Tom Clancy FAQ: Movies

[marek_bob]

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Tom Clancy FAQ - The Movies

Welcome to the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) list for the
alt.fan.tom-clancy and alt.books.tom-clancy newsgroups. These
newsgroups are for discussions of books written by Tom Clancy,
movies made from books written by Tom Clancy, and Tom Clancy
himself.

Archive:
HTML Homepage: URL: http://www.wpi.edu/~elmer/clancy.html
Anonymous ftp: Not available yet.

Last Updated: January 9, 1995

Changes:
Added question about upcomming TV mini-series.
Added Opening Dates for Patriot Games and Clear and Present Danger.

This FAQ is in four major chapters. See the Introduction part for the
full contents. This part contains the Movies chapter. This is material
pertaining to movies made from Tom Clancy's books.

This FAQ is originally the work of Bob Marek and is maintained and
distributed on a time-permitting basis. All contributions are welcome
and will be fully credited.

Contents of this part:

The Movies - (Movie file)
Questions
1. Does the movie timeline follow the book timeline?
2. Why didn't Alec Baldwin play Jack Ryan again, instead of Ford?
3. Why aren't the movies like the books?
4. Where did Jack Ryan go to college?
5. What's happening with the movie version of Without Remorse?
6. When is Clear and Present Danger coming out on video?
7. What information is there about Clancy's TV mini-series?
Movie Title Credits
Plot Summaries
Cast of Characters
References

The author's comments, requests for additional information, and poor
attempts at humor are surrounded by /* ... */ comment delineators.

Asterisks "*" around words are used for emphasis. *get it*?

An Underline "_" character before and after words denotes an underlined
word. _like_this_

Contributions by readers of the newsgroup are surrounded by "-----".

Text format is: column 1, column 4, column 7, with column 72 the last
character on the line.

The major chapters are delineated by:

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The Movies

The following sections deal mainly with the movies made from the books
written by Tom Clancy. While there will be inevitable references to the
books, the book chapter will contain more information on them.

For more information and details refer to the Movie Database on the
World Wide Web.

Questions

1. I've seen all of the movies and read the books. In the movies,
Patriot Games comes after The Hunt for Red October. But the
books seem to imply that Patriot Games comes *before* The Hunt
for Red October. I'm confused. What's going on?

In the books chapter, the order of publishing and the story
timeline are discussed. The order of the release of the movies
adds a third dimension to the mix-up.

Books Published Book timeline Movie timeline
--------------- ------------- --------------
Hunt for Red Oct. Patriot Games Hunt for Red Oct.
Patriot Games Hunt for Red October Patriot Games
Clear & Pres. Dngr. Clear & Pres. Dngr. Clear & Pres. Dngr.

There has been no comment from the movie folks as to why they
altered the book timeline. The most likely guess is that since
Patriot Games was released after The Hunt for Red October, the
producers felt that changing the timeline for the movie(s) would
produce less confusion for the movie going public. An additional
consideration could be that Harrison Ford as Jack Ryan in Patriot
Games appears older than Alec Baldwin as Jack Ryan in The Hunt for
Red October. So placing Patriot Games' timeline *after* The Hunt
for Red October made more sense for the movie. On the other hand,
with Hollywood, who knows?


2. Why does Harrison Ford play Jack Ryan in Patriot Games and Clear
and Present Danger when Alec Baldwin did so well in The Hunt for
Red October?

The Hunt for Red October was filmed and released first. It was a
single movie deal. After its success Hollywood wanted to make
more. By the time that the movies were being cast, Alec Baldwin
already had several other contractual engagements. He was
starring in a Broadway play when shooting was to start. He
reportedly wanted to be in Patriot Games but couldn't move his
schedule around. So Harrison Ford was selected as an as close as
possible replacement. Of course, we can speculate that Hollywood
also wanted a big name star in the lineup as well. By Hollywood
logic, Sean Connery was probably more important as a big name draw
for The Hunt for Red October than as an actor in it.

The Patriot Games / Clear and Present Danger movie deal was
reportedly a three movie contract. But I have no definitive word
about that. Read Variety.


