A conman discovers during a "job" that US Congress is where the money is. "Name recognition" gets him elected. Will he develop a conscience?
Director:
Jonathan Lynn
From metacritic.com
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Title: The Distinguished Gentleman (1992)
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4 wins.
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Cast
| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| Eddie Murphy | ... | Thomas Jefferson Johnson | |
| Lane Smith | ... | Dick Dodge | |
| Sheryl Lee Ralph | ... | Miss Loretta | |
| Joe Don Baker | ... | Olaf Andersen | |
| Victoria Rowell | ... | Celia Kirby | |
| Grant Shaud | ... | Arthur Reinhardt | |
| Kevin McCarthy | ... | Terry Corrigan | |
| Charles S. Dutton | ... | Elijah Hawkins | |
| Victor Rivers | ... | Armando | |
| Chi McBride | ... | Homer (as Chi) | |
 |
Sonny Jim Gaines | ... | Van Dyke |
| Noble Willingham | ... | Zeke Bridges | |
| Gary Frank | ... | Iowa | |
| Daniel Benzali | ... | 'Skeeter' Warburton | |
| Cynthia Harris | ... | Vera Johnson | |
Edit
Plot Summary
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Storyline
In the conniving world of politics, even a professional shyster like Thomas Jefferson Johnson (Eddie Murphy) can find himself outmatched. After using name recognition to get elected, Johnson enjoys many of the same financial perks as other politicians. However, while investigating the connection between electric companies and cancer in young children, he unexpectedly develops a conscience. Unfortunately, fellow Congressman Dick Dodge (Lane Smith) isn't about to let him rock the boat.
Plot Keywords:
congressman | lobbyist | political humor | political comedy | campaigning |Taglines:
From con man to congressmanMotion Picture Rating (MPAA)
Rated R for language and a scene of sexuality | See all certifications »Parents Guide:
View content advisory »
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Details
Country:
USALanguage:
EnglishRelease Date:
4 December 1992 (USA) See more »Also Known As:
De estafador a senador See more »Edit
Box Office
Budget:
$50,000,000 (estimated)Opening Weekend USA:
$10,611,040, 6 December 1992Gross USA:
$46,666,502Cumulative Worldwide Gross:
$46,666,502Company Credits
Show more on
IMDbPro »
Technical Specs
Runtime:
Sound Mix:
DolbyColor:
Color (Technicolor)Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1
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Written by Chuckii Booker and Derek 'DOA' Allen
Performed by Chuckii Booker
Courtesy of Atlantic Recording Corp.
By Arrangement with Warner Special Products
See more »
Did You Know?
Trivia
The movie was first released in 1992 which was the year of an American Presidential Election. The film premiered stateside on 4th December 1992 which was about a month after the '92 Election between incumbent Republican 'George H.Bush', Independent Ross Perot, and Democrat Bill Clinton, with the latter winning. Publicity for this picture stated: "On Nov. 3, Americans will go to the polls to elect new leaders. On Dec. 4, Americans will go to the movies to see what we've gotten ourselves into." See more »Goofs
When congressman Johnson first sits down with Celia Kirby and her assistant Ira Schecter , Johnson asks Ira about how much he pays for auto insurance and Ira states that he owns a 1982 Dodge Dart. The Dodge Dart was manufactured from 1960 through 1976 and then again from 2013 through the present. There is no such thing as a 1982 Dodge Dart. See more »Connections
Featured in At the Movies: The Distinguished Gentleman/Brother's Keeper/The Bodyguard/The Crying Game/Close to Eden (1992) See more »Soundtracks
SOUL TRIILOGY IIIWritten by Chuckii Booker and Derek 'DOA' Allen
Performed by Chuckii Booker
Courtesy of Atlantic Recording Corp.
By Arrangement with Warner Special Products
See more »
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Eddie Murphy is a great actor and he proves it in this movie. In it, Con man Murphy decides he can make more money as a United States Congressman than a hood. Victoria Rowell as Murphy's lawyer-activist love interest, Lane Smith as his double-dealing "political" mentor, and Joe Don Baker as the power magnate who tries to put both men in his pocket, bat great cleanup. All of this movie, coming from a pure political buff like myself, is great. For all you Alan Keyes fans out there, watch this movie for Charles S. Dutton's great performance as Eliah Hawkins, a preachy minister-Maryland congressman who I think is like Keyes in every way.