Avalon (1990)

Director:

Barry Levinson

Writer (WGA):

Barry Levinson (written by)

Release Date:

5 October 1990 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

Three generations of family. They shared a dream called America in a place called Avalon.

Plot:

A Polish-Jewish family comes to the USA at the beginning of the Twentieth Century. There, the family and their children try to make themselves a better future in the so-called promised land.

Plot Keywords:

Thanksgiving | Streetcar | Fourth Of July | Immigration | Family History

Awards:

Nominated for 4 Oscars. Another 1 win & 11 nominations

Cast

Leo Fuchs	...	Hymie Krichinsky
Eve Gordon	...	Dottie Kirk
Lou Jacobi	...	Gabriel Krichinsky
Armin Mueller-Stahl	...	Sam Krichinsky
Elizabeth Perkins	...	Ann Kaye
Joan Plowright	...	Eva Krichinsky
Kevin Pollak	...	Izzy Kirk
Aidan Quinn	...	Jules Kaye
Israel Rubinek	...	Nathan Krichinsky
Elijah Wood	...	Michael Kaye
Grant Gelt	...	Teddy Kirk
Mindy Loren Isenstein	...	Mindy Kirk
Shifra Lerer	...	Nellie Krichinsky
Mina Bern	...	Alice Krichinsky
Frania Rubinek	...	Faye Krichinsky

Runtime:

126 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Certification:

Australia:PG | South Korea:12 | Netherlands:12 | Argentina:Atp | Chile:TE | Finland:S | Iceland:L | Singapore:PG | Sweden:7 | UK:U | USA:PG

Filming Locations:

19th Century Bookstore - 1047 Hollis Street, Baltimore, Maryland, USA

Company:

Baltimore Pictures

Trivia:

The home in the suburbs where the Kaye family moves from Avalon is director Barry Levinson's actual childhood home in Forest Park, west of Baltimore's city center.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: Although the beginning of the picture is set in the late 1940s, the Christmas song "Silver Bells" is heard on Jules' car radio, sung by Bing Crosby. That version of the song was released in 1950.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Sam Krichinsky: I came to America in 1914 - by way of Philadelphia. That's where I got off the boat. And then I came to Baltimore. It was the most beautiful place you ever seen in your life. There were lights everywhere! What lights they had! It was a celebration of lights...

Movie Connections:

Featured in The 48th Annual Golden Globe Awards (1991) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Broadway

Less-than-nostalgic slice of Americana

AVALON (1990) **** Armin Mueller-Stahl, Aidan Quinn, Elizabeth Perkins, Kevin Pollak, Joan Plowright, Lou Jacobi, Elijah Wood, Leo Fuchs. Barry Levinson's personal masterpiece, loosely autobiographical, on family values. Absolutely charming and at times poignant account of the Krachinsky clan, spanning four generations of the Baltimore based Jewish immigrants, and the effects of suburbia, television and the decline of the closeness of American families at large. Wonderful ensemble of talent with a steadily paced and absorbing calmness in tone. Stahl gives a sterling endeavor as does young Wood as his wide-eyed grandson. Loving valentine for all families perfectly realized. Great production design and cinematography.