3. Why does Hollywood mess up Clancy's stories?
Why do they have to rewrite them?

There are several reasons.

First and foremost. Trying to fit one of Tom Clancy's wide
ranging and detailed stories into a 2 hour movie is a nearly
impossible undertaking. Anything but the main plot is subject to
axing. Things in the main plot that won't film well or easily
also get axed or altered. Hollywood has discovered that people
will not sit through movies of much greater duration than 2 to 2
1/2 hours. So they won't come. Movie theaters, that Hollywood
depends on, absolutely hate intermissions. They are dead time
where the theater makes some money from concessions, but not much.
Four intermissions in one day can add up to an additional showing
of the film, and consequently, more money.

Second. Hollywood isn't in the business of charitably bringing
authors' works to the screen. They're in it for the money.
Hollywood has found that certain formulae generate more viewers,
and thus, more money. Add these formulae to a movie and n% more
money flows into the coffers. If an authors' story doesn't have
these formulae, they're added.

Third, that's Hollywood!


4. In the Jack Ryan entry in the Characters section in The Books
chapter it doesn't show Ryan attending Annapolis. I distinctly
remember the Admiral in The Hunt for Red October implying that
Jack Ryan graduated from the Academy. Where did Jack Ryan go to
college?

Hollywood strikes again! In the book storyline, Jack Ryan
attended Boston College and Georgetown University. The movie
changed this when Captain Davenport complains about Ryan wearing
the uniform of a Naval Commander when he doesn't deserve it.
Admiral Painter replies that Davenport should notice the ring Ryan
is wearing. He goes on to give an account of how Ryan completed
his fourth Academy year from a hospital bed after a horrible
helicopter crash. This scene is *not* in the book. It was added
by Hollywood!

If you're talking movie storyline, Ryan attended the US Naval
Academy at Annapolis. If you're talking book storyline, he
didn't.


5. I have heard that Tom Clancy is making Without Remorse into a
movie and that Keanu Reeves will play John Clark. Is this true?
What's happening with the movie version of Without Remorse?

There have been rumors, speculations, and guesses all over. Some
of them probably from various discussions in this newsgroup.
There have also been various reports in the media about Without
Remorse, The Movie.

Tom Clancy has stated that he is the executive producer of the
movie version of Without Remorse. It is to be produced by Savoy
Pictures. No actor has been offered ANY part in the film. Some
informal discussions have occurred with several actors. Anything
you have seen, heard, or read in the media beyond this information
is pure speculation. There have been no announcements, because
there is nothing to announce, as yet.

This as of: 30 Nov 1994.


6. When is Clear and Present Danger coming out on video?

The US streetdate (the date that the video will be on sale in
stores) for Clear and Present Danger is January 31, 1995. This is
the same date for both the VHS videotape and the LaserDisc
version.

The Laser disc version is reported to be the first AC-3 Dolby
((TM)Dolby Laboratories) Laser disc being issued. The information
is that there will be a THX Letterbox version and a Pan & Scan
version. Both versions will be AC-3 and will cost $44.98 US
suggested retail price.

I have no information about the VHS videotape price or transfer.
The only statement I have is the videotape is being released for
rental. This usually means approximately $70.00 US.


7. I have heard that there is some sort of TV series involving Tom
Clancy. What TV series?

NBC-TV is making a four-hour mini-series titled "Op Center". It
is slated to air two nights in February and stars Harry Hamlin,
Carl Weathers and Diedre Hall. It is being directed by Lewis
Teague ("Jewel of the Nile"). Teleplay by Steve Sohmer, based on
a story by Tom Clancy. /* Hey, I missed this one!!! */

Part of the mini-series was filmed at Travis AFB, California which
plays the part of Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland. The base's
logistics complex plays the exterior of the "Op Center".

---- Quoting from a News Release from Travis AFB, California: ----

"Op Center" is set in the near future and chronicles the exploits
of the National Crisis Management Center. The center keeps
constant watch on international hot spots, always on the lookout
for potential threats to the security of the United States and its
allies. When a group of renegade KGB guards steals three nuclear
warheads to sell to a radical Middle East faction, the little-
known American crisis management center spearheads the pursuit to
recover the weapons.

