A single mother raises a child prodigy on her own, struggling to give him every opportunity he needs to express his gift.
Director:
Writer:
Stars:
Awards:
- 2 wins & 1 nomination.
- See more »
Photos and Videos
Cast verified as complete
| Jodie Foster | ... |
Dede Tate
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Alex Lee | ... |
Fred Tate at 2
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| Adam Hann-Byrd | ... |
Fred Tate
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| Michael Shulman | ... |
Matt Montini
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Nathan Lee | ... |
Matt's Teammate
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| Celia Weston | ... |
Miss Nimvel
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| Danitra Vance | ... |
Clinic Doctor
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| Dianne Wiest | ... |
Jane Grierson
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| David Hyde Pierce | ... |
Garth
(as David Pierce)
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| Debi Mazar | ... |
Gina
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Richard Fredette | ... |
Bartender
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| George Plimpton | ... |
Winston F. Buckner
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Jennifer Trier | ... |
Grierson Institute Teacher
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| P.J. Ochlan | ... |
Damon Wells
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John Bell | ... |
Joey X
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Ishe Costa | ... |
Cherry Reynolds
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Chucky Ocampo | ... |
Bob Yee
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Richard Hanson | ... |
Odyssey of the Mind Leader #1
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Mar Ya Zuke | ... |
Odyssey of the Mind Leader #2
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Mark Lienhart | ... |
Fenton
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Lauren Ashley Stacey | ... |
Valerie
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| Josh Mostel | ... |
Physics Professor
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| Michael Mantell | ... |
Coral Bay Owner
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Erica Staton | ... |
Girl Outside Classroom
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Michael Keavy | ... |
Auctioneer
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| Carolyn Lawrence | ... |
Sorority Girl
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| Harry Connick Jr. | ... |
Eddie
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George Kaufman | ... |
Eddie's Friend
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Gordon Greene | ... |
Fred's Doctor
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Barry J. Williams | ... |
Preppy Guy in Cafeteria
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Alexandra Auder | ... |
Eddie's Girlfriend
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Sam Womelsdorf | ... |
Eddie's Roommate
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| Ellen McElduff | ... |
Make-Up Woman
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Adam Midkiff | ... |
Evan
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Sheadrick Richards | ... |
'LIVEWIRE' Boy Guest
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Elizabeth Frietsch | ... |
'LIVEWIRE' Girl Guest
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| Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
| Bob Balaban | ... |
Quizmaster (uncredited)
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| Brooke Bobbitt | ... |
Midwife (uncredited)
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Lonzo Jones | ... |
Frisbee Boy (uncredited)
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Ramy Mam | ... |
Student (uncredited)
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| Michael Newman | ... |
Man in Park (uncredited)
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Julia Rosendale | ... |
Freak Girl (uncredited)
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Directed by
| Jodie Foster | ||
Written by
| Scott Frank | ... | (written by) |
Produced by
| Peggy Rajski | ... | producer |
| Scott Rudin | ... | producer |
| Randy Stone | ... | executive producer |
Music by
| Mark Isham | ||
Cinematography by
| Mike Southon | ... | director of photography |
Editing by
| Lynzee Klingman | ||
Editorial Department
| Gary Burritt | ... | negative cutter |
| John Ganem | ... | first assistant editor |
| Lawrence Jordan | ... | additional film editor |
| Kim Nolan | ... | second assistant editor (as Kimberly Nolan) |
| Peter E. Nunnery | ... | post-production assistant |
| Dan Schalk | ... | second assistant editor |
Casting By
| Avy Kaufman | ||
| Lina Todd | ||
Production Design by
| Jon Hutman | ||
Art Direction by
| Adam Lustig | ||
Set Decoration by
| Samara Hutman | ... | (as Sam Schaffer) |
Costume Design by
| Susan Lyall | ||
Makeup Department
| Bonnie Clevering | ... | hair stylist |
