ABC PREMIERE EVENT: TRUMP UNAUTHORIZED (TV)
Summary
This made-for-television drama film, based on the books by Gwenda Blair, depicts the rise and many falls of New York City billionaire and real estate mogul Donald Trump. The story begins as "tenacious" young Donald, son of real estate developer Fred Trump, attempts to develop an abandoned rail yard in western Manhattan, comparing himself to Christopher Columbus as he wins the support of Mayor Beame and announces that he will use the space to build a grand convention center, though Fred urges him not to name it after himself. Wily lawyer Peter Wennik introduces himself to Donald, and Donald's brother Fred Jr., an alcoholic pilot, questions Donald about his grand plans, for which he does not yet have financing. Donald desperately attempts to find investors, promising that the property's value will skyrocket when New York emerges from its recession, though he has little success. Undeterred, Donald takes Wennik to the seedy Commodore Hotel near Grand Central and declares that he will remodel it into an upscale "crown jewel" of the city. The Urban Development Corporation refuses to approve his plans, aware that he is attempting to take advantage of a large tax incentive, but Donald manipulates the system by claiming that it is an industrial project in a "substandard area."
Donald soon meets glamorous Czech model Ivana Zelnícková and quickly makes plans to marry her, assuring Peter that she "likes him for him" and that a prenuptial agreement is unnecessary. Ivana too objects to the idea of planning for the end of the marriage before the wedding has taken place, but the lawyers soon convince them otherwise. The two are married and Donald Jr. is soon born, and Ivana becomes actively involved in the design plans for the new hotel, much to Fred's annoyance. At the grand lavish opening, however, Fred publicly praises his son and daughter-in-law's efforts. The hotel is soon booked solid despite critics' assertions that it is "garish," though Donald admits to his father that he needs a loan, having grossly overspent on the project, and the press begins to speculate that he is a "one-hit wonder." He schemes to acquire another tax break by purchasing a building on 56th Street and 5th Avenue, next to the famous Tiffany's store, and he secures the air space for the skyscraper by threatening to instead build a smaller building that is purposefully ugly and "ominous." Mayor Ed Koch sees through the trick and blocks the purchase, calling the maneuver "architectural rape," and a furious Donald sues him in response. Eventually Donald wins his case, though he is permitted to build only 58 floors, not 68, and Fred Jr. grows increasingly disgusted with his brother's petulance and similarity to their ruthless father.
Ivana and Donald begin fighting over her position in the company and her apparent lack of support for him, and Fred Jr. soon dies of a heart attack. "Trump Tower" opens amidst much fanfare, and Donald, not wanting the scandal of a divorce, floats the idea of an "open relationship," though Ivana shoots him down. Donald then turns his sights to Atlantic City, and constructs a gaudy hotel/casino on the boardwalk, though the people of New York strongly object when he ponders building the world's tallest skyscraper in the city. Ivana demands a better prenup, and Donald spars with Mayor Koch again and decides to renovate the unused ice-skating rink in Central Park in order to one-up his rival. He publishes a ghostwritten book, "The Art of the Deal," though Wennik cautions him against unwise spending when he receives an unrecorded mortgage from Chase Bank. Fred Sr. is baffled when Donald downplays his family's wealth in a TV interview, claiming that he rose from humble, "streetwise" beginnings, and he hints that he may run for president, despite being ludicrously unqualified for the job. At a book signing, Donald meets former stewardess Marla Maples and soon begins an affair with her, and Wennik is alarmed when Donald discusses his plans for the Taj Mahal hotel in Atlantic City and arrogantly declares that is "royalty" and "no one's partner."
Wennik and two other Trump associates are killed in a shocking helicopter crash, and Ivana undergoes breast augmentation surgery as Fred Sr. advises Donald to buy Marla off to avoid the press scandal of the affair. Marla follows Donald and Ivana on a skiing trip to Aspen, however, and Ivana finally confronts her husband's mistress in a very public scene. Gossip columnist Liz Smith finds herself fielding angry calls from both Donald and Ivana as they begin their bitter divorce proceedings, and Marla too makes headlines for her tawdry behavior and past. Donald causes a sensation when he arrives at the Taj Mahal opening with Marla on his arm, but his other brother Robert warns him that the casino's test runs were "disastrous" and the project has placed the company even further into debt, and he quits in frustration when Donald refuses to listen to sense. A lawyer informs Donald that he is $2 billion in debt and must dismantle his "empire," but he refuses to declare bankruptcy or accept the assistance of a financial officer, boasting that he cannot be replaced. Fred Sr. advises him to admit his mistakes, step out of the spotlight for a time and then "come back small," but Donald instead confronts his biggest investors and somehow convinces them to bail him out with even more loans. He compares himself to the wizard of Oz to a young reporter, and a smarmy TV producer soon arrives with another money-making idea: a reality show in which he hires and fires people. The film concludes by noting his many absurd lies about the size of his fortune, noting that he eventually married – and then divorced – Marla Maples, followed by model Melania Knauss. Includes commercials and promos.
