FIRST SHOT: THE PRESIDENT IS DOWN

US, 2002, 102 minutes, Colour.
Mariel Hemingway, Jenna Leigh Green, 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 president? The Secret Service and their activities?

2.The Washington settings? The travels of the president? Attempts on his life? The work of the Secret Service? Musical score?

3.Audience knowledge of Alex Mc Gregor from the previous films? Mariel Hemingway returning to the role? Her screen presence, strong? Her relationship with Grant, the marriage? The prospect of the honeymoon? Their working well together? The tensions? Her character, at the White House, the protection of the president? His being wounded? The revelation of the attackers, the gaining of information, the research by the FBI and the Secret Service? The discovery of Carter, the information, his setting her up, the abduction of Grant, the explosion and the death of the agents? The rescue of Grant? Her final confrontation of Carter? With Jess? Her shrewdness, skills? Happily reunited with Grant?

4.Grant, married to Alex, the tensions of the relationship, wanting a honeymoon? Accepting that being a Secret Service agent was what she was? His skills, his knowledge of the outdoors, helping to track down Carter? His being abducted, rescued?

5.The president, his work, the attempt on his life? His going to Oregon out of sympathy for the massacred military and their families? Hospital, recovery? His own life – and his interest in remarrying? The tensions with Jess? Her objecting to Kathryn?

6.Jess, older, tension, not liking Kathryn, with her friends? The reaction to her father being shot? The hospital, her apology to Kathryn? Her birthday celebration? Her relying on Alex? Her admitting her suspicions of Alex – from the previous film?

7.Carter, the militia, Rick, the confrontation of the military in the bar, getting their identities, their uniforms, going into the militia? The massacre? The motivation, from the previous film? The van, the abduction of Grant by Rick? Carter and the set-up? The final confrontation and his death?

8.The place of the right-wing militias? Antagonism towards authority?

9.The picture of the Secret Service, the researchers in Washington, the jokes about dating, the new agent and his sexual orientation and marriage? His brother? Seeing the agents in action? Difficulties and dangers, deaths?

10.An entertaining part of a series about the Secret Service?