The center's newly appointed director, played by Hamlin, is
America's point man in the hunt and is assisted by a team of
intelligence analysts.

"It's a classic story," said Fred Weissman, the movie's publicist.
"Man pushes the limits of new technology and old-fashioned
courage. The climax is a spectacular air-sea battle against an
enemy who has nothing to lose and the world to win."

---- Quoted from from a News Release from Travis Air Force ----
---- Base dated October 7, 1994. Original Posting by: ----
---- Patrick M. McKenna Air Force Technical Sergeant ----
---- Travis AFB, California ----
---- Noncommissioned Officer in Charge of Media Relations. ----
---- E-Mail: pa...@solano.community.net ----
---- Sent by: ji...@netcom.com ----

Movie Title Credits

---- Thanks to: sig...@ksu.ksu.edu (Sigma Seven) for ----
---- Opening Dates for Patriot Games and Clear and Present ----
---- Danger. ----

The Hunt for Red October

PARAMOUNT PICTURES PRESENTS
A MACE NEUFELD / JERRY SHERLOCK PRODUCTION
A JOHN McTIERNAN FILM
SEAN CONNERY ALEC BALDWIN
THE HUNT FOR RED OCTOBER
JOSS ACKLAND TIM CURRY PETER FIRTH SCOTT GLENN
JAMES EARL JONES JEFFREY JONES RICHARD JORDAN
SAM NEILL STELLAN SKARSGARD FRED DALTON THOMPSON
COURTNEY B. VANCE
Casting by AMANDA MACKEY
Music by BASIL POLEDORUS
Edited by DENNIS VIRKLER and JOHN WRIGHT
Production Designer TERENCE MARSH
Director of Photography JAN DE BONT
Executive Producers LARRY DE WAAY and JERRY SHERLOCK
Based on the Novel by TOM CLANCY
Screenplay by LARRY FERGUSON and DONALD STEWART
Produced by MACE NEUFELD
Directed by JOHN McTIERNAN
A PARAMOUNT PICTURE
PANAVISION (R)
TM & Copyright (c) 1989 by Paramount Pictures
All Rights Reserved.

Opening: /* Month? Day? /*


Patriot Games

PARAMOUNT PICTURES PRESENTS
A MACE NEUFELD and ROBERT REHME PRODUCTION
HARRISON FORD
PATRIOT GAMES
ANNE ARCHER PATRICK BERGIN SEAN BEAN THORA BIRCH
JAMES FOX SAMUEL L. JACKSON POLLY WALKER J.E. FREMAN
with JAMES EARL JONES and RICHARD HARRIS
Casting by AMANDA MACKEY, C.S.A. and CATHY SANDRICH, C.S.A
Music Composed by JAMES HORNER
Costume Design by NORMA MORICEAU
Edited by NEIL TRAVIS, A.C.E and WILLIAM HOY
Production Designer JOSEPH NEMEC III
Director of Photography DONALD M. McALPINE, A.S.C
Executive Producer CHARLES H. MAGUIRE
Based on the Novel by TOM CLANCY
Screenplay by W. PETER ILIFF and DONALD STEWART
Produced by MACE NEUFELD and ROBERT REHME
Directed by PHILLIP NOYCE
PANAVISION (R)
TM & Copyright (c) 1992 by Paramount Pictures
All Rights Reserved.

Opening: Friday, June 5, 1992


Clear and Present Danger

/* This will have to wait for the video release */
/* Unless somebody copied it from the credits? */

Produced by: PARAMOUNT
Cinematography by DONALD McALPINE
Music by JAMES HORNER
ANTONIN DVORAK (from 9th symphony)
GIOACCHINO ROSSINI (from "Viaggio a Reims")
Based on the Novel by TOM CLANCY
Screenplay by JOHN MILIUS
DONALD L. STEWART
STEVEN ZAILLIAN
Production designed by TERENCE MARSH
Costume design by BERNIE POLLACK
Edited by NEIL TRAVIS
Produced by MACE NEUFELD
Directed by PHILLIP NOYCE