Details
- NETWORK: ABC
- DATE: May 24, 2005 9:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 1:58:02
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: B:86641
- GENRE: Drama
- SUBJECT HEADING: Drama; Biography
- SERIES RUN: ABC - TV, 2005
- COMMERCIALS:
- TV - Commercials - "Madagascar" motion picture
- TV - Commercials - ACE Hardware stores
- TV - Commercials - Burger King restaurants
- TV - Commercials - Carefree Perfect Fit panty shields
- TV - Commercials - Century 21 realtors
- TV - Commercials - Charmin toilet paper
- TV - Commercials - Chili's restaurants
- TV - Commercials - Cingular wireless networks
- TV - Commercials - Citi credit cards
- TV - Commercials - Claritin allergy medication
- TV - Commercials - Coppertone Continous Spray sunscreen lotion
- TV - Commercials - Cortaid anti-itch lotion
- TV - Commercials - Crest Sensitivity toothpaste
- TV - Commercials - Crestor cholesterol medication
- TV - Commercials - De Beers diamonds
- TV - Commercials - Discover credit cards
- TV - Commercials - Donate Life America foundation
- TV - Commercials - Doritos chips
- TV - Commercials - Dove ice cream
- TV - Commercials - Frontline Plus flea and tick prevention
- TV - Commercials - GM automobiles
- TV - Commercials - Habitat for Humanity organization
- TV - Commercials - Honda automobiles
- TV - Commercials - KY Warming Ultra-Gel personal lubricant
- TV - Commercials - Levitra erectile dysfunction medication
- TV - Commercials - Lunesta sleep aid
- TV - Commercials - McDonald's restaurants
- TV - Commercials - Monistat Soothing Care chafing powder
- TV - Commercials - National Council for Adoption
- TV - Commercials - Neutrogena MicroMist tanning spray
- TV - Commercials - Nissan automobiles
- TV - Commercials - Olay Total Effects serum
- TV - Commercials - Quaker Chewy granola bars
- TV - Commercials - Red Lobster restaurants
- TV - Commercials - Sprint wireless networks
- TV - Commercials - State Farm insurance
- TV - Commercials - Subway restaurants
- TV - Commercials - USO organization
- TV - Commercials - Venus Vibrance razors
- TV - Commercials - Verizon Wireless cellular services
- TV - Commercials - Wrigley's Extra chewing gum
- TV - Commercials - Zyrtec allergy medication
- TV - PSA - A Better Community exercise initiative
- TV - Promos - "Alias"
- TV - Promos - "Dancing With the Stars"
- TV - Promos - "Empire"
- TV - Promos - "Good Morning America"
- TV - Promos - "Jimmy Kimmel Live!"
- TV - Promos - "Lost"
- TV - Promos - "Supernanny"
- TV - Promos - "The Scholar"
- TV - Promos - NBA Finals
CREDITS
- Vin Di Bona … Executive Producer
- Daniel Lux … Executive Producer
- Barbara Lieberman … Executive Producer
- Philip Kleinbart … Supervising Producer
- Jörg Westerkamp … Producer
- Thomas Becker … Producer
- Michael Hagemeyer … Producer
- Mark Winemaker … Producer
- Kai Schuermann … Associate Producer
- John David Coles … Director
- Keith Curran … Writer
- Gwenda Blair … Based on the books by
- Anton Sanko … Music by
- Justin Louis (see also: Louis Ferreira) … Cast, Donald Trump
- Saul Rubinek … Cast, Peter Wennik
- Chris Potter … Cast, Fred Trump Jr. (adult)
- Ron McLarty … Cast, Fred Trump
- David Lipper … Cast, Robert Trump
- Richard Portnow … Cast, Mayor Ed Koch
- Jennifer Baxter … Cast, Marla Maples
- Peter MacNeill … Cast, Joseph Eichler
- Katheryn Winnick … Cast, Ivana Trump
- Mark Camacho … Cast, Rosenfeld
- Peter Cockett … Cast, TV Producer
- J.C. Kenny … Cast, Emma Reynolds
- Noam Jenkins … Cast, Rod Robson
- Richard McMillan … Cast, Der Scutt
- Carolyn Scott … Cast, Liz
- Rory O'Shea … Cast, Aspen Reporter
- Kyle Buchanan … Cast, Teen Reporter
- Jacqueline Pillon … Cast, Karen Dalton
- Roman Podhora … Cast, Reporter
- Peter Feniak … Cast, Newscaster
- Jerry Levitan … Cast, Alan Verne
- Pedro Salvín … Cast, Maitre D'
- Martin Doyle … Cast, Mayor Beame
- Daniel Fathers … Cast, Ivana's Lawyer
- Ian White … Cast, Walter Hoving
- Catherine Smith … Cast, Protester
- Viviana Zarrillo … Cast, Mayor's Assistant
- Shant Srabian … Cast, Reporter
- Aaron Abrams … Cast, Paparazzi Reporter
- Shannon Jobe … Cast, Girl in Bar
- David Sparrow … Cast, Hotel Executive
- Marc Aubin … Cast, Photographer
- Victor Gomez … Cast, Charles
- Jemeni … Cast, Masseuse
- Martha Chaves … Cast, Masseuse
- Sharon Brown … Cast, Atrium Reporter
- Caleb Repchuk … Cast, Young Donald
- Nicholas McGowan … Cast, Donald Jr.
- Brandon Reid … Cast, Keishon
- Marjorie Medley … Cast, Mary Trump