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Warren Beatty on his unlikely friendship with Ronald Reagan
Entertainment Weekly ^ | 2016 | Chris Nashawaty

Posted on 05/29/2026 10:10:09 PM PDT by CondoleezzaProtege

When you look at Warren Beatty’s resume, you can’t help but notice that there are some long gaps between films. Some of that has to do with the star’s famously deliberate approach to his work...Another reason for those long fallow stretches, though, is due to Beatty’s political activism...

Beatty’s never been shy about his liberal-leaning positions on the issues... But that never stopped him from reaching across the aisle when it came to friendships. Take his personal connection with Ronald Reagan...

After Reagan began his first term in the Oval Office in 1981, he and First Lady Nancy Reagan invited Beatty to screen his latest film in the White House movie theater. It was an honor, of course. But a slightly awkward one...

The film that Beatty was about to show him was none other than Reds — a sweeping and sympathetic three-plus-hour epic about the American Communist movement in the 1910s. Reagan was hardly the ideal audience for it.

“During intermission, we walked outside and he said to me, ‘I really don’t understand how anyone could be president today without being an actor.’ He wasn’t joking...

After the second half, which recreates Russia’s 1917 Bolshevik Revolution, Reagan confessed to Beatty that he was kind of hoping that the movie might have a happier ending.

Recalling this, Beatty laughs. “I was quite friendly with Ronald Reagan. I didn’t agree with him, but I liked him very much.”

Reds did turn out to have a happy ending, though. The film, which Beatty co-wrote, directed, produced, and starred in, was nominated for ten Oscars and won four, including Best Director for Beatty...

(Excerpt) Read more at ew.com ...


TOPICS: History; TV/Movies
KEYWORDS: beatty; chrisnashawaty; dianekeaton; hollywood; noonecares; reagan; reds; warrenbeatty

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To: real saxophonist

So you really are a “Real saxophonist:”
sorry you missed Reagan. How was Carter? I thought he was too nice to be President, a really tough job.

Trump, however, is really tough after surviving high level real estate in NYC, serious negotiations. Plus death threats and attempts. Street fighter in very expensive suits. Hope our next President is half as good.


21 posted on 05/30/2026 1:08:08 PM PDT by Veto! ((Trump Is Superman))
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To: wardaddy

Loews


22 posted on 05/30/2026 1:16:57 PM PDT by Fledermaus ("It turns out all we really needed was a new President!")
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To: tired&retired

A remake of an old 40s or 50s movie called “Here Comes Mr. Jordan”.


23 posted on 05/30/2026 1:18:27 PM PDT by Fledermaus ("It turns out all we really needed was a new President!")
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