Source: Movie.D...@cm.cf.ac.uk

Opening: Wednesday, August 3, 1994

Plot Summaries

The Hunt for Red October

When CIA analyst Jack Ryan is unable to identify the purpose of
some doors appearing on the newest Soviet Typhoon class ballistic
missile nuclear submarine, named the Red October, he heads to
Washington DC to find help. In the meantime, the Red October,
under the command of Captain Marko Ramius, puts to sea on its
maiden voyage. It is immediately detected, and tracked by the USS
Dallas, a US Los Angeles class fast attack nuclear submarine,
commanded by Captain Bart Mancuso. When the Red October
disappears from the Dallas' tracking systems, right in front it,
the ripples of tension and alarm start spreading around the world.
The captain of the Red October has mailed a mysterious letter to
Admiral Yuri Padorin, Chairman of the Red Fleet Northern Political
Directorate. The Hunt for Red October is on as US and Soviet
forces race each other to see who can find the Red October first,
with Jack Ryan caught in the middle.


Patriot Games

Jack Ryan is retired from the CIA. He teaches history at the U.S.
Naval Academy at Annapolis, Md. When he is invited to give a
speech at the British Royal Naval Academy in London, his wife and
daughter go along to make it a vacation. After his speech, Ryan
walks to meet his family at a London park. As he joins them,
members of the Ulster Liberation Army, an ultra-violent offshoot
of the IRA, headed by Kevin O'Donnell, attack a car containing
members of the Royal Family right in front of Ryan and his wife
and daughter. Jack intervenes in the attack and foils their plan,
killing two and capturing one of them. One of the two killed is
the younger brother of Sean Miller, the man he captured. Miller
vows revenge on Ryan and his family. But since he is going to
Albany Prison on the Isle of Wight, the worst prison in Britain,
the threat doesn't seem serious. In the meantime, the IRA, upset
with O'Donnell's attack on the Royals, tries to kill him. The IRA
and the ULA both claim to be motivated by patriotism, but they are
fighting each other and the British are hunting both. Ryan
returns to the US and the Academy and his adventure seems like a
distant dream. But when O'Donnell and the ULA rescue Miller on
his way to Albany Prison, the dream turns into a nightmare.
Admiral Greer comes to Ryan and asks him to return to the CIA to
help track down the terrorists. Greer wants Ryan back in the CIA.
He too is motivated by patriotism and wants his best man back. As
the tension mounts, Jack may have to re-join the CIA just to
protect his wife and daughter. It is a race to find the ULA
terrorists before Sean Miller and the ULA can attack him and his
family. To Ryan, it's a matter of protecting his loved ones,
while everyone around him is playing Patriot Games.


Clear and Present Danger

Cast of Characters

The Hunt for Red October

Marko Ramius .............. Sean Connery
Jack Ryan ................. Alec Baldwin
Bart Mancuso .............. Scott Glenn
Captain Borodin ........... Sam Neill
Admiral Greer ............. James Earl Jones
Andrei Lysenko ............ Joss Ackland
Jeffrey Pelt .............. Richard Jordan
Ivan Putin ................ Peter Firth
Doctor Petrov ............. Tim Curry
Seaman Jones .............. Courtney B. Vance
Captain Tupolev ........... Stellan Skarsgard
Skip Tyler ................ Jeffrey Jones
Bill Steiner .............. Timothy Carhart
Chief of the Boat ......... Larry Ferguson
Admiral Painter ........... Fred Dalton Thompson
Captain Davenport ......... Daniel Davis

Dallas Officers and Crew
Seaman Beaumont ........... Ned Vaughn
Lt. Comm. Thompson ........ Anthony Peck
Dallas Seaman ............. Mark Draxton
Dallas Seaman ............. Tom Fisher
Dallas Seaman ............. Pete Antico

Red October Officers and Crew
Lt. Melekhin .............. Ronald Guttman
Loginov (Cook) ............ Thomas Arana
Ivan ...................... Michael George Benko
Officer #1 ................ Anatoly Davydov
Officer #2 ................ Ivan G'Vera
Diving Officer ............ Artur Cybulski
Russian COB ............... Sven-Ole Thorsen
Kamarov ................... Michael Welden
Slavin .................... Boris Lee Krutonog
Red October Seaman ........ Kenton Kovell
Red October Seaman ........ Radu Gavor
Red October Seaman ........ Ivan Ivanov
Red October Seaman ........ Ping Wu
Red October Seaman ........ Herman Sinitzyn

