- Title: USA: LESLIE NIELSEN SPEAKS ABOUT HIS NEW FILM 'SPY HARD'
- Date: 15th May 1996
- Summary: (RTV) NIELSEN SAYING WE'RE COMEDY, WE ARE NOT A SPY FILM. WE'RE THE OPPOSITE AND OF COURSE IT IS A BLOCKBUSTER FILM THAT IS OPENING UP WITH A MAJOR, MAJOR STAR. BUT IT'S SERIOUS, THEY ARE DOING SERIOUS WORK. WE ARE DOING FUNNY WORK AND A LOT OF PEOPLE WILL SEE THAT SERIOUS WORK AND THEN THEY WILL SAY LET'S GO AND SEE THE FUNNY WORK NOW BECAUSE THEY'LL GET IN THERE AS WELL. I THINK THERE IS ROOM FOR BOTH AND I THINK BOTH SHOULD COME OFF WELL (ENGLISH)
- Embargoed: 30th May 1996 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES AND FILM LOCATIONS
- Country: USA
- Reuters ID: LVA2UCHGFTOYEZ6U2VTU0ZZRAVKE
- Story Text: Actor Leslie Nielsen is Agent WD-40, a.k.a. Dick Steele, in "Spy Hard," a comedy of high-voltage adventure, high-tech gadgetry and lowbrow humor.
Steele, lured back to active service by The Adency's Director, played by Charles Durning, is the only man who can stop the evil General Rancor, played by Andy Griffith.
Rancor is a malevolent madman presumed dead after losing two limbs in an explosive altercation with Steele fifteen years earlier. He's mad, unarmed, but still dangerous, and Steele is the only man who can get a leg up on him to stop him.
Steele joins forces with the mysterious and beautiful Agent 3.14, played by Nicollette Sheridan, to thwart his old nemesis' diabolical scheme for global power. She enlists Steele's services to help save her scientist father, the man who designed the chip needed to lauch Rancor's deadly missile.
Along the way, they're aided by Kabul, played by comedian John Ales, an undercover agent whose choice of vehicles and twisted cliches are equally unusual.
The film pokes fun at the popular spy genre, specifically the long-running James Bond film series. But along the way, it also sends up other popular films like "Home Alone," "Speed," "True Lies," "Rambo," and "In the Line of Fire." Other cast members include Barry Bostwick as Agent Coleman, a highly ambitious and extremely jealous rival of Steele's, and Marcia Gay Harden as Miss Cheevus, Durning's seductive secretary whose crush on Dick Steele has lasted throughout the years.
The film was written, produced, and directed by Rick Friedberg based on an idea and original script by his son Jason and his partner and former college roommate Aaron Seltzer.
The opening song was written and performed by "Weird Al" Yankovic. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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