Product Details

• Actors: Geena Davis, Donald Sutherland, Harry Lennix, Kyle Secor, Ever Carradine
• Writers: Rod Lurie
• Producers: Kenneth J. Silverstein
• Format: Color, NTSC, Dolby
• Language: English (Dolby Digital 5.1)
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1
• Number of discs: 2
• Rated: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
• Studio: Buena Vista Home Entertainment
• DVD Release Date: June 27, 2006
• Run Time: 427 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (36 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B000FIMG6I
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #34,659 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
• For more information about "Commander in Chief: The Inaugural Edition - Part One" visit the Internet Movie Database (IMDb)

Editorial Reviews

Venture into territory that no woman has entered before when mackenzie allen becomes the 1st female president of the united states. While breaking newground as the 1st female leader of the free world mac faces tremendous challenges both personal & political unknown to to any previous commander in chief. Studio: Buena Vista Home Video Release Date: 01/12/2007 Starring: Geena Davis

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

32 of 36 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars All hail the chief, May 3, 2006

By 

Robin Orlowski "political activist" (United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Commander in Chief: The Inaugural Edition - Part One (DVD)

When President Teddy Bridges (Will Lyman) has a stroke, independent Vice President Mackenzie Allen (Geena Davis) finds herself being politely asked to turn in a resignation letter. After all, she was only picked to increase Bridges's support with women voters. Bridges administration personnel did not actually expect her to assume the presidency.

Instead, Allen decides that she will take the oath of office and become America's first woman president. For creator Rod Lurie, having a woman president was not enough; he wanted to examine how the chief executive of America balanced her work and family obligations.

Because this change in American women's political status also affects men, 'Commander' also examined how husband Rod Calloway (Kyle Secor) adapts to being the 'first' First Gentleman. Claiming to be comfortable, Rod subsequently expresses obvious discomfort with some aspects of his own new public image ("First...Do No Harm"). A major strength of this series was that it also gives serious airtime to the challenges a First Gentleman could face.

Rod briefly considers becoming commissioner of baseball before deciding that it would pose a conflict of interest ("First Disaster"). Later on, the Allen-Calloway marriage gets challenged when he is discovered with an intern ("The State of the Unions").

"Rubie Dubidoux and the Brown Bound Express" makes another inevitable comparison with the Clinton administration. Since he is unofficially her closest advisor, Mackenzie subsequently decides that appointing Rod to an official position only makes sense. However gender politics in 21st Century America doesn't have that decision being perceived as smoothly as this first couple would like. Is Mackenzie a strong leader or is Rod ultimately controlling her? Is this nepotisim or is he really the most qualified person for the job?

"Commander" is also special because Polly Bergen guest stars as Mackenzie's mom, Kate Allen. Bergen had ironically stared in "Kisses for my President" (1964) Hollywood's earlier take on what having a female Chief Executive would be like. That president had to resign when she got pregnant!

"The Mom Who Came to Dinner" also marks the addition of Mark-Paul Gosselaar to the cast as Richard "Dickie" McDonald, a young but very sharp media advisor

Of course having a good drama would have been remotely impossible without a good arch nemesis on hand to keep things heated up. He's still a 'Hollywood liberal' but Donald Sutherland plays conservative Republican Speaker of the House Nathan Templeton with gleeful abandon. Templeton is continually a thorn in Allen's side--he does not like her on either a political or a personal level.

10 episodes are included in this release. Extras include unaired scenes (mmm...!), an exclusive interview with Geena Davis, and insights into the show itself from the creator--replete with commentary. I am upset "Commander" has been cancelled, but am happy that it got scheduled for DVD release so soon afterward. I'll always have my memories

20 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Commander In Chief, June 15, 2006

By 

OCHollySmith (Baltimore, Maryland, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Commander in Chief: The Inaugural Edition - Part One (DVD)

First you have ABC doing everything in it's power to sink the show, which came out with very strong ratings the first weeks it aired. From changing nights, unannounced, to skipping weeks, to caving into crybabies about Maryland crime, (where I happen to live) to showing it on-line for free. Now they delay the release date until September. I'm going to buy the series. I thought it was great and should have had a better network running it then ABC. I just sorry they didn't have more episodes filmed. I'd buy them also. Now I know why I never watch network TV anymore.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Geena Davis is Superb, October 23, 2006

By 

Jesse Perales (USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Commander in Chief: The Inaugural Edition - Part One (DVD)

Commander in Chief is absolutely one of the best television shows recently released, even if it was short-lived. Geena Davis is a superb actresses who brings a great passion and elan to the series. The rest of the cast is also impressive, all operating together with an efficiency and smoothness present in every scene, every frame. This disc set is worth every dime, and I certainly recommend it to anyone who has an interest in the conflict between morality and politics. Mackenzie Allen is a character who is determined to stand up for what she believes in, and that makes her rare and courageous. This show is truly delicious--relish every moment!