Wag the Dog (1997)
| Release Date | 17 December 1997 |
| Budget | $15,000,000 |
| US Box Office | $43,000,000 |
| Tagline | A Hollywood producer. A Washington spin-doctor. When they get together, they can make you believe anything. |
| Genre | Comedy, Drama |
| Country | USA |
| Filming Locations | Bakersfield, California, USA |
| Language | English |
| Sound Mix | DTS, Dolby Digital, SDDS |
| Color | Color |
| Film Type | Feature |
| Film Class | Political Satire, Media Satire |
| Mood | Comedy on the Edge, Strictly Speaking |
| Themes | Political Corruption, Scandals and Cover-ups, Conspiracies |
| Tones | Cynical, Satirical, Biting, Wry, Talky, Literate, Witty |
| Tags | Advice, Con/scam, Deception, Fake, Girlscout, President, Producer [showbiz], Publicity Stunt, Scandal, Sensationalism, Soldier, War |
Wag the Dog is a 1997 black comedy film starring Dustin Hoffman and Robert De Niro, co-staring Anne Heche, Denis Leary and William H. Macy about a Washington spin doctor who, merely days before a presidential election, distracts the electorate from a sex scandal by hiring a Hollywood film producer to construct a fake war with Albania. The scheme enlists the aid of a country music singer, who creates several theme songs for the war; a "fad king"; and a costume designer, who helps create a fictional special forces unit to fight the war's supposed battles.
Cast and Crew
Cast
Michael Belson
President
Jason Cottle
A.D.
Sean Masterson
Bob Richardson
Bernard Hocke
Technician
Maurice Woods
Kid with Shoes
Roebuck 'Pops' Staples
Himself
Ed Morgan
Store Owner
J. Patrick McCormack
Pilot
Jennifer Manley
Teenage Girl
Edrie Warner
Judge
Alberto Vazquez
Combine Driver
Stephanie Kemp
Aide #1
Jack Esformes
Aide #2
Michael Reid Davis
Aide #4
Brant Cotton
Sharon's Boyfriend
Kenneth Kern
Nashville Engineer
Michelle Levinson
Faye
Ron McCoy
Limo Driver
Derek Morgan
CIA Agent
Garry R. Roleder
USAF Chaplain
Rick Scarry
White House Reporter
Cliff B. Howard
Ranger
Furley Lumpkin
Raking Dad #1
Sean Fenton
Raking Dad #2
Nikki Crawford
Mom
Kevin Furlong
Jockey #2
Lu Elrod
Southern Woman
Michael Villani
Male Commentator
Shirley Prestia
Crossfire Moderator
Warren Wilson
Crossfire Interviewer
Terry Anzur
Factory Reporter
Melissa Gardner
Santa Fe Reporter
Christine Devine
Chicago Newscaster
Richard Saxton
Chicago Newscaster #2
Geoffrey Blake
Media Guy #1
Jack Shearer
Sklansky
Bill Handel
Andrews AFB Reporter
Arlene Afshangol
Albanian Girl
Hope Garber
Albanian Grandmother
Gina Menza
Press Room Reporter
Maggie Mellin
Mrs. Rose
Tom Murray
Aircraft Carrier Reporter
Ralph Tabakin
Southern Man
Nicole Avant
American Dream Singer
Tom Bähler
American Dream Singer
Allen Carter
American Dream Singer
Carmen Carter
American Dream Singer
Lance Eaton
American Dream Singer
Karen Geraghty
American Dream Singer
James Gilstrap
American Dream Singer
Jennifer Gross
American Dream Singer
Wendy Lou Halvorsen
American Dream Singer
Anthony Holiday
American Dream Singer
Brad Kalas
American Dream Singer
Billy Trudel
American Dream Singer
Mark Vieha
American Dream Singer
Julia Waters
American Dream Singer
Oren Waters
American Dream Singer
Maxine Waters Willard
American Dream Singer
Phillip V. Caruso
War Commercial Photographer
Robert Richardson
Man in TV Studio
Glendon Rich
