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Dead Poets Society (1989)

PG | | Comedy, Drama | 9 June 1989 (USA)
English teacher John Keating inspires his students to look at poetry with a different perspective of authentic knowledge and feelings.

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Won 1 Oscar. Another 18 wins & 18 nominations. See more awards »

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Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
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Carla Belver ...
Leon Pownall ...
George Martin ...
Joe Aufiery ...
Matt Carey ...
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Storyline

Painfully shy Todd Anderson has been sent to the school where his popular older brother was valedictorian. His room-mate, Neil Perry, although exceedingly bright and popular, is very much under the thumb of his overbearing father. The two, along with their other friends, meet Professor Keating, their new English teacher, who tells them of the Dead Poets Society, and encourages them to go against the status quo. Each, in their own way, does this, and are changed for life. Written by Liz Jordan <c9310494@alinga.newcastle.edu.au>

Plot Summary | Plot Synopsis

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He was their inspiration. He made their lives extraordinary.

Genres:

Comedy | Drama

Certificate:

PG | See all certifications »

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Details

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Release Date:

9 June 1989 (USA)  »

Also Known As:

Le cercle des poètes disparus  »

Box Office

Budget:

$16,400,000 (estimated)

Gross:

$95,860,116 (USA)
 »

Company Credits

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(70 mm prints)| (35 mm prints)

Color:

(Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1
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Did You Know?

Trivia

The poem Charlie has copied some lines on the centerfold of Elaine Reynolds, Miss October 1959 is from Abraham Cowley's poem "The Prophet". See more »

Goofs

Many mistakes in the band musical instruments used for 1959. Fiberglass sousaphones, metal drum carriers, tenor drums - all about 20 years too early. See more »

Quotes

Neil Perry: For the first time in my whole life, I know what I wanna do! And for the first time, I'm gonna do it! Whether my father wants me to or not! Carpe diem!
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Connections

Featured in 20 to 1: 50 to 01: Great Movie One Liners (2007) See more »

Soundtracks

The Battle of New Orleans
Written by Jimmie Driftwood
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User Reviews

 
A powerful antidote to conformism
22 August 2001 | by (Mexico City) – See all my reviews

There are certain films that get under your skin, never to come out. They change your life, subtly altering your perceptions of reality, almost always for the better.

Dead Poets Society is one of those few films.

I saw the movie back when I was in High School. I had a teacher who told us that we really needed to watch it; in fact, it was our "homework" for the day. We didn't need to bring back a report, or talk about it in class. All he asked from us was to watch it, make up our own mind about it, and that was it. As you can imagine, many friends of mine didn't watch it at all; I did. And yes, I feel I changed a bit from there on.

Back when you are young, you never really stop to think what in the world you are doing with your life. You simply live for the day, hope your grades will be enough to pass, and that's it. Long term thinking involves maybe flirting with a girl. Nothing more. What this film showed me was that we have the responsability and the joy of being alive in this planet. That we are dust, and we will go back to it, so we have precious little time to make a difference. That we have a moral obligation to "seize the day, and make our lives extraordinary" (my favorite quote in all movie history). That the world, basically is ours. That the only limitations are within ourselves, and that we owe it to us to fight, to rebel against conformity, to change what we hate and keep what we love. That living in this world is a beautiful responsability, and that only cowards dare not to change it for the better.

The fact that the cast was basically my age, and was passing through the same dilemmas and situations I was facing made it all so much more powerful.

So here I sit, 12 years from that day. I still don't think I have seized the day completely. But I keep on trying; I always will. I wonder how many people were transformed by this gem of a movie; I hope many.

10 out of 10. A definitive masterpiece.


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Neil still would have done what he did eventually midwestmoviemaven
Anybody else disturbed by the 'messages' of the film ? calcaylor
Mr. Perry's Unreasonable Demand GrafZeppelin127
Some of you seem to be completely missing the point. illbeoneasystreet
Sadder Now. my_little_phony
Marlon Brando anachronism? dmfreck
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