White House movie night often brings 'High Noon'

LOS ANGELES--Gary Cooper's Western classic "High Noon" is the filmmost requested by American presidents, according to a list of the5,000 movies shown by the official White House projectionist.

Bill Clinton watched the picture of a marshal deserted by friendsand facing outlaws in an against-the-odds showdown 30 times, DwightEisenhower asked for three screenings, and President Bush has seen itonce at the White House--so far.

Bert Kearns, co-executive producer of the documentary "All ThePresidents' Movies," to air Sunday on the Bravo channel, said thepopularity of the 1952 film stemmed from the idea of a strong-willedleader taking a situation of imminent danger into his hands--andwinning.

"The film can be seen as a metaphor for the president--he's theman alone, who has to do the right thing. He's what you think thepresident would imagine himself to be."

He added: "The White house theater serves as a window to what'sgoing on outside."

He told the Los Angeles Times that the leaders sometimes usedfilms for solace, such as when Richard Nixon would "lose himself" in1930s and '40s musicals to drown out the noise of Vietnam warprotesters.

Ronald Reagan also liked pictures of Hollywood's Golden Age, saidthe projectionist, Paul Fisher.

Humphrey Bogart's "Casablanca," Audrey Hepburn's "Sabrina" and"Roman Holiday," and David Lean's 1957 war drama "The Bridge on theRiver Kwai" were runners-up, along with the Kevin Costner baseballmovie "Field of Dreams," a favorite of Bush and his father.

Jackie Kennedy watched art films such as the 1961 Alain Resnaispicture "Last Year at Marienbad," while Hillary Clinton preferreduplifting films such as "Mr. Holland's Opus," with Richard Dreyfuss.

Hollywood started offering leaders previews of films in 1915. Nowthe White House has an air-conditioned, plush-seated cinema, withpopcorn to hand. Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg, who made "SavingPrivate Ryan," an all-time favorite of the current president, arefrequent guests.

But Bush, also a fan of "Austin Powers," reportedly preferswatching videos of Texas Rangers games when traveling on Air ForceOne.

Franklin D. Roosevelt wanted only short films with happy endings,while Harry Truman is thought to have modeled his 1948 whistle-stoppresidential campaign on Frank Capra's "State of the Union."

Eisenhower watched more than 200 Westerns. Jimmy Carter screened500 pictures, more than any other president, and was the only one toask for an X-rated movie, "Midnight Cowboy."

Clinton's taste in films was more eclectic, from "Naked Gun 331/3" to "Schindler's List."

But after sitting through Jane Campion's Oscar-winner "The Piano,"he appeared puzzled, saying: "What was that all about?"

Daily Telegraph