Grieving Politician
Chelsea Talbott
Crying Girl At Funeral Parade
Paul Webster
Limo Driver
Director
Writer
Larry Beinhart
Hilary Henkin
Producer
Eric McLeod
co-producer
Claire Rudnick Polstein
executive producer
Ezra Swerdlow
executive producer
Original Music
Cinematographer
Robert Richardson
Editor
Stu Linder
-
Casting Director
Ellen Chenoweth
-
Debra Zane
-
Production Designer
Wynn Thomas
-
Art Director
Mark Worthington
-
Set Decorator
Robert Greenfield
-
Costume Designer
Rita Ryack
-
Makeup Department
Hazel Catmull
key hair stylist
Kathrine Gordon
hair stylist
Ilona Herman
hair stylist: Mr. De Niro, makeup artist: Mr. De Niro
Mark Landon
makeup artist
Peter Montagna
key makeup artist
Elaine L. Offers
makeup artist
Daniel C. Striepeke
makeup artist: Mr. Hoffman
Michael White
hair stylist: Mr. Hoffman
Melissa A. Yonkey
hair stylist: Mr. Harrelson
Production Manager
Blair Daily
post-production supervisor
Carla Fry
executive in charge of production
Eric McLeod
unit production manager
Bonnie Weis
production supervisor: second unit
Laurie Kaye
production manager: special war/news segments
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Ken Arlidge
second unit director
Amy Sayres
first assistant director
Amy Schmidt
second second assistant director
Christopher Swartout
second assistant director
Art Department
Jose M. Arreguin
propmaker foreman
Peter Bankins
property master
Tim Donelan
lead man
Kirk Essiambre
property assistant
John French
paint foreman
Joe Louis Garcia
construction grip
Ildefonso Goris
greensman
Tammy High
construction estimator
Bill 'Kauhane' Hoyt
stand-by painter
Steve Joyal
art department coordinator
Diane Kramer
art production assistant
Scott W. Leslie
set dresser
Alberto Christiano Lombardo
assistant property master
Jeff Markwith
set designer
Jim McDermott
set dresser
Robert McKelvey
propmaker foreman
Kathy Meherin
labor foreperson
Mark Pallatt
set dresser
Stephen J. Readmond
on-set dresser
Shana Sigmond
assistant set decorator
Frank Simplico
tool foreman
John Slatsky
set dresser
Billy Spire
general foreman
Christopher Tandon
assistant art director
Duke Tomasick
construction coordinator
Carl Catanese
on-set dresser: Washington DC
Mary Locatell
illustrator
Byron K. Lovelace
props: New York
Sound Department
Mike Boudry
adr recordist
Lindakay Brown
dialogue editor
Steve Cantamessa
sound mixer
Tony Eckert
foley mixer
J.R. Grubbs
sound effects editor
Lora Hirschberg
sound re-recording mixer
Tim Holland
supervising sound editor
Doc Kane
adr mixer
Scott La Rue
cable puller
Mary Helen Leasman
foley editor
Diane Linn
adr recordist
Marilyn McCoppen
adr editor
Frank 'Pepe' Merel
foley re-recordist
Al Nelson
sound re-recordist
Susan Popovic
assistant sound editor
Charleen Richards
adr mixer
Claire Sanfilippo
dialogue editor
Michael Silvers
dialogue supervisor
Greg Steele
adr mixer
Gary Thomas
boom operator
Dennie Thorpe
foley artist
Tami Treadwell
adr recordist
Jana Vance
foley artist
Mary Works
assistant sound editor
Mark Burton
production sound mixer: video unit
Sean England
foley recordist
David E. Turner
machine room operator, sound transferer
Special Effects
Greg Dennison
special effects assistant
Jim Hanson
special effects foreman
Dennis King
special effects coordinator
Edward Reiff Jr.