Konovalov Officers and Crew
Andrei Bonovia ............ Christopher Janczar
Konovalov Seaman .......... Vlado Benden
Konovalov Seaman .......... George Winston

Helicopter Pilot .......... Don Oscar Smith
Navigator C-2A ............ Rick Ducommun
DSRV Officer .............. George H. Billy
Lt. Jim Curry ............. LCDR Reed Popovich
Andrei Amalric ............ Andrew Divoff
Admiral Padorin ........... Peter Zinner
Padorin's Orderly ......... Tony Veneto
Admiral (Briefing) ........ Ben Hartigan
Judge Moore (Briefing) .... Ray Reinhardt
General (Briefing) ........ F.J. O'Neil
Admiral #2 (Briefing) ..... Robert Buckingham
Advisor #1 ................ A.C. Lyles
Advisor #2 ................ John McTiernan Sr.
Sunglasses ................ David Sederholm
Foxtrot Pilot ............. John Shepherd
Lt. Cmd. Mike Hewitt ...... William Bell Sullivan
Caroline Ryan ............. Gates McFadden
Sally Ryan ................ Louise Borras
Stewardess ................ Denise E. James
Stanley ................... Himself

Source: Movie.D...@cm.cf.ac.uk /* corrected by Bob Marek */


Patriot Games

Jack Ryan ................ Harrison Ford
Cathy Ryan ............... Anne Archer
Kevin O'Donnell .......... Patrick Bergin
Sean Miller .............. Sean Bean
Sally Ryan ............... Thora Birch
Lord Holmes .............. James Fox
Robby .................... Samuel L. Jackson
Annette .................. Polly Walker
Marty Cantor ............. J.E. Freeman
Admiral Greer ............ James Earl Jones
Paddy O'Neil ............. Richard Harris
Dennis Cooley ............ Alex Norton
Watkins .................. Hugh Fraser
Inspector Highland ....... David Threlfall
Owens .................... Alun Armstrong
Sissy .................... Berlinda Tolbert
Barrister Atkinson ....... Hugh Ross
Lord Justice ............. Gerald Sim
First Aide ............... Pip Torrens
Ashley ................... Thomas Russell
Jimmy O'Reardon .......... Jonathan Ryan
Charlie Dugan ............ Andrew Connolly
Paddy Boy ................ Karl Hayden
Lady Holmes .............. Claire Oberman
Young Holmes ............. Oliver (II) Stone
The Electrician .......... Tom Watt
Court Guard .............. P.H. Moriarty
School Girl .............. Rebecca Mayhook
Constable ................ Roger Blake
Constable ................ Martin Cochrane
Constable ................ Tim Dutton
Rose ..................... Ellen Geer
Winter ................... John LaFayette
Ferro .................... Duke Moosekian
Spiva .................... Fritz Sperberg
Secretary ................ Brenda Klemme
CIA Analyst .............. Allison Barron
CIA Technician ........... Theodore Raimi
Dr. Shapiro .............. Philip Levien
FBI Agent Shaw ........... Jesse D. Goins
FBI Helicopter Pilot ..... John Shepard
FBI Rifleman ............. Stephen Held
CNN Reporter ............. Debora Weston
Interviewer .............. Bob Gunton
TV Reporter .............. Ivan Kane
TV Reporter .............. Kim Delgado
Ned Clark ................ Keith Campbell
Marine Guard ............. Jeff Mandon
Marine Guard ............. Eric Paul
Midshipman ............... Jeff Gardner
Midshipman ............... Lester T. Tillery
Midshipman ............... Franklin Dam
Midshipman ............... Frankie Maldonatti
Midshipman ............... Bonnie Webster
Midshipman ............... Pamela Saxon
Midshipman ............... Leah Tabassi
Avery .................... Michael Ryan Way
Taxi Driver .............. Gregory Paul Jackson
Arab Soldier ............. Fred Toma
Anesthesiologist ......... Ruben Garfias
O'Neil's Bodyguard ....... Michael Francis Kelly

