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The Chocolate War
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The Chocolate War (1988) More at IMDbPro »

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Overview

User Rating:
6.7/10   934 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Down 11% in popularity this week. See rank & trends on IMDbPro.
Director:
Keith Gordon
Writers:
Robert Cormier (novel)
Keith Gordon (screenplay)
Contact:
View company contact information for The Chocolate War on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
18 November 1988 (USA) more
Genre:
Drama more
Plot:
A surreal portrait of a Catholic Private School and it's hierarchy. A new student must submit to the... more | add synopsis
Plot Keywords:
more
Awards:
1 nomination more
User Comments:
Not as great as the book but still an ok blast against conformity... more

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)
John Glover ... Brother Leon
Ilan Mitchell-Smith ... Jerry Renault

Wallace Langham ... Archie Costello (as Wally Ward)

Doug Hutchison ... Obie Jameson
Corey Gunnestad ... Goober

Brent David Fraser ... Emile Janza
Robert Davenport ... Brian Cochran
Jenny Wright ... Lisa

Bud Cort ... Brother Jacques

Adam Baldwin ... Bill Carter
Ethan Sandler ... David Caroni
Wayne Young ... Gregory Bailey
Kurt Bloom ... Impressed Kid on Bus
Wyeth Orestes Johnston ... Senior 'Environment' Kid
Landon Wine ... Frank Bolo
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Additional Details

Runtime:
100 min
Country:
USA
Language:
English
Color:
Color
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Mono
Certification:
UK:15 | USA:R

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
Doug Hutchison, who portrayed 16-year-old Obie Jameson, was 27 when this movie was filming. more
Quotes:
Brother Leon: I'm warning you Archie, if the sale goes down the drain, you and the Vigils go down the drain. We all go down the drain together! more
Movie Connections:
Featured in The Celluloid Closet (1995) more
Soundtrack:
Shepherd's Song more

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
3 out of 5 people found the following comment useful:-
Not as great as the book but still an ok blast against conformity..., 28 May 1999
Author: chas77 from Los Angeles

Sure this film doesn't compare to the classic Cormier book but, as it is, it's not a bad film about the abuse of power and the evils of conformity. I think the reason why the producers chose to change the ending is because, face it, the book made everything so hideously, slash-your-wrists-depressing (like all of Cormier's other books) that I don't think anyone would want to see it!

Despite the changed ending, director/adapter Keith Gordon manages to make the message clear. While this is a low-budget film with obvious limitations (the school looks like it has a total of 100 students at best), Gordon never lets the film drag and he got good performances from the actors (particularly from John Glover who steals the show as the evil headmaster and Bud "Harold and Maude" Cort in a great cameo as one of the priests). The "80's soundtrack" is impressive, with excellent cuts from Peter Gabriel, Yaz, Kate Bush and more. My rating: 7/10.

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Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for The Chocolate War (1988)
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Keith: A Question PanicPop
Music suburban_dreamer-1
Why change the book? jasonay
Loved the movie ! - Should I read the book? vash_da_stampede
Jerry's mother theperfectten
WHO THINKS THIS MOVIE DESERVES MORE CRITICAL PRAISE? pumpkin_king_the
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