She Was A Casualty Of War (Murder At 1600 (DVD))

Member Name: Teena2003

Product:	Murder At 1600 (DVD)
Date:	01/08/05 (104 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: very watchable, fast paced second half

Disadvantages: slow beginning

One Friday night, homicide detective Harlan Regis is called to the most famous address in the USA, if not the world, 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, aka The White House.

While wiping the floor of the ladies’ toilets, a cleaner finds the body of a White House employee murdered. Regis wants to know who killed the woman and why. The security agents within the White House are not so keen on giving up their knowledge of what could or might have happened that Friday night – after all, the son of the president could be the prime suspect.

It seems that a murder in the White House is not something the president needs just now. He has already enough on his plate with an ongoing hostage crisis and the call for military action to free the hostages from North Korea.

Secret Service agent Nina Chance is assigned to Regis as liaison between the DC police and the security service in the White House. But is she there to help or hinder?

Regis soon discovers a massive conspiracy and cover up. What have the president of the USA and his family to hide and why doesn’t anyone want to know what really happened? Or are there other reasons behind the cover-up?


The first time I watched this movie was in Toronto/Canada on holiday. It was one of the movies you could order in your hotel room. It was the first and last time I ever ordered a movie in a hotel. I have no idea why I did that night but I enjoyed it (must have been the jet-lag).

The storyline is okay, as long as you suspend your believes. Some inconsistencies are there, in particular when it comes to agent Chance and her sudden wish to ‘switch sides’ and help Regis instead of hindering him. But movies are always ‘make belief’ so it shouldn’t really bother anyone. If the acting is good, then even the weirdest script can make an enjoyable movie.

Wesley Snipes plays Harlan Regis. I am not too keen on his movies and have never gone out of my way to actually watch him in anything but I liked him in this one. He is convincing as hard-nosed homicide cop Regis. The only other time I actually watched him in a movie was “Blade” and I can’t say that I managed the whole movie. It just wasn’t for me. Conspiracy and thriller is much more to my liking.

Diane Lane plays Agent Nina Chance. She has been in a number of movies (Unfaithful, The Perfect Storm) I watched but I can’t say that she ever left a lasting impression. And although she played the part of Agent Chance convincingly, if I came across her again in another movie, I doubt I would actually remember her. She seems to have one of those faces that don’t stand out, good actress but not really in the top list of female actors.

This movie boasts a number of well-known actors in the other mayor roles. Alan Alda plays National Security Advisor Alvin Jordan. He has come a long way since his role in the comedy series MASH in the 70s.

Always one of my favourite actors, Daniel Benzali, plays Agent Spikings. I loved him in the series “Murder One” and in this movie he is the one person totally opposed to giving the DC police any help. His animosity towards his counterpart Alvin Jordan is only too obvious and the two actors play their roles very well. He is one of the many characters in this movie who, for one reason or other – and without much explanation – seems to change his mind about the involvement of the police.

After a fairly slow start of the movie, after all the false leads have been placed, it is down to Regis to actually unravel the mystery. The pace of the movie gets faster and races to its climactic end. It doesn’t even bother me that most of the movie takes place at night or in tunnels. It just fits the mood of the whole movie.

Murder at 1600 is a very watchable movie. I don’t mind putting on the film if there is nothing else on television and although I have seen it a number of times now, I can’t say that I’m getting bored. Maybe it’s just me; I just like a good conspiracy film.


I bought my DVD cheap at Tesco (found it amongst the “buy 2 DVDs for £10” offers). As a result, there are not many extras on the DVD, no pretty booklet to read either.

The DVD comes with
o Interactive Menus
o Production notes
o Scene access

For the first time ever I came across a DVD that’s double sided, no pretty picture printed on the DVD, just two silvery shiny sides. The movie on DVD is available in widescreen and regular and depending on which side you put into the player, that’s what you will get.

o Movie length: 102 minutes approx
o Format: Pal
o Age certificate: 15
o Dolby Digital

Available to buy from all good DVD retailers from £5.95 or cheaper when bought as part of special offers.

Summary: watchable movie with Denzel Washington