Secret Honor (1984)

In the introspective drama, "Secret Honor" (1984), we find ourselves in the solitary company of the enigmatic former President Richard Milhous Nixon. Engulfed in the isolation of his study, Nixon's only companions are the haunting portraits adorning the walls, a quartet of screens displaying closed-circuit TV feeds, a bottle of Chivas Regal, and a chillingly loaded pistol. As he dictates his turbulent thoughts into a tape recorder, Nixon becomes an orchestra of one, alternating between addressing an unseen judge in an imagined court of public opinion, conversing with an aide named Roberto, and engaging in a confessional dialogue with himself. This one-man performance unfolds as a riveting stream-of-consciousness, weaving together threads from Nixon's humble Quaker background, his formative school days, cherished family memories, and a political career that soared to the apex of the White House. Engulfed in a whirlpool of resentment and introspection, Nixon lashes out at figures such as Dwight D. Eisenhower, the "goddam Kennedys," J. Edgar Hoover, Henry Kissinger, and a diverse array of others, including Jews, liberals, the media, and "East Coast shits." As the narrative spirals towards its climax, Nixon divulges the 'secret honor' buried within his resignation, unravelling his unique perspective on the Watergate scandal. This fictionalized portrayal of Nixon's solitary soliloquy offers an in-depth exploration of his life, political career, and the clandestine motives behind one of America's most notorious political scandals.

Secret Honor is a drama movie featuring Philip Baker Hall.

Secret Honor is currently streaming on Criterion Channel.

It is also possible to buy Secret Honor on Amazon Video and Apple TV.