special effects assistant
Dale Riggs
special effects assistant
Ray L. Wilkerson
special effects assistant
Visual Effects
Krystyna Demkowicz
executive in charge of production: Matte World Digital
Camera and Electrical Department
Stephen B. Abrams
dolly grip: "b" camera
Halo Amrani
lamp operator
Ken Arlidge
director of photography: second unit
Nick Arnds
grip
Roger Awad
lamp operator
Michael Brennan
dolly grip: "b" camera
Phillip V. Caruso
still photographer
Barry Clint
grip
Rick Colosimo
grip
John T. Connor
first assistant camera: "b" camera
Amy DeMarte
second assistant camera: "b" camera
Joseph Dianda
key grip
Shawn Ensign
grip
Jamie Franta
grip
David Gamerman
assistant chief lighting technician
Chris Leidholdt
rigging key grip
Jim Leidholdt
rigging grip
William Leslie
dolly grip: "b" camera
Jeanne Lipsey
second assistant camera: "a" camera
Fredrick W. Marx III
lamp operator
Roger Meilink
rigging gaffer
Sean Mennie
camera production assistant
Daniel P. Moore
video assist operator
Robert W. Morgenroth
video supervisor
Scott Patten
best boy grip
Reinhart 'Rayteam' Peschke
chief lighting technician
Martin Schaer
camera operator
Robert J. Studenny
grip
Gregor Tavenner
first assistant camera: "a" camera
David Terry
dolly grip
Kelly Uchimura
camera loader
Todd Higgins
key grip: video unit
Jay Holben
best boy electric: video unit
Laela Kilbourn
additional second assistant camera
Ilya Lyudmirsky
first assistant camera: video unit
Alexandre Naufel
set lighting
Rob Nelson
video operator
David Norris
camera operator: Wescam camera
Peter Shultz
electrician: video unit
Russell Steen
gaffer: video unit
Daryl Studebaker
director of photography: video unit
Casting Department
David Anthony
extras casting
Brennan Dufresne
casting assistant
Leigh French
voice casting
Kimberly Rodgers
extras casting
Terri Taylor
casting assistant
Costume and Wardrobe Department
Nancy McArdle
costume supervisor
Marjorie McCown
assistant costume designer
Mary Jo McGrath
assistant to costume designer
Jose Morales
tailor
Maggie Morgan
assistant costume designer
Marcie Olivi
set costumer
Hugo Peña
key costumer
Romeo Pompa
set costumer
Kelly Porter
costumer: Mr. Hoffman
Ellen Ryba
assistant costume designer
Editorial Department
Gilbert Carreras
color timer
Blair Daily
additional editor
Mark Daily
first assistant editor
Joe Fineman
executive in charge of post-production
Jason Joseph
editorial production assistant
Ric Keeley
post-production executive
Bob Shugrue Jr.
assistant editor
Mark W. Smith
assistant editor
Jay Vinitsky
post-production coordinator
Thomas M. Harrigan
editorial apprentice
John F. Lyons
assistant editor
Music Department
Chuck Ainlay
music engineer, music producer
Richard Bennett
musician: guitar
Roger Blanc
music arranger: band
Bob Bowen
music coordinator
Paul Broucek
music executive
Jim Cox
musician: keyboard
Chad Cromwell
musician: drums
Guy Fletcher
musician: keyboard
Mark Kaufman
music business affairs
Mark Ralston
assistant music engineer
Dana Sano
music executive
Lori Silfen
music business affairs
Joel Sill
music consultant: Tribeca
Mark Jan Wlodarkiewicz
music editor
Glenn Worf
musician: bass guitar
Transportation Department
Steve Boyd
transportation coordinator
Jerry F. Johnson
transportation captain
Greg Bronner
driver
Burton L. Warner
driver: Barry Levinson
Other Crew
Rhonda Baer
location manager
Shelley Barbour
assistant: Mr. Hoffman
Alison Benson
assistant: Ms. Rosenthal
Lee J. Bognar
location assistant
Mauni P. Caves
location assistant: second unit
Robin Chambers
assistant: Mr. De Niro
Brett Cody
video coordinator
Eric Damore
caterer
Brad Davis
assistant production accountant
Ted Eccles
producer: special war/news segments
Hedi El Kholti
post-production accountant
Avy Eschenasy
production attorney
J.J. Geary
craft service
Emily Glatter
production coordinator: in-house
Madeleine R. Gubbins
production secretary
Gabriela Gutentag
unit publicist
Holly Hagy
production coordinator
Lana Hale
rights clearances
