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Primary Colors

"What went down on the way to the top."

1998-03-20 Drama 2hr 23m

In this adaptation of the best-selling roman à clef about Bill Clinton's 1992 run for the White House, the young and gifted Henry Burton is tapped to oversee the presidential campaign of Governor Jack Stanton. Burton is pulled into the politician's colorful world and looks on as Stanton -- who has a wandering eye that could be his downfall -- contends with his ambitious wife, Susan, and an outspoken adviser, Richard Jemmons.

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Storyline

In this adaptation of the best-selling roman à clef about Bill Clinton's 1992 run for the White House, the young and gifted Henry Burton is tapped to oversee the presidential campaign of Governor Jack Stanton. Burton is pulled into the politician's colorful world and looks on as Stanton -- who has a wandering eye that could be his downfall -- contends with his ambitious wife, Susan, and an outspoken adviser, Richard Jemmons.

  • Released
    1998-03-20
  • Revenue
    $52,100,000
  • Budget
    $65,000,000
  • Runtime
    2hr 23m
  • Genre
    Drama
  • Status
    Released
  • Language
    English
  • imdb-logo
    6.7
  • Production
    Universal Pictures, Mutual Film Company, Icarus, Tele München, BBC, TOHO-TOWA, UGC PH

Crew

Mike Nichols
Director
Elaine May
Screenplay
Mike Nichols
Producer

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Cast

John Travolta

John Travolta

Jack Stanton
Emma Thompson

Emma Thompson

Susan Stanton
Billy Bob Thornton

Billy Bob Thornton

Richard Jemmons
Adrian Lester

Adrian Lester

Henry Burton
Maura Tierney

Maura Tierney

Daisy Green
Paul Guilfoyle

Paul Guilfoyle

Howard Ferguson
Larry Hagman

Larry Hagman

Gov. Fred Picker
Kathy Bates

Kathy Bates

Libby Holden
Diane Ladd

Diane Ladd

Mamma Stanton
Caroline Aaron

Caroline Aaron

Lucille Kaufman
Tommy Hollis

Tommy Hollis

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Rob Reiner

Rob Reiner

Izzy Rosenblatt
Ben Jones

Ben Jones

Arlen Sporken
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J.C. Quinn

Uncle Charlie
Allison Janney

Allison Janney

Miss Walsh
Robert Klein

Robert Klein

Norman Asher
Mykelti Williamson

Mykelti Williamson

Dewayne Smith
Ned Eisenberg

Ned Eisenberg

Brad Lieberman
Brian Markinson

Brian Markinson

Randy Culligan
Larry King

Larry King

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Kevin Cooney

Lawrence Harris
Bonnie Bartlett

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Charlie Martin
John Vargas

John Vargas

Lorenzo Delgado
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Tony Shalhoub

Eddie Reyes
William Stanford Davis

William Stanford Davis

Jack Mandela Washington
Rolando Molina

Rolando Molina

Anthony Ramirez
Ross Benjamin

Ross Benjamin

Peter Goldsmith
Stacy Edwards

Stacy Edwards

Jennifer Rogers
Susan Kussman

Susan Kussman

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Robert Symonds

Robert Symonds

Bart Nilson
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Gia Carides

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Movie Reviews

Reviews for Primary Colors
reviewer avatar

A Review by Geronimo1967 6

Written by Geronimo1967 on 2023-08-28

There is something quite worrying about this depiction of an American Presidential nomination campaign - it is plausible... John Travolta ("... read more

There is something quite worrying about this depiction of an American Presidential nomination campaign - it is plausible... John Travolta ("Jack Stanton") positively oozes charisma - in all it's guises - as he schmoozes, charms, cheats and lies his way through a campaign that simultaneously sees him pat babies on their heads whilst stealing their lollipops... Adrian Lester is the enthusiastic, but naive, campaign manager who together with a feisty Kathy Bates is charged with getting their man into the final race with Emma Thompson as the supportive wife who has to tolerate all that the campaign - and her husband's obvious peccadillos - throw at them. The delivery is fast-paced, witty and authentic; the performances - especially the loyal but principled Bates - really reinforce the ultimate message that Joe Klein's story is trying to convey; and Mike Nicholls manages to keep the whole thing from becoming too overtly Clinton-esque! Adrian Lester is a little out of his depth, though, Emma Thompson isn't on her best form either and though it is nice to see old "J.R" on the screen again, Larry Hagman as a senator in the right place at the right time but with more skeletons in his closet than Roger Corman, doesn't really cut it either. It's also far too long, and struggles when Travolta is away from the action... Certainly entertaining, though...

Read Full Review (The thoughts and opinions expressed here are solely those of the reviewer.)
A Review by CinemaSerf

There is something quite worrying about this depiction of an American Presidential nomination campaign - it is plausible... John Travolta ("Jack Stanton") positively oozes charisma - in all it's guises - as he schmoozes, charms, cheats and ...

reviewer avatar

A Review by Geronimo1967 6

Written by Geronimo1967 on 2023-08-28

There is something quite worrying about this depiction of an American Presidential nomination campaign - it is plausible... John Travolta ("Jack Stanton") positively oozes charisma - in all it's guise...

read more