Search - The General's Daughter on DVD

MPAA Rating: R Content Advisory: Nudity, Rape & Sexual Abuse, Adult Language, Sexual Situations Movie Release: 1999 DVD Release: 12/14/1999 Format: DVD - Enhanced Wide Screen Letterbox for 16x9 TV Edition: Special Collection Audio Tracks: English, French Subtitles: English SwapaDVD Credits: 1 Number of Discs: 1 Run Time: 1 hrs 56 mins Studio: Paramount Total Copies: 40 Genres: Mystery, Thriller, Detective Film, Psychological Thriller See Also: The General's Daughter

A murder on a military base unearths a netherworld of corruption in this thriller based on the novel by Nelson DeMille. General Joe Campbell (James Cromwell) is a respected military leader with a flawless reputation; he's due to retire from the Army soon and is headed for a Vice-Presidential nomination. However, Campbell finds himself in both a personal and political crisis when his daughter is brutally murdered. Captain Elizabeth Campbell (Leslie Stefanson) was beautiful, intelligent, disciplined, and well-regarded, the very model of an ideal female officer; she was also stationed at the same base as her father. Paul Brenner (John Travolta), a warrant officer of the Army's Criminal Investigation Division, is assigned to look into the case alongside CID officer Sara Sunhill (Madeleine Stowe). Brenner and Sunhill were once romantically involved, complicating an assignment that soon offers more than enough complications of its own. Brenner and Sunhill come to realize that, for all her accomplishments, Elizabeth carried a lifetime of emotional scars from emotional abuse and sexual harassment, and that, despite the General's reputation, his relationship with his daughter was not always a happy or healthy one. It also seems possible that the General's second-in-command, General George Fowler (Clarence Williams III), a likely candidate for the Joint Chiefs of Staff, may also be implicated in the crime. The General's Daughter was the second feature film for director Simon West; his full-length debut was Con Air (1997), after a long string of successful television commercials and music videos. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

John Travolta - Paul Brenner
Madeleine Stowe - Sara Sunhill
James Cromwell - Gen. Joe Campbell
Timothy Hutton - Col. Kent
Leslie Stefanson - Elisabeth Campbell
Daniel Von Bargen - Chief Yardley
Clarence Williams III - Col. George Fowler
James Woods - Col. Moore

Though not labeled a special edition, Paramount's DVD of The General's Daughter comes very close. For starters, the image is first rate. Framed at the original aspect ratio of 2.35:1, the anamorphic transfer shines with detail. Flesh tones are right on, darks are solid, and colors, while muted for the most part, are distinct. The sound, an English 5.1 track, (an English Surround track and a French Surround track are also available) is equally impressive, with liberal use of the surround speakers. There are also a number of supplemental features. The highlight is a scene-specific audio commentary with director Simon West. It's an unusual commentary, with West sounding as though he's simply reading it off of a paper in front of him. Regardless, he makes some interesting observations. The disc also features a 20-minute behind-the-scenes featurette with cast and crew interviews that is just a step above the standard fluff piece. In addition, there are four deleted scenes and an alternate ending, all of which include commentary from West. Other than the unnecessary ending, the deleted scenes would have fit well in the film, but certainly would have changed the focus in some ways. Rounding things out are two trailers. Though the critics panned the film, overall this is a fine disc, worth owning or at least renting. ~ Trent Fordham, All Movie Guide