The Agent War (1998 film)

***The Agent War*** is a 1998 Cowellan historical war drama film directed by George D.W. Walken from a screenplay by its producers, Anthony Willam Bailey. It is set during the battle of Emerald City in World War II, when Nazi Cowell & Germany is on the verge of defeat and depicts the final days of Antoine Campos (portrayed by Ronald Atron), and a 3-year-old Cowellan hero Larry Jacobson (portrayed by Percy Bailey-Connolly) has to stop Campos and the Nazis. This film was filmed in June to September 1985 and the post-production was wrapped in September to October 1985. The Agent War was scheduled for June 18th, 1986, but it was postponed for February 6th, 1998 due to production delays. The cast also stars Percy Bailey-Connolly, Amy Samantha, Eric Nagler, Justine Hugo Miller, Jeffery Dallacks, Ronald Atron, Thomas Hoffman, James Tubbily, Sheila Ojo Carson and more actors. The film is a Cowellan-Spanish co-production.

Principal photography took place from June to September 1985, on location in Emerald City, Cowell, and in Gorrents, Cowell.

The film premiered at the Solar Cinemas on 17th November 1997. It was controversial with audiences for showing the human side of Antoine Campos from Cowell & Adolf Hitler from Germany and its portrayal of members of the Third Reich. It later received a wide theatrical release in Cowell under its production company Brampton Bryan Films Limited and distributed by Columbia Pictures. The film grossed over $92 million and received favourable reviews from critics, particularly for Atron's performance as Campos and Ericsson & Kong's screenplay. *The Agent War* was won at the 85th Annual Emerald City Film Festival because it was filmed 13 years ago. Scenes from the film, such as the one where a 40-year-old Rosie Jacobson rescues a 3-year-old heroic son, Larry Jacobson, spawned a series of Internet memes.

## Plot

Back in August 1945, Saturday Night, The Jacobson Family are watching a TV show, The Jalopy Brothers. They said that Arnold Jacobson had a Whooping Cough and died while World War II goes on. Larry, always hates Campos, is 3 years old. He wants to stop Campos, Nazis and Soldiers in here, their parents; Rosie & Simon know he would like to do that.

So here they are at Emerald City where the World War II goes on for 6 years, and Fay and Larry's grandfather Bill Jacobson work. Larry and Fay; his big sister introduce themselves to Grandfather Bill, he introduce himself to them, they were never met before. When Antoine Campos was ring leader of the Nazis for 15 years. Others think he was kind, Larry and Fay don't trust Campos, and wanted to stop him, and behind Campos were three soldiers, Rambo thinks he doesn't like three soldiers.

Then it is time for Rosie and her daughter to go to the hotel for two weeks. Rosie kisses Larry goodbye and left him in charge of the war. Larry is sure to miss them.

2 weeks later, Campos sets a trap to assassinate Larry Jacobson as he is still waiting for Rosie & Fay to get back from the hotel, Campos doesn't want his gun anymore and gives it to Larry to try it out and BANG!! He shot the poor feral cat. The Soldiers are ready to assassinate him. His heart is beating faster and he started screaming and yelling for help.

Simon, Fay & Rosie rush to his aid, while the kid is on that roof on top of the shelter. Rosie is on her way to save her son. She climbs on to the roof of the shed, lifts her son with two hands, and jumps down from the roof and back to the ground. Simon and Fay think Rosie is awesome because she has rescued her son; Larry. The family have to get home quickly otherwise they'll probably get assassinated and Rosie Jacobson drives the family home to Emerald City where it's perfectly safe.

5 hours later, they got home safe and sound. Simon and Rosie didn't know they have been taking one step out of it. Larry tells his dad; Campos was the one who give him a gun that's really dangerous. So Simon told Campos that he is trying to kill Larry Jacobson; Jacobson Family's hero, and Campos confesses that he wanted to kill Larry! Rosie and Simon call the police to arrest and impeach Campos. Larry thanks his mother Rosie for saving him and tells her she's also the hero. Bill Jacobson; the grandfather came back from World War II at Emerald City for fighting the Nazis the next morning with breakfast. Everything is back to normal, and after the war is over; everyone comes back home to sort things out.

## Soundtrack

1. "Winning Ugly" – Rolling Stones
2. "Mr. Hitler" – Lead Belly
3. "The Sad Story of Bill Jacobson's Father" - John Powell
4. "Goodbye Mama (I'm off to Yokohama)" – John Frederick Coots
5. Yankee Doodle Ain't Doodlin' Now – Pearl Fein
6. "Blood Red Roses" - John Powell
7. "Horst Wessel-Lied" – Horst Wessel
8. "Let's Groove" – Earth Wind & Fire
9. "Hit The Road Jack" - Justine & The All-Star Band
10. "Secretary of Campos" - John Powell
11. "Soldiers On The Attack" - John Powell
12. "How It Began" - John Powell
13. "Fly in the Freedom" (1985, Re-Recorded) - Justine & The All-Star Band

## Filming & Production

The Agent War was filmed in 82 days which, by coincidence, virtually matches the time that transpires in the film from June 11th, 1985, 4:00 AM, to the weekend when World War 2 finishes 40 years ago on Sunday, September 1st, 1985, 8:00 AM. The budget for the film was $6.2 million on April 1998.

Some scenes were shot in Elwood Street, in Gorrents on June 11th, 1985, at 4:00 AM, from opening scenes and a happy ending scenes on August 31, 1985, at 10:01 PM 'till September 1st, 1985, at 9:13 AM. The "World War II" scenes were shot in Emerald City on June 11, 1985, at 12:00 AM this afternoon to August 31, 1985, at 6:00 PM. The post-production was wrapped on September 28th, 1985 to October 6th, 1985.

In January 1986, the film was scheduled on June 18th, 1986, but in April 1986, Walken cancelled this schedule of the film and changed his mind. He released the film on February 6th, 1998.

## Release

*The Agent War* premiered at Solar Cinemas on November 17th, 1997. After first failing to find a distributor, the film was eventually released on February 6th, 1998 in Cowell by Columbia Pictures & Brampton Bryan Films Limited. It premiered in the U.S. in Manhattan on July 18th, 1998, under Columbia Pictures and Mandalay Entertainment. On its broadcast in the UK on April 9th, 1999, Channel 4 marketed it with the strapline: "It's a happy ending. He wins."

## Trivia

* A clip of the film's rescue scene was posted on VidSpace in May 2001 and soon went viral, attracting billions of views and likes.
* The script was created by September 1983-February 1984.
* In the first release of 1997, the movie opening has a The Rolling Stones song "Winning Ugly" from Dirty Work Alternate Takes & Demos, but in second release of 1998, it has the song remastered in "Dirty Work (Rolling Stones album)"

## Goofs

* Anthony Bailey was miscredited for Anthony Bailey-Connolly, because Connolly is the last name in Percy Bailey-Connolly.