Plot
A compassionate young man, raised in an orphanage and trained to be a doctor there, decides to leave to see the world.
Release Year: 1999
Rating: 7.4/10 (46,529 voted)
Critic's Score: 75/100
Director:
Lasse Hallström
Stars: Tobey Maguire, Charlize Theron, Michael Caine
Storyline Homer is an orphan in remote St. Cloud, Maine. Never adopted, he becomes the favorite of orphanage director Dr. Larch, who imparts his full medical knowledge on Homer, who becomes a skilled, albeit unlicensed, physician. But Homer yearns for a self-chosen life outside the orphanage. When Wally and pregnant Candy visit the orphanage Dr. Larch provides medically safe, albeit illegal, abortions Homer leaves with them to work on Wally's family apple farm. Wally goes off to war, leaving Homer and Candy alone together. What will Homer learn about life and love in the cider house? What of the destiny that Dr. Larch has planned for him?
Writers: John Irving, John Irving
Cast: Tobey Maguire
-
Homer Wells
Charlize Theron
-
Candy Kendall
Delroy Lindo
-
Arthur Rose
Paul Rudd
-
Lt. Wally Worthington
Michael Caine
-
Dr. Wilbur Larch
Jane Alexander
-
Nurse Edna
Kathy Baker
-
Nurse Angela
Erykah Badu
-
Rose Rose
Kieran Culkin
-
Buster
Kate Nelligan
-
Olive Worthington
Heavy D
-
Peaches
K. Todd Freeman
-
Muddy
Paz de la Huerta
-
Mary Agnes
J.K. Simmons
-
Ray Kendall
Evan Parke
-
Jack
(as Evan Dexter Parke)
Taglines:
A story about how far we must travel to find the place where we belong.
Release Date: 13 January 2000
Filming Locations: Bellows Falls, Vermont, USA
Box Office Details
Budget: $24,000,000
(estimated)
Opening Weekend: $110,098
(USA)
(12 December 1999)
(8 Screens)
Gross: $57,536,361
(USA)
(18 June 2000)
Technical Specs
Runtime:
Did You Know?
Trivia:
The film was originally to be directed by Phillip Borsos, but he died before financial backing could be secured.
Goofs:
Continuity:
As Wally and Candy arrive at the orphanage, Curly can be seen running down the steps to approach their car. He looks as if he's helping to open the door, directly in front of Candy. However in the next shot Curly's seen running in from the left to introduce himself to Candy.
Quotes: Homer Wells:
Uh, nobody's named this one yet. Dr. Wilbur Larch:
Oh, it's my turn. Henceforth, you shall be Little Dorrit.
[baby starts crying]
Homer Wells:
Oh, you don't like that, do you? He's a boy, that's why. Dr. Wilbur Larch:
Can't a boy be Dorrit? Homer Wells:
I don't think so. Dr. Wilbur Larch:
You do it. Homer Wells:
OK. Henceforth, you shall be Little Wilbur. Dr. Wilbur Larch:
I'm not crazy about the "Little". Homer Wells:
OK, just Wilbur then.
User Review
Funny, moving, incredibly well-done
Rating: 8/10
I didn't think it was possible, but one of John Irving's most difficult
books was condensed by the author himself (the last third of the book is
gone) into a very very good movie. All the acting is great (especially the
nice low key performances by Macguire and Caine), BEAUTIFULLY shot (in
Vermont, Maine and Massachusetts), a score that fits the movie like a glove
and fully realized three-dimensional characters. Plot-wise there's nothing
new (young man goes out to see the world, discovers himself, etc etc) but
the cast makes it seem new. They all find depth in roles that have been
done before--especially Caine who speaks with a very convincing Maine
accent! Bring lots of tissues with you--the movie is sad and disturbing at
points (all kept in the PG-13 rating however), but it has a happy ending.
Well worth seeing. See it on a BIG screen--all the beautiful shoots won't
work on TV.
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