The Doors (1991)

The story of the famous and influential 1960's rock band and its lead singer and composer, Jim Morrison.

Director:

Oliver Stone

Writers:

Randall Jahnson, Oliver Stone

Stars:

Val Kilmer, Meg Ryan, Kyle MacLachlan

3 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Val Kilmer	...	Jim Morrison
Meg Ryan	...	Pamela Courson
Kyle MacLachlan	...	Ray Manzarek
Frank Whaley	...	Robby Krieger
Kevin Dillon	...	John Densmore
Michael Wincott	...	Paul Rothchild
Michael Madsen	...	Tom Baker
Josh Evans	...	Bill Siddons
Dennis Burkley	...	Dog
Billy Idol	...	Cat
Kathleen Quinlan	...	Patricia Kennealy
John Densmore	...	Engineer - Last Session
Gretchen Becker	...	Mom
Jerry Sturm	...	Dad
Sean Stone	...	Young Jim

Storyline

Oliver Stone's homage to 1960s rock group The Doors also doubles as a biography of the group's late singer, the "Electric Poet" Jim Morrison. The movie follows Morrison from his days as a film student in Los Angeles to his death in Paris in 1971, at the age of 27. The movie features a tour-de-force performance by Val Kilmer, who not only looks like Jim Morrison's long-lost twin brother, but also sounds so much like him that he did much of his own singing. It has been written that even the surviving Doors had trouble distinguishing Kilmer's vocals from Morrison's originals.

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Plot Keywords:

jim morrison | the doors | singer | 1960s | drugs | 

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Taglines:

The Ultimate Story of Sex, Drugs & Rock 'N' Roll

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Genres:

Biography | Drama | Music

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for heavy drug content, and for strong sexuality and language

Details

Official Sites:

Lions Gate [us] The Doors Official Website

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

1 March 1991 (USA)

Also Known As:

Ha-Dlatot

Filming Locations:

Ambassador Hotel - 3400 Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$38,000,000 (estimated)

Gross:

$35,183,792 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Bill Graham Films, Carolco International N.V., Carolco Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

140 min

Sound Mix:

70 mm 6-Track (analog 70 mm prints) CDS (digital 35 mm and 70 mm prints) Dolby SR (analog 35 mm prints)

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The poem that Jim Morrison is reading at the opening of the film is actually two selections from his book of poetry "An American Prayer": "Awake Ghost Song" and "Awake". It is the same book that Jim gives to his bandmates at the end of the film. The musical version of An American Prayer was not, however, recorded by the surviving members of the Doors until several years after Morrison's death.

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Goofs

While singing Five to One, Val Kilmer's beard begins peeling off the right side of his face. It's clearly visible on the closeup shot.

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Quotes

[after Pamela and Jim's fight over the duck]
Ray Manzarek: Jim, will you stop this shit! Will you get sane!

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Connections

Spoofed in Family Guy: Foreign Affairs (2011)

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Soundtracks

"Hang On Sloopy"
Written by Wes Farrell and Bert Russell
Performed by The McCoys
Published by Morris Music Inc.
Courtesy of Sony Music Licensing

User Reviews

Very insightful movie and excellent performance by Val

Val Kilmer did a great job portraying Jim Morrison. He brings you into the spiraling life of Jim Morrison and back to the days of sex, drugs, and rock and roll.

Throughout the movie you see what made Jim Morrison tick, and get to hear some great music along the way. The cinematography during his drug induced hallucinations is well done and helps pull you into Morrison;s life. Definitely a movie you can sit and watch more than once and one you can enjoy whatever age you are.

Whether you were a dedicated Mossison fan or have never followed him, this movie is entertaining on it's face. The fact that the movie portrays the real life of a rock and roll legend, makes the movie that much more interesting.