In the Line of Fire - Definition and Overview

In the Line of Fire is a 1993 film about a psychopath who attempts to assassinate the President of the United States. The film was directed by Wolfgang Petersen and stars Clint Eastwood as a Secret Service agent assigned to protect the President, and John Malkovich as the would-be assassin. An important plot premise is that Eastwood's character is supposedly the sole Secret Service agent remaining on active duty from the detail that was guarding John F. Kennedy in Dallas at the time of his murder. Rene Russo, Dylan McDermott and Fred Dalton Thompson also star. The movie was distributed by Columbia Pictures and Castle Rock Entertainment.

The film earned three Academy Award nominations: Malkovich for best supporting actor, Jeff Maguire for best original screenplay, and Anne Coates for best editing.