Product Details

• Actors: John Travolta, Madeleine Stowe, James Cromwell, Timothy Hutton, Leslie Stefanson
• Format: Closed-captioned, Color, NTSC, Special Edition
• Rated: R (Restricted)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Paramount
• VHS Release Date: May 2, 2000
• Run Time: 117 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (128 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B00004RDL3
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #120,139 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

When John Travolta first opens his mouth during the opening credits of The General's Daughter and speaks in a terrible Southern cracker drawl, one briefly hopes that the movie will turn out to be just as hilariously bad. Unfortunately, the accent is soon revealed to be part of a disguise, and the movie is just as quickly unveiled as a clumsy, run-of-the-mill potboiler. A female officer is discovered strangled and tied to the ground; she's the title character, and because of the general's political ambitions, the mystery of who did it and why has to be wrapped up in 36 hours by Travolta and fellow CID officer Madeleine Stowe (Last of the Mohicans, 12 Monkeys). Sexual violence and lurid S&M have been thrown in to shore up the incomprehensible plot, but that only adds to the queasy atmosphere. The supporting actors--an impressive collection including James Woods (Salvador), Timothy Hutton (Ordinary People), and James Cromwell (Babe, L.A. Confidential)--don't embarrass themselves, but even they can't make sense of their blustering, macho dialogue. It's amazing that screenwriter William Goldman (who wrote such great and genuinely thrilling films as Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, Marathon Man, All the President's Men, and Misery) left his name attached to this script; there's no sign of his usual skill and intelligence. Madeleine Stowe, a graceful presence in any film, is equally wasted. Directed with a lot of empty flash by Simon West (Con Air). --Bret Fetzer

Additional Features

The Special Edition contains four deleted scenes along with commentary from director Simon West on why they were edited out. Most include character development between Travolta's and Stowe's characters (who knew each other in the past), and one is a different final scene.

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

58 of 69 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A strained plot but good performances, November 25, 1999

By 

Edward Nickerson (Wurzburg, Germany) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The General's Daughter (DVD)

Not a great movie, but still entertaining. I especially enjoyed the characters and performances of Travolta and James Woods. The nudity and S&M in the film is disturbing, as it was probably intended to be, but its so in-your-face that it threw me off from fully immersing in the experience, making me feel like I'd stepped into the wrong movie. Stowe was underused, her role as a romantic foil for Travolta forced. You have a pretty good idea who the bad guys are going to be by the middle of the movie, if not earlier, but there's still enough doubts and twists to keep you second guessing till near the end. I didn't like the same old portrayal of the military. From this film you'd think most of the officers are sexual or moral deviants without integrity or honor. But I guess it wouldn't have been much of a who-done-it if you can't suspect everyone. Watch the film, but don't let your expectations get too high.

21 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This movie provokes the view, September 28, 2002

By 

Deborah MacGillivray "Author," (US & UK) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The General's Daughter (DVD)

When you see such a polarisation of opinions on a book or a film, you actually see a good work because it is making people think. This movie does that and yes, provokes violent extremes in how people perceive it.

Yeah, John's accent [stinks] big time, but he gives one of the best performances of his career. Stowe is always beautiful to watch, an elegant actress that be oh so feminine and yet have a strong will and a mind of her own. She shines in a role that often gives her little to work with speaking of her radiant talent. Timothy Hutton is as always, a superb actor (Tim your Daddy would be very proud of you!!) James Woods - what can you say - you love him or you hate him, but he is one of the best around and he gives a moving performance and the person with the secrets Travolta needs. James Cromwell is finally getting the recognition and the roles he deserves and does his very best in another unlikeable role, bringing it little nuances of a man caught between loving his daughter and the higher calling of military honour.

This movie does not show the military and its treatment of its female members in a good light bringing back many such stories we have seen through the years on evening news, maybe with such graphically grim - almost claustrophobic feel that it will cause some people to dislike the film for that alone, especially in today's climate of the world.

But is a gripping, on the edge film, that does not take the easy road, but delivers a powerful punch...maybe too powerful for some.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Terrible movie -- Bad plot, Lame dialogue, Eroticized Rape, May 29, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: The General's Daughter (Special Edition) [VHS] (VHS Tape)

Don't see this movie or buy it. It was a poor excuse for an action movie. The end makes no sense -- the murderer has no motive.

And... to top it all off. The rape seen is totally eroticized. The female protagonist is in agony, and we, as viewers, keep seeing her perfect nipples. It's enough to traumatize any female viewer.