American history gets a cool make-over in this Jerry Bruckheimer-produced comedic action thriller. Nicholas Cage plays Ben Gates, the descendent of an early American patriot who has left him information relating to a vast treasure, hidden during the Revolutionary War by the Freemasons. A clue at the north pole sets things in motion, and Ben must use his formidable cryptography skills to decipher puzzles hidden in the most unlikely places--one appears on the dollar bill, and another is on the back of the U.S. constitution. Ben's unscrupulous former partner (Sean Bean) and his gang of thugs are also after the treasure for selfish, evil purposes. A plot to steal the Constitution sets off a 13-colony-wide chase with all the trimmings: cops going after the wrong man, the rescue of a cute female cryptographer (Diane Kruger) who tags along for the ride, and Jon Voight answering the door in the middle of the night as Ben's disapproving father. High-speed editing and a clever script make this an enjoyable history lesson, with Cage's character masquerading as his own versions of Sherlock Holmes, Indiana Jones, and an over-caffeinated Washington D.C. tour guide. He and Kruger demonstrate some fine romantic chemistry, and Justin Bartha gets off some legitimately funny lines as Ben's long-suffering sidekick. Last but not least, Harvey Keitel makes a very cool FBI chief.

Theatrical Release: NOVEMBER 19, 2004

DVD Features:

Keep Case
Full Frame - 1.33
Audio:
Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound - English
Additional Release Material:
Alternate Ending
Deleted Scenes
Commentary - 1. Alternate Ending Audio Commentary - John Turteltaub - Director
2. Deleted Scene Audio Commentary - John Turteltaub - Director
3. Opening Scene Animatic Commentary - John Turteltaub - Director
Making Of - NATIONAL TREASURE ON LOCATION MAKING OF
Featurette - 1. THE KNIGHTS TEMPLAR
2. TREASURE HUNTERS REVEALED
3. RILEY'S DECODE THIS!
Interactive Features:
Interactive Game - 1. 3 Puzzling Challenges

Distributor Notes: National Treasure

From Jerry Bruckheimer, producer of PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN, and Jon Turteltaub, director of PHENOMENON, comes NATIONAL TREASURE. It's the thrilling, edge-of-your-seat adventure starring Academy AwardŽ winner Nicolas Cage (1995 Best Actor, LEAVING LAS VEGAS) as Benjamin Franklin Gates. Ever since he was a boy, Gates has been obsessed with finding the legendary Knights Templar Treasure, the greatest fortune known to man. As Gates tries to find and decipher ancient riddles that will lead him to it, he's dogged by a ruthless enemy (Sean Bean, THE LORD OF THE RINGS trilogy) who wants the riches for himself. Now in a race against time, Gates must steal one of America's most sacred and guarded documents -- the Declaration of Independence -- or let it, and a key clue to the mystery, fall into dangerous hands. Heart-pounding chases, close calls, and the FBI turn Gates's quest into a high-stakes crime caper and the most exciting treasure hunt you've ever experienced.

Source: Buena Vista Home Entertainment

Nicolas Cage: American Actor
Justin Bartha: Actor, NATIONAL TREASURE
Sean Bean: English actor, LORD OF THE RINGS
Diane Kruger: Actor, WICKER PARK (2004)
Harvey Keitel: American Actor/Producer
Jon Voight: American Actor

Jon Turteltaub: Director/"3 Ninjas"

Christina Steinberg: Producer
Jerry Bruckheimer: Producer
Jon Turteltaub: Director/"3 Ninjas"

Cormac Wibberly: Screenwriter, NATIONAL TREASURE (2004)
Marianne Wibberly: Screenwriter, NATIONAL TREASURE (2004)

Trevor Rabin: Composer, formerly of YES

"[G]reat fun....An ingenious, enjoyable romp..."
"[T]he freshest performance comes from relative newcomer Justin Bartha as comic-relief sidekick..."