Audiences were mesmerized for a week by the performance of Ronald Reagan in the television extravaganza, The Funeral. The script had been in the works since 1981. The cost of making "The Funeral" was estimated at nearly $1 billion dollars - with nearly half of that the cost of all Federal workers taking off the day of the burial. Some of the last-minute details were left to his beloved co-star, Nancy Davis, to complete - which she did admiringly - after his death.
Some watchers questioned whether it was about his life or his death? It started last week as people were watching old heroes from WWII celebrate the opening of the WWII Memorial in Washington. There were scenes from the beaches of Normandy and interviews with old soldiers that experienced those moments in our nations history. It was an important story. Networks had their reporters in France to cover the ceremonies. But just one day before D-Day, the news broke. Ronald Reagan had died. Reporters scurried to get back home.
The first part of the script called for the former President to lie in rest at his hilltop library in sunny California. Thousands of well-wishers paraded by to see him. It was almost real. The unpaid extras performed as if on cue. There were scenes of the young Reagan and his move from Illinois to Hollywood.
The second part of the script called for Mr Reagan to be flown to the Capitol in Washington to lie in state. The pomp and ceremony was unparalleled in movie-making history. Dignitaries from around the world were written into the script. However, some important historical characters, namely former Democratic presidents Clinton and Carter, were denied any speaking roles in the movie. Clinton, in one memorable moment, was shown nodding off as the speakers droned on.
It was not without drama. Ten-thousand extras were shown fleeing from the Capitol Building as a terrorist alarm was sounded. That part was not scripted but it fit well into the theme. When it was discovered that it was the Governor of Kentucky's plane that had intruded into forbidden space, the event was back on script without missing a beat.
The last part of the script, written by Ronald and Nancy Reagan over several years, called for his body to be flown back to California for a sunset service and burial. There were special cameo appearances by many stars and well-known faces. Wayne Newton and his wife were there. So was the new Governor of California, Arnold Schwartzenegger and his Democratic wife, Maria Shriver. Wayne Gretzky, Mickey Rooney, Bo Derek and others made cameo appearances.
As the sun set slowly in the west, admirers and worshipers of the great actor paid their tributes at his grave-site. The California sunset was more magnificent than any that were in the many western movies he had made in the same area. Surely Mr Reagan will get an Oscar for "The Funeral", his greatest performance. Nancy, also, is deserving of an Oscar for her role. It was the role of her lifetime. For best supporting actor, it would have to go to either FOX-TV, MSNBC, or CNN. The odds-makers favor CNN because of the special coverage they had scripted for the time the motorcade was traveling the last 25 miles to the mountaintop.
(edit to add historical reference)
http://dailynews.att.net/cgi-bin/news?e=pri&dt=040612&cat=news&st=newsd835a6oo0&src=ap 
Printer-friendly format
Email this thread to a friend
Bookmark this thread
(1000+ posts)
Send PM |
Profile |
Ignore
