''Raising Buchanan'' is a 2019 American

comedy film A comedy film is a category of film which emphasizes humor. These films are designed to make the audience laugh through amusement. Films in this style traditionally have a happy ending (black comedy being an exception). Comedy is one of the ol ...

produced by Amanda Melby, Joe Gruberman, Chadwick Struck and Cathy Shim, written and directed by

Bruce Dellis Bruce Dellis is an American film director and screenwriter based in Tempe, AZ. He has written and directed several award-winning short films and features. Career In 2006, Dellis won two Rocky Mountain Emmy Awards for ''The Intervention of B ...

. The film stars

René Auberjonois René Murat Auberjonois (; June 1, 1940 – December 8, 2019) was an American actor and director. He was best known for portraying Odo on '' Star Trek: Deep Space Nine'' (1993–1999). He first achieved fame as a stage actor, winning the Tony Aw ...

in the role of the title character,

James Buchanan James Buchanan Jr. ( ; April 23, 1791June 1, 1868) was an American lawyer, diplomat and politician who served as the 15th president of the United States from 1857 to 1861. He previously served as secretary of state from 1845 to 1849 and repr ...

, the 15th

president of the United States The president of the United States (POTUS) is the head of state and head of government of the United States of America. The president directs the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United Stat ...

, and was his final role released in his lifetime. He died in December, 2019. The film was Bruce Dellis' first full-length feature. ''Raising Buchanan'' was filmed in and near

Phoenix, Arizona Phoenix ( ; nv, Hoozdo; es, Fénix or , yuf-x-wal, Banyà:nyuwá) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital and List of cities and towns in Arizona#List of cities and towns, most populous city of the U.S. state of Arizona, with 1 ...

Plot

Ruth Kiesling is a 39-year-old woman with anger issues and a history of making poor decisions. Ruth sees an opportunity to turn her life around by stealing the body of dead president to hold for

ransom Ransom is the practice of holding a prisoner or item to extort money or property to secure their release, or the sum of money involved in such a practice. When ransom means "payment", the word comes via Old French ''rançon'' from Latin ''red ...

. However, she quickly learns that no one is particularly interested in getting him back.

Cast

U.S. President The president of the United States (POTUS) is the head of state and head of government of the United States of America. The president directs the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States ...

* Amanda Melby as Ruth Kiesling * Cathy Shim as Meg * Terence Bernie Hines as Phillip Crosby *

M. Emmet Walsh Michael Emmet Walsh (born March 22, 1935) is an American actor who has appeared in over 200 films and television series, including small but important supporting roles in dozens of major studio features of the 1970s and 1980s. He starred in ''Bl ...

as Larry Kiesling *

Robert Ben Garant Robert Ben Garant (born September 14, 1970), credited earlier in his career as Ben Garant, is an American screenwriter, producer, director, actor and comedian. He has a long professional relationship with Thomas Lennon and Kerri Kenney-Silve ...

as Lancaster Guy * Jennifer Pfalzgraff as Holly * Steve Briscoe as Errol *

Shannon Whirry Shannon Whirry is an American actress. Career A native from Green Lake, Wisconsin, where she was the salutatorian of her 1983 high school graduating class, in 1985 Whirry was accepted to study at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, one of onl ...

as Parnella Monroe * Lynnette Brown as Gretchen * Max Bullis as Dante * Zoey Yeoman as Capt. Jarvis * Shelly Boucher as Trina * Laura Durant as Mrs. Warren

Production

Dellis shot the film on location in

Phoenix Phoenix most often refers to: * Phoenix (mythology), a legendary bird from ancient Greek folklore * Phoenix, Arizona, a city in the United States Phoenix may also refer to: Mythology Greek mythological figures * Phoenix (son of Amyntor), a ...

, Scottsdale,

Mesa A mesa is an isolated, flat-topped elevation, ridge or hill, which is bounded from all sides by steep escarpments and stands distinctly above a surrounding plain. Mesas characteristically consist of flat-lying soft sedimentary rocks capped by ...

, Tempe, Prescott and Paradise Valley, Arizona. He used an Arizona-based crew and nearly all of the actors were based in Arizona, with the exception of some key talent. Originally, actor/comedian

Andy Dick Andrew Roane Dick (born Andrew Thomlinson; December 21, 1965) is an American comedian, actor, musician, and television and film producer. Known professionally as a comic, his first regular television role was on the short-lived but influential ...

was slated to play the part of Lancaster Guy, but performance issues and allegations of sexual improprieties caused his firing the day after his scene was shot. The scene was subsequently re-shot using

in the role of Lancaster Guy.

Soundtrack

Several songs on the soundtrack concern mining disasters. * "All This Could Be Yours" (written and performed by Jennifer Trynin) * "Game of Pricks" (written by

Robert Pollard Robert Ellsworth Pollard Jr. (born October 31, 1957) is an American singer and songwriter who is the leader and creative force behind indie rock group Guided by Voices. In addition to his work with Guided by Voices, he continues to have a prol ...

; performed by Guided By Voices) * " Timothy" (written by

Rupert Holmes David Goldstein (born February 24, 1947), better known as Rupert Holmes, is a British-American composer, singer-songwriter, dramatist and author. He is widely known for the hit singles "Escape (The Piña Colada Song)" (1979) and " Him" (1980). ...

; performed by The Buoys) * "Last Day in the Mine" (written by Jimmy Key; performed by

Dave Dudley Dave Dudley (born David Darwin Pedruska; May 3, 1928 – December 22, 2003) was an American country music singer best known for his truck-driving country anthems of the 1960s and 1970s and his semi-slurred bass. His signature song was "Six Day ...

) * "Explosion in the Fairmont Mine" (written and performed by

Blind Alfred Reed Blind Alfred Reed (June 15, 1880 – January 17, 1956) was an American folk, country, and old-time musician and singer-songwriter. He was one of the artists who recorded at the Bristol Sessions in 1927, alongside more famous names such as Jim ...

) * "McBeth Mine Explosion" (performed by Cap, Andy, and Flip) * "Close the Coalhouse Door" (written and performed by

Alex Glasgow Alex Glasgow (14 October 1935 – 14 May 2001) was an English singer-songwriter from Low Fell, Gateshead, England. He wrote the songs and music for the musical plays ''Close the Coal House Door'' and '' On Your Way, Riley!'' by Alan Plater, and ...

) * "Bow Wow" (written by Benjamin Darvill and J. Hogarth; performed by

Son of Dave Benjamin Darvill (born January 4, 1967), known by his stage name Son of Dave, is a Canadian musician and singer–songwriter, based in the United Kingdom. He was a member of Grammy award-nominated, Juno award-winning folk rock band Crash Test ...

) * " Cello Sonata No. 1, Op 38" (written by

Johannes Brahms Johannes Brahms (; 7 May 1833 – 3 April 1897) was a German composer, pianist, and conductor of the mid- Romantic period. Born in Hamburg into a Lutheran family, he spent much of his professional life in Vienna. He is sometimes grouped wit ...

; performed by Amanda Melby) * "Sonata Amanda, 3. Andante" (written by Douglas Durant; performed by Amanda Melby)

Accolades

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Raising Buchanan 2019 films 2019 independent films 2010s buddy comedy films American comedy films Films about presidents of the United States Cultural depictions of James Buchanan American buddy comedy films American independent films Fictional characters from Arizona Films shot in Arizona 2010s English-language films 2010s American films