he meets Sydney Ellen Wade (Annette Bening), a passionate environmental lobbyist. Their romance quickly blossoms, but it also sparks political controversy as the media and his rival, Senator Bob Rumson (Richard Dreyfuss), question his judgment and character.
As public pressure grows, Shepherd must choose between protecting his political career or following his heart. With the help of his loyal Chief of Staff A.J. MacInerney (Martin Sheen) and adviser Lewis Rothschild (Michael J. Fox), he learns that true leadership means standing up for what’s right — even when it’s unpopular.
Guests:
Christine Duncan - Wife of Dana and Mother of Tom
- 17x guest: Pretty Woman, Sleepless in Seattle, When Harry Met Sally, There's Something About Mary, My Fair Lady, Pillow Talk, The Odd Couple, Bringing Up Baby, A Few Good Men - Revisit, Guess Who's Coming to Dinner, Top Gun, Dial M for Murder, Anatomy of a Murder, Gone Girl, Roman Holiday Revisit, The Apartment, Men of Honor (2000)
Adam Freed
Chapters:
00:00 Introduction, Cast, and Background for The American President
03:10 Welcome Back Christine and Adam
05:53 Rob Reiner and The American President
10:16 Relationships with The American President
25:42 What is The American President About?
31:54 Plot Summary for The American President
32:52 Did You Know?
40:39 First Break
41:28 What's Up with Christine and Adam
47:05 Welcome to Our Newest Listeners
48:44 GMOAT Hall of Fame - November 2025
01:00:53 The Cinema Legacy Poll Rankings - #30-26
01:15:59 Best Performance(s)
01:29:22 Best Scene(s)
01:45:08 Second Break
01:45:47 In Memoriam
01:50:29 Best/Funniest Lines
01:54:53 The Stanley Rubric - Legacy
02:04:10 The Stanley Rubric - Impact/Significance
02:08:02 The Stanley Rubric - Novelty
02:12:26 The Stanley Rubric - Classicness
02:18:35 The Stanley Rubric - Rewatchability
02:23:56 The Stanley Rubric - Audience Score and Final Total
02:26:02 Remaining Questions for The American President
02:32:16 Thank You to Christine and Adam
02:33:40 Remaining Thoughts
02:38:43 Credits
You can also find this episode in full video on YouTube.
You can now follow us on Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, or TikTok (@gmoatpodcast).
For more on the episode, go to: https://www.ronnyduncanstudios.com/post/the-american-president-1995-ft-christine-duncan-and-adam-freed
For the entire rankings list so far, go to: https://www.ronnyduncanstudios.com/post/greatest-movie-of-all-time-list
Keywords:
American President, Rob Reiner, Aaron Sorkin, Michael Douglas, romantic comedy, political film, leadership, character development, feminism, film trivia, cinema, film, nominees, Hall of Fame, performances, rankings, genres, memorable moments, film analysis, political films, romantic comedies, legacy, impact, novelty, classicness, rewatchability, audience engagement, Michael J Fox, Martin Sheen, Annette Benning, Marc Shaiman, Richard Dreyfuss
Ronny Duncan Studios
