To the rescue: Coast Guard movie seen as recruiting boon.

• Author: Magnuson, Stew
• Position: SECURITY BEAT: Homeland Defense Briefs - Brief article

Already riding high from the positive public perception of its performances during Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, the Coast Guard will be the beneficiary of another shot of good publicity: a Hollywood movie.

"The Guardian," starring Kevin Costner and teen heartthrob Ashton Kutcher, is scheduled for release this month and will revolve around the lives of the service's rescue swimmers, who often dive into dangerous seas to save lives.

It is the first movie to feature the service from beginning to end since the 1958 film, "Onionhead," a poorly received comedy staring Andy Griffith and Walter Matthau. "The Perfect Storm," a drama released in 2000 based on the bestselling nonfiction book, also showed the exploits of Coast Guard rescue swimmers, but their story was only a small part of the film.

Chief Warrant Officer Eric Eggen, public affairs officer for the service's recruiting command, said plans are in the works to use the movie to help fill its ranks.

"We're still working out what we're going to do [to use it to help recruiting], but certainly...