FIRST DAUGHTER

US, 1999, 102 minutes, Colour.
Mariel Hemingway, Doug Savant, Monica Keener, Dominic Purcell, Gregory Harrison.
Directed by Armand Mastroianni.

First Daughter and First Shot are two telemovies starring Mariel Hemingway as Secret Service agent Alex Mc Gregor. Mariel Hemingway is a strong screen presence, rather stern than romantic, probably well suited to the presentation of a Secret Service agent. In the first film she makes a mistake and is subject to inquiry about her decision in saving the president from a shooter. She is chosen, however, to accompany his daughter on a camping expedition where she is abducted. She uses her resourcefulness in order to rescue the daughter. At the camp, she meets the instructor, Doug Savant, and clashes with him. However, they work together well in the rescue.

In First Shot, Alex Mc Gregor is still looking after the president. When there is a massacre of troops, she accompanies the president to Oregon where an attempt is made on his life. It turns out that the aggressors in the second film are related to the militia of the first film. By this time, Alex Mc Gregor is married to Grant, the outdoors instructor. Part of the drama of the film is the prickliness as well as the romance of their relationship.

Gregory Harrison plays the president in both films.

The film is interesting in its presentation of the Secret Service, the work, the difficulties, the dangers. It is also interesting in its presentation of the right-wing militias and their resorting to violence in order to assert their ideals. The film has a certain amount of personal drama, especially the president with his daughter, as well as tensions within the service itself.

There was a third film (although second in production) with Alex Mc Gregor. However, her part was taken in First Target (2000) by Daryl Hannah although Doug Savant continued as Grant Colman.

The films were all directed by Armand Mastroianni who made a number of terror-horror films in the 1980s but worked mainly in television.

1.Interesting action drama? The Secret Service? The president and his family?

2.The Washington settings, the travels of the president? The outdoors in Colorado? The militias? The action sequences? The musical score?

3.The portrait of Alex Mc Gregor, her screen presence, height, strength? Work with the president, shielding him, not obeying orders about going into the car? Subject to inquiry? The gratitude of the president, giving her the necklace to make up for her mother’s heirloom? The suspicions of Jess? Her being assigned to the summer camp, the tensions with Jess, Jess explaining that she thought she was moving in on her father? The explanations, the bond? Her seriousness at the camp, with the other officers, the officer that she graduated with who was writing the novel based on her? The tensions in the camp, Jess and her going off with the young boy? The abduction, her being injured? The clashes with Grant, at the bar, his apology? Working together? His taking her, the climbing of the cliff face? Her skill in making contact with the White House, with giving information to Jess? The build-up to the final confrontation, her getting Jess, the shooting, the jumping from the cliff, the lifeboat? The finale? Her friendship with Grant?

4.The president, his work, his relationship with his daughter? The attempts on his life? The militia? The abduction of his daughter? His wanting to spend more time with her? Supporting Alex, relying on her? The plan, the substitute for the arrested man? The reuniting at the end, teaching his daughter to drive?

5.Grant, in the bar, his approaching Alex, her twisting his thumb? Finding that he was the instructor, the prickly interactions? His skill in the camp? Wanting peace between Alex and Jess? The attack? His helping Alex, the climbing of the cliff, his getting the raft? His courage, his admiration for Alex (and his losing the bet after she climbed the cliff)? The happy ending?

6.Jess, sixteen, clashes with her father, clashes with Alex? Wanting to go out, the Secret Service with her? The summer camp, her joy, her friendship with the boy, telling him of her identity? Going off with him in the morning? Her capture, her fear, her listening to the radio, the instructions? The rescue?

7.The members of the Secret Service, Daly and his attack on Alex? The inquiry? His failure as regards the site for the summer camp? The agents, their work? The final set-up, the disguise of the criminal? Danger and deaths? The young guards on the camp, their deaths? The young man and his ambitions to write a novel?

8.The militia, Mike Smith and his domination, complete loyalty? Troy and his brother? Finding the group, the decision about the abduction, taking Jess? The set-up, the broadcasts? On the bridge? The ruthlessness for killing Jess? Confrontations and deaths?

9.An interesting action drama? With political overtones? Especially in the light of the militias of the 1990s? The war on terror in the 21st century?