Clint Eastwood, Back on the Side of the Law 04rT ',I .:c.orn/Columbia Pictures for 1 he New York Times Clint Eastwood on the set of "In the Line of Fire," the first big-budget film to have the full support of the Secret Service. with receivers in their ears and trans- other law-enforcement agency is creators of the movie say it will seek By BERNARD WEINRAUB mitters on their lapels. quite like that." to explore the often insular, some- "These Secret Service people are a What makes the new film unusual times difficult, if unknown, lives of Sperm! to The New York Times different breed," said Clint is not only the Secret Service's sup- people in the Secret Service. HOLLYWOOD, Dec. 6 — The hotel Eastwood, the star of "In the Line of port of the big-budget movie, but also The first major trauma of the Se- ballroom in downtown Los Angeles Fire," which is the first major film to the way the movie seeks to replicate cret Service's history — the assassi- explodes with applause as hundreds have the total cooperation of the nor- reality. During the recent Presiden- nation of President John F. Kennedy of couples in fancy outfits welcome mally reclusive agency. tial campaign, crews from the film, — shattered the lives of several Se- the arrival of a fictional President of "They all know each other, they all with the approval of the Republicans cret Service agents, who quit the the United Stales. The reporters at know each other's histories and and the Democrats, followed Presi- the scene (who seem uncharacteristi- there's this psychology, this unusual dent Bush and Gov. Bill Clinton at agency or turned alcoholic or re- cally neat and well-dressed) and the psychology, of knowing that it's their rallies in Atlanta, Denver, Detroit mained emotionally scarred. At least television crews start to move in. job to take a bullet and die in the line and other cities. These crowd scenes one agent relives, to this day, how he Watching the audience with darting of duty to protect the person they're will be shown in the film. could have fallen on President Ken- eyes are a handful of men and women guarding," Mr. Eastwood said. "No Beyond this, Mr. Eastwood and the Continued on Page B2 r,astwood, as an Agent Protecting a President Continued From Page Ell corn bread. "1 think to myself, 'Why is Wolfgang doing this?' And then 1 nedy and saved him if he had arrived catch myself and say: 'This may not a second or two earlier, said Mr. be the way I would do it, but his way Eastwood. In fact, Mr. Eastwood may be a better way. You have to plays the role of one such agent, over- have faith and trust.'" whelmed by guilt, who was with Pres- Mr. Eastwood said he researched ident Kennedy in Dallas. Asked the the film, talking to agents and watch- other day during a lunch break what ing them in action. "I've known some appealed to him about the agent, Mr. of the guys who worked in the Gerald Eastwood said with a smile, "Just Ford detail; Ford used to come to another one of my flawed charac- Carmel to play golf," he said of the ters." town where he lives in California. The film's stars include John Mal- "Because I played law-enforcement kovich, as a Presidential assassin officers, the Secret Service people who develops a taunting telephone were always enthusiastic about hang- relationship with the Eastwood char- ing out. They gave me a lot of point- acter, and Rene Russo, as an agent.. ers." Its director is Wolfgang Petersen, 'Would You Take the Fall?' whom most famous film is "Dal Boot." the 1981 German Movie about It Is the psychology of the agents a U-boat In World War II. The film's that fascinates the star, and seems to author. Jeff Maguire, Is a relative dominate the movie. "You have to newcomer who has worked on such take the bullet for whomever you're films as "Victory." guarding and it may not be the Presi- The film is being Produced by Cas- dent," observed Mr. Eastwood. "It tle Rock Entertainment and Is to be could be any dignitary. Would you released In the late summer. The film take the fall? My character even says makers are now completing a final that he was assigned to cover Fidel scene, In which the Malkovich char- Castro, who was considered the ene- acter seeks to assassinate the Presi- my. What would you do?" dent during a fund-raising dinner for The screenplay about the Secret wealthy contributors at the Westin Service, which is costing a hefty $40 Bonaventure Hotel In downtown Los million, partly because of the use of Angeles. thousands of extras and big crowd Watching the scene, Bob Snow, who scenes in Washington and Los Ange- retired in April as assistant director les, has been knocking around Holly- of the Secret Service after 31 years wood for more than a decade. At and who is an adviser on the film, certain points, Robert Redford, Sean said: "This is the first script about. Connery, Dustin Hoffman and War- the Secret Service that, we felt, was ren Beatty expressed interest and accurate. Before this, the scripts then dropped out. were less than complimentary: the its 43-year-old producer, Jeff Ap- Secret Service people as goons. This ple, began shaping the movie after Is not a documentary; it takes liter- watching the assassination attempt ary license, but it does portray with against President Reagan on televi- honesty the concerns and problems sion. and difficulties of protecting people." "I began doing research and the (There have been a handful of films more I looked, the less f found," said and television shows about the Secret Mr. Apple, who has owned a televi- Service, including "To Live and Die sion commercial-production compa- In L.A.," In 1985, about counterfeiters, ny and made several youth films. and a recent television. series, The "The dimensions of this arena have new film "Bodyguard" stars Kevin never really been explored." Costner as a Secret Service agent Guilt and a Game who left the agency out of guilt be- After spending several years, off cause he was at his mother's funeral and on, with the Secret Service, Mr. instead of protecting President Ron- Apple won the agents' cooperation. ald Reagan during the 1981 assassi- The casting of Mr. Eastwood — ma- nation attempt. The film, which was cho, taciturn and usually heroic — poorly reviewed, also stars Whitney left the agency flattered. Houston, as a singer under threat.) Mr. Eastwood, walking to the set, Directing a 'Legend' said the guilt, complexity and vulner- Bouncing around the set, Mr. Pe- ability of the Secret Service agent in tersen, the director, acknowledged the film appealed to him. "There's that he was a bit dazzled by Mr. the cat-and-mouse game with the Eastwood. "For a German dlrector to Malkovich character, but there's also work with an American legend: that the guilt I feel about the assassina- is something," said Mr. Peterson. tion," said Mr. Eastwood. "My char- "He has done it all, he has seen It all acter keeps thinking, 'If only I had but there's no star behavior. He's done this, the assassination wouldn't precise. He works hard. He doesn't have happened.' It's the kind of thing interfere. It would be intimidating, I people go through in life on other must say, If he said, 'Let's do it this issues, but if a guy is assigned to way,' or, 'Let's put the camera here.' protect the President — and the Pres- But he doesn't. He enjoys being an ident is killed — it's something else. actor." "You know it's always appealing to Mr. Eastwood, who directed and play a character that has to over- starred in his highly successful last come himself as well as an obstacle. film, "Unforgiven," which Is almost It makes the drama so much deep- certain to be nominated for Academy er." Awards, admits that he has to catch himself, at times, from also stepping Into the role of director. "It's happened a couple of times here," he said, seated at a table with DO NOT FORGET THE NEEDIEST! the cast and crew and eating a formi- dable lung h of pasta, tuna steak and 1 .