Source: Movie.D...@cm.cf.ac.uk /* corrected by Bob Marek */


Clear and Present Danger

Jack Ryan ............... Harrison Ford
Clark ................... Willem Dafoe
Cathy Ryan .............. Anne Archer
Felix Cortez ............ Joaquim De Almeida
Robert Ritter ........... Henry Czerny
James Cutter ............ Harris Yulin
President Bennett ....... Donald Moffat
Ernesto Escobedo ........ Miguel Sandoval
Captain Ramirez ......... Benjamin Bratt
Chavez .................. Raymond Cruz
Judge Moore ............. Dean Jones
Sally Ryan .............. Thora Birch
Moira Wolfson ........... Ann Magnuson
Senator Mayo ............ Hope Lange
Emile Jacobs ............ Tom Tammi
Dan Muray ............... Tim Grimm
Jean Fowler ............. Belita Moreno
Admiral James Greer ..... James Earl Jones
Sipo .................... Jorge Luke
Sergeant Oso ............ James Gomez
Radio Man ............... Jared Chandler
Petey ................... Greg Germann
Rose .................... Ellen
Satelitte Analyst ....... Theodore Raimi
Voice Print Analyst ..... Vondie Curtis-Hall
CIA Analyst ............. John Lafayette
CIA Analyst ............. Beau Lotterman
Detective ............... Rex Linn
Co-pilot ................ John Putch
Bodyguard ............... Peter Weireter
Ambassador Ferris ....... Victor Palmieri
White House Guard ....... Trip Hamilton
Committee Chairman ...... Ken Howard
John Ryan Jnr ........... Alexander Lester
Sergeant Major .......... Reg E. Cathey
Staff Sergeant .......... Clark Gregg
Sniper Sergeant ......... Chris Conrad
unknown ................. Al Verdum
Pilot ................... Vaughn Armstrong
Coast Guard ............. Colleen Flynn
Coast Guard ............. Reed Diamond
Coast Guard ............. Cam Brainard
Coast Guard ............. Brendan Ford
Coast Guard ............. Michael Jace
DEA Agent ............... Cameron Thor
DEA Agent ............... Harley Venton
DEA Agent ............... Miguel Perez
Manager ................. Honorato Magaloni
Enrique Rojas ........... Patrick Bauchau
Bodyguard ............... Jean Carlos Colombo
Escobedo's Wife ......... Blanca Guerra
Escobedo's Driver ....... Rufino Echegoyen
Chemist ................. Mario Ivan Martinez
Eduardo ................. Eduardo N.T. Andrade
Hector .................. Hector Teller
Fermandez ............... Alejandro Bracho
Hitman .................. Eliot Ferrer
Hitman .................. Roberta Arratia
Accountant .............. David J. Negron Jr
Gunman .................. Michael A. Mendez
Cartel .................. Sebastian Silva
Maid .................... Diana Sowle
Telephonist ............. Kamala Dawson
Guard ................... Guillermo Rios
unknown ................. Alejandro De Hoyos
unknown ................. Leo Garcia
unknown ................. Barbara Harrison
unknown ................. Mark Bailey
unknown ................. Elizabeth Dennehy
unknown ................. Patricia Belcher
unknown ................. Aaron Lustig
unknown ................. Tom Isbell
unknown ................. Kim Flowers
unknown ................. Claudia Lobo
unknown ................. Lynne Marie Stewart
unknown ................. Catherine MacNeal
unknown ................. Denice Kumagai
unknown ................. Christine Moore
unknown ................. Marjorie Lovett
unknown ................. Lee Bear
unknown ................. Jeffrey King
unknown ................. Glenn E. Coats
unknown ................. Kevin Cooney
unknown ................. Elisabeth Kern
unknown ................. Thomas Luskey
unknown ................. John Rixey Moore

Source: Movie.D...@cm.cf.ac.uk

References

Cardiff's Movie Database Browser - World Wide Web
Movie.D...@cm.cf.ac.uk
URL: http://www.cm.cf.ac.uk/Movies/moviequery.html

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