- Title: USA: FILM PREMIERE OF MYSTERY "THE GENERAL'S DAUGHTER"
- Date: 19th June 1999
- Summary: LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES (JUNE 15, 1999)(REUTERS TELEVISION) W/S MANN'S NATIONAL THEATRE, WESTWOOD, LOS ANGELES C/A PRESS M/S JAMES WOODS ARRIVING W/S RED CARPET AND LESLIE STEFANSON ARRIVING C/U LESLIE STEFANSON C/U PREMIER TICKET / ZOOM TO W/S ARRIVALS C/U JOHN TRAVOLTA AND WIFE KELLY PRESTON (SOUNDBITE) (English) LESLIE STEFANSON SAYING "I'm a Taur
- Embargoed: 4th July 1999 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES
- Country: USA
- Topics: Entertainment,General
- Reuters ID: LVA39I9RCUOXZ4DZ8KELH4J782OT
- Story Text: "The General's Daughter", a whodunnit set on a military base, premiered in Los Angeles on Tuesday night (June 15, 1999).John Travolta and James Woods were amongst the top brass who were present and correct for the first viewing of their latest movie.
The General's daughter Captain Elisabeth Campbell (Leslie Stefanson) has been found dead and Warrant Officer, Paul Brenner (John Travolta) has been assigned to investigate the murder.Her father (James Cromwell) wants it done the army way, with no outside civilian input, after all, he's a decorated soldier and a candidate for the Vice Presidential nomination.
But Brenner discovers that daddy's little girl wasn't exactly the standup citizen she was thought to be.A deviant sex life with multiple partners throws a whole new light on the case and puts the whole base under scrutiny.
The investigation takes another turn when Brenner and his sidekick, CID veteran Sarah Sunhill (Madeleine Stowe) discover that Elisabeth was raped repeatedly by army personnel during an overnight field manoeuvre.
Hampered by The General's heavy handed military ways, and unable to break through the ranks to get the truth, Brenner puts the top brass under the microscope.Colonel Moore (James Woods), Elisabeth's mentor and commanding officer is arrested for the murder, but it quickly becomes clear that although Moore is an S&M fan, he's also gay and Brenner is forced to admit he's got the wrong man.
It's only by this process of elimination that the identity of the killer is eventually discovered and if Brenner doesn't act fast, there may be two murders to contend with.
To research his role, and particularly the workings of the Investigation Division of the US Army, John Travolta "turned to the internet where he found fifty pages of useful information.That and the advice of on-set experts, helped the actor put together the character of Paul Brenner".
Co-star, James Woods, already had all the information he needed as his father was a decorated war hero and the actor grew up on army bases all over the world."Having been so close to that military environment helped enormously, lending a comfort to his role as a Colonel in the US army".
The tension between Woods and Travolta during a confrontation in the Colonel's office is high, and on more than one occasion the two come to blows."Scenes like this when he's sparring with Woods are the ones Travolta likes best.
When Producer, Mace Neufeld was casting, he offered James Woods his pick of the roles."The part of Colonel Moore was the one he chose, mostly because of the scene with John and the different layers the character offered".
Filming the rape sequences wasn't an easy task for Director Simon West."On one hand it was necessary to make it disturbing, on the other it had to be acceptable to audiences.
It was hard on the cast and crew too, "because entering that world of rape and violence is difficult for anyone to deal with".
Memories of those scenes are still raw for Leslie Stefanson."She found it extremely difficult to allow herself to identify with what her character had gone through emotionally.Although Leslie hasn't ever been in that situation, just acting the part was a nightmare".
James Woods though laughs off his characters' involvement in S&M and homosexuality "the high heels and shaved legs were tough, but lets face it, being a sex star was never going to be easy".
On Tuesday night (June 15, 1999) "The General's Daughter"
premiered in Los Angeles, and all but a few of the cast were there for its world debut.
The background to this Whodunnit is the US military, but while the actors were forced to toe the line for the sake of the characters they played, following orders in real life really isn't an option.
While some of Hollywood's own would be happy to kow tow "if they totally agree with them in the first place", others admit "they prefer to be giving orders than taking them".The control freaks in the bunch said "its just not an option" and after much humming and hawing,Travolta himself eventually confessed that "its not easy for him to take orders".
As showtime approached, the cast happily posed for pictures and chatted with other guests who had turned out to support them.
James Woods confided that he'd love to do a dance movie with Travolta.But it seems Woods might have his work cut out convincing the once hip swivelling star that its a good idea.
"The General's Daughter" opens in cinemas nationwide on Friday, June 18. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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