New York, N.Y., September 27, 2010 – From the Oscar®-nominated writer and producers of Frost/Nixon and The Queen comes The Special Relationship, a powerful drama about the unique and sometimes turbulent political relationship between two of the most charismatic world leaders in recent history – British Prime Minister Tony Blair and U.S. President Bill Clinton. In stores on November 30, 2010, The Special Relationship on DVD includes a “Making Of” bonus featurette, for a retail price of $26.98.
The Special Relationship was nominated for five Emmy® awards including Outstanding Made for Television Movie, two for Outstanding Lead Actor (Michael Sheen (Frost/Nixon) as Blair and Dennis Quaid (Far From Heaven) as Clinton) and Outstanding Lead Actress (Hope Davis (In Treatment from HBO) as Hillary Clinton). The film also features Helen McCrory (The Queen) as Cherie Blair.
First coined by Prime Minister Winston Churchill, the term “special relationship” has come to represent the exceptionally close political, diplomatic, cultural and historical relations between Great Britain and United States. The film presentation The Special Relationship, called “…compelling and historically eye-opening” (The Hollywood Reporter) and “provocative” (New York Daily News), chronicles Blair’s and Clinton’s bond, which they built over time through shared ideology and genuine affection. However, as world events, personal scandals and later, a shift to the incoming presidential administration, begin to shake the foundation of their leadership and relationship, the two men must come to terms with the fleeting nature of power, and oftentimes friendship.
The third in screenwriter Peter Morgan’s trilogy on Tony Blair, following The Deal, which aired on HBO, and The Queen, The Special Relationship is directed by Emmy® winner Richard Loncraine (Band of Brothers from HBO) and is an HBO Films® presentation in association with BBC Films of a Kennedy-Marshall Production and Rainmark Films Production. Executive producers: Kathleen Kennedy, Frank Marshall, Andrew Harries, Peter Morgan and Christine Langan. Producers: Frank Doelger, Tracey Scoffield and Ann Wingate.