Rights
The film was a production of Universal Pictures and Castle Rock Entertainment. Castle Rock led the production process and Universal participated in financing and distribution. Universal distributed the film outside the U.S., and Columbia Pictures distributed it domestically under its distribution contract with Castle Rock that existed between 1987 and 1999. After Time Warner's acquisition of Turner Broadcasting System (which owned Castle Rock), the film became part of the Turner Entertainment library under WB. However, in terms of domestic distribution, Warner Bros. is responsible for sales and distribution. Universal has maintained international (i.e. outside of the U.S.) rights for the life of the film.
Originally, actor Robert Redford approached a number of screenwriters with the single-line premise, "the president elopes." Sorkin's treatment was selected by Redford to write the screenplay with the expectation that Redford would star. When Reiner was brought aboard to direct, however, Redford dropped out. At the time, his publicist attributed Redford's decision to his desire "to do a love story, but (Reiner) wanted to do something that was ultimately about politics." Other sources suggested that Redford and Reiner "didn't get along, . . . It was a personality thing."
Redford's production company, Wildwood Enterprises, continued to have a production credit on the film.
Read more about this topic: The American President
Famous quotes containing the word rights:
“I argued that the chastity of women was of much more consequence than that of men, as the property and rights of families depend upon it.”
—James Boswell (1740–1795)
“...I know nothing of man’s rights, or woman’s rights; human rights are all that I recognise.”
—Sarah M. Grimke (1792–1873)
“But you must know the class of sweet women—who are always so happy to declare “they have all the rights they want”; “they are perfectly willing to let their husbands vote for them”Mare and always have been numerous, though it is an occasion for thankfulness that they are becoming less so.”
—Eliza “Mother” Stewart (1816–1908)