In 1977, three years after Richard Milhous Nixon resigned the presidency of the United States of America in disgrace in the midst of the Watergate scandal, television personality David Frost convinced him to break his silence in one no-holds-barred interview for the hefty price of half a million dollars. Nixon intended to talk circles around the lightweight interviewer and try to redeem himself in the eyes of America, while Frost intended to try to give the former president the trial he would never have after he'd been pardoned for any potential wrongdoing. The result was a display of verbal maneuvering that eventually resulted in Nixon likely revealing more than he'd ever wanted to.
The Broadway play Frost/Nixon won Frank Langella a Tony for his portrayal of Nixon, and he is reprising that role for Ron Howard's film version, as is Michael Sheen returning to play Frost. They're supported by a team of great actors, like Sam Rockwell, Oliver Platt and Kevin Bacon, and it's got Academy Award consideration written all over it.
We've got an in-depth look at Frost/Nixon with commentary from Howard himself right here.
We've also got a whole slew of clips from the film so you can get a better sense of how a series of interviews is going to be transformed into a feature film. Check them out:
1. James Reston (Sam Rockwell) tells Frost what they need to achieve with this interview.
2. Jack Brennan (Kevin Bacon) convinces Nixon that he'll run rings around Frost.
3. Reston berates Frost for letting Nixon have his way.
4. Nixon tries to intimidate Frost off-camera.
5. Nixon's most damning opinion.
6. Nixon ponders switching places with Frost.
7. B-Roll fron the set of Frost/Nixon.