Terry Ham
set production assistant
Geoff Harding
location assistant
Tim Hillman
location manager: second unit
Erik Holmberg
production executive
Patrick Jager
rights clearances
Scott Keil
medic
Carlos Kotkin
assistant: Mr. Levinson
Gary Kurashige
medic
Nancy Lefkowitz
assistant: Ms. Rosenthal
Adam Leichtman
assistant: Mr. De Niro
Dirk Q. Long
caterer
Kimberly Lynn
location assistant
Cathy Marshall
payroll accountant
Ginny Martino
business affairs liaison
Scott Maziroff
accounting clerk
Wild Bill McCrillis
caterer
Barron Miller
location assistant
Mindy Miller
stand-in: Ms. Heche
Kevin Milligan
set production assistant
Jaime Oria
video conversions
Jeffrey Craig Owens
office production assistant
Romano Paoletti
set production assistant
Tony Patterson
assistant video coordinator
Steve Peterson
caterer
Kait Pickering
assistant production coordinator
Julie Pitkanen
script supervisor
John Polce
stand-in: Mr. De Niro
Steven Pollock
producer: special war/news segments
Paul Prokop
production controller
Joshua Ravetch
production resources
Robert E. Roddy
medic
John Sanchez
office production assistant
Kas Self
stand-in: Mr. Hoffman
Maria Spaeth
assistant: Mr. Swerdlow
Bryan Thomas
caterer
Louise Tolan
office production assistant
William Turchyn III
craft service
Raymond Vigil
office production assistant
Harriet Voyt
assistant: Mr. Mamet
Steve Watson
caterer
Bonnie Weis
production accountant
Ryan Williams
video shop engineer
Susan Ahulii
craft service
Peter Albert
24 frame cable/utility: Washington D.C.
Chris Beal
assistant coordinator: second unit
Kathleen Beall
assistant location manager
Freddie Joe Farnsworth
technical advisor
Dave Freed
assistant to cast
Georgette Hayden
production coordinator
Keith McNulty
teleprompter operator
Chris Miller
technical services
Tom Sellitti
assistant: Mr. Leary
Thanks
Johnny Rockets
special thanks
Production Company
Baltimore Pictures
-
New Line Cinema
-
Punch Productions
-
Tribeca Productions
-
Distributor
New Line Cinema
Fox Network
Argentina Video Home
Concorde Filmverleih
EDKO Film
Focus Film AG
Líder Films
Metropolitan Filmexport
New Line Home Video
Roadshow Entertainment Video
Roadshow Entertainment
VCL Communications GmbH
Vitória Filmes
Warner Bros.
Special Effects
Matte World Digital
-
Miscellaneous
Aero Mock-Ups
mock-up provided by
Architectural Digest
special thanks
BPI Communications
Billboard magazine used courtesy of
Background Players
extras casting
Birds & Animals Unlimited
wrangler
Buena Vista Negative Cutting
negative cutting
Casio Electronics
special thanks
Cast & Crew Entertainment Services
payroll services provided by
ChapmanLeonard Studio Equipment
camera cranes and dollies
Clearvision
rights clearances
Dennis Davidson & Associates Public Releations (DDA)
international public relations
E=mc²
24-frame video design
FCM
multimedia
Howard Anderson Company, The
opticals, main titles
J.P. Tod's Shoes
special thanks
Kern County Film Commission
special thanks
Mercury Records
soundtrack
Merle Haggard and The Strangers
group performers
Movie Movers
trailers
Near North Insurance Brokerage
insurance provided by
Ocean Way Studios
music recorded at
Panavision
cameras and lenses
Paskal Lighting
grip and lighting equipment
Riverside Community College Marching Band
special thanks
Skywalker Sound
post-production sound services provided by
Technicolor
film processing, color and prints
Tom Bähler and Friends
group performers
Tomkats Catering
catering
Travelcorps International
travel services
Warriors
military advisors
Related Lists
Navigation Boxes
Films directed by Barry Levinson
An Everlasting Piece (2000)
Avalon (1990)
Bandits (2001)
Bugsy (1991)
Diner (1982)
Disclosure (1994)
Envy (2004)
Good Morning, Vietnam (1987)
Jimmy Hollywood (1994)
Liberty Heights (1999)
Man of the Year (2006)
Rain Man (1988)
Sleepers (1996)
Sphere (1998)
The Natural (1984)
Tin Men (1987)
Toys (1992)
Wag the Dog
Wag the Dog (1998)
What Just Happened (2008)
Young Sherlock Holmes (1985)