| Julie Hewett | ... | makeup artist |
| Sean Rodgers | ... | assistant hair stylist (as Sean Rogers) |
| Zoe Thompson | ... | assistant makeup artist |
Production Management
| Carol Cuddy | ... | production manager |
| Mary F. Jansen | ... | post-production supervisor |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
| Joe Camp III | ... | first assistant director: second unit |
| Gregory Jacobs | ... | second assistant director (as Greg Jacobs) |
| Harry A. Jarvis III | ... | third assistant director (as Harry Jarvis) |
| Michael McCue | ... | second second assistant director (as Mike McCue) |
| Peggy Rajski | ... | second unit director |
| Mike Topoozian | ... | first assistant director (as Mike Tapoozian) |
Art Department
| Art Berkley | ... | carpenter |
| Beth Bernstein | ... | art department coordinator |
| Rick Bioni | ... | assistant property master (as Richard Bioni) |
| Larce Crawford | ... | construction foreman |
| David Flint | ... | third assistant property master |
| Barry Franenberg | ... | property master |
| Nancy Gilmore | ... | lead set dresser |
| Joe Griffith | ... | storyboard artist |
| Aaron Harvey | ... | carpenter |
| Lowell Huff | ... | set dresser |
| William Kroth | ... | set dresser |
| Brent Lahner | ... | set dresser |
| Meredith Lee | ... | artwork: Cherry Reynolds |
| Francis Link | ... | carpenter (as Frances Boysie Link) |
| Big Mike Maguire | ... | carpenter |
| Tim McLoughlin | ... | carpenter |
| Steve Olson | ... | carpenter (as Steve Olsen) |
| Brad Orr | ... | carpenter |
| Thomas H. Paul | ... | draftsman (as Tom Paul) |
| Susan Raney | ... | buyer (as Sue Rainey) |
| Patrick Romine | ... | second construction foreman |
| Jeff Schneider | ... | paintings: Joey X |
| Erich W. Schultz | ... | construction coordinator (as Erich Schultz) |
| Paul Stafford | ... | carpenter |
| David Wald | ... | carpenter |
| Brett Wert | ... | carpenter |
| Brad S. Wilson | ... | art department intern (as Brad Wilson) |
| Duke Wilson | ... | set dresser |
| Dwain Wilson | ... | on-set dresser |
| Tom Woods | ... | art: Fred |
| J. Todd Anderson | ... | storyboard artist (uncredited) |
| Alton McClellan | ... | scenic foreman (uncredited) |
| David C. Ryan | ... | carpenter (uncredited) |
Sound Department
| Douglas Axtell | ... | sound mixer |
| Norval D. Crutcher III | ... | assistant sound editor |
| Norval D. Crutcher | ... | supervising sound editor |
| Samuel C. Crutcher | ... | sound editor (as Sam Crutcher) |
| G.W. Davis | ... | sound editor |
| Robert Deschaine | ... | adr mixer |
| Michael Dhonau | ... | utility sound (as Michael T. Dhonau) |
| Suzanne Geary | ... | post-production sound recordist |
| Joanna Jimenez | ... | sound editor |
| Gregg Landaker | ... | re-recording mixer |
| Mark 'Frito' Long | ... | sound recordist |
| Robert Maxfield | ... | boom operator |
| Michael Minkler | ... | re-recording mixer |
| Gilberto Costa Nunes | ... | co-supervising sound editor |
| Dan O'Connell | ... | foley artist |
| Greg Orloff | ... | foley mixer (as Gregg Orloff) |
| Mark Rathaus | ... | sound editor |
| Charleen Richards | ... | adr mixer |
| Reinhard Schreiner | ... | sound editor |
| Norto Sepulveda | ... | adr editor |
| Alicia Stevenson | ... | foley artist |
| John Joseph Thomas | ... | sound designer (as John Thomas) |
| Barbara Vickers | ... | sound editor |
| Mark V. Phillips | ... | assistant sound editor (uncredited) |
| Vicky Tama | ... | sound effects librarian (uncredited) |
Visual Effects by
| Phill Norman | ... | effects design |
Stunts
| Christine Anne Baur | ... | stunt coordinator (as Christine Baur) |
| Charles Croughwell | ... | stunts |
| Gary Jensen | ... | stunts |
Camera and Electrical Department
| James Babineaux | ... | best boy electric |
| Doug Boone | ... | grip |
| Robert Bruce | ... | electrician |
| George M. Chappell | ... | electrician (as George Chappel) |
| Henry Cline | ... | first assistant camera |
| J. Patrick Daily | ... | key grip (as Pat Dailey) |
| Jeffrey De La Rosa | ... | electrician (as Jeff De La Rosa) |
| Jack English | ... | gaffer |
| Suzanne Hanover | ... | still photographer (as Suzanne Hanover-Fowler) |
| Holly Heinzmann | ... | first assistant camera: second unit |
| Steve Irwin | ... | video playback operator |
| Tony C. Jannelli | ... | director of photography: second unit (as Tony Janelli) |
| Kent H. Jorgensen | ... | dolly grip (as Kent Jorgensen) |
| John 'Quincy' Koenig | ... | electrician (as Quincy Koenig) |
| Toby Phillips | ... | steadicam operator |
| Rick Raphael | ... | steadicam operator |
| Martin Schaer | ... | camera operator |
| Ruth Sergel | ... | second assistant camera: second unit |
| Alex Smith | ... | camera loader |
| Andy Smith | ... | video assist operator (as Andrew Smith) |
| Amy Vincent | ... | second assistant camera |
| Derek Wells | ... | grip |
| Eric Whitehead | ... | best boy grip |
| Christopher Blakely | ... | video assist operator (uncredited) |
| Kevin Boyd | ... | video assist operator: second unit (uncredited) |
Casting Department
| Cindy Bashore | ... | extras casting assistant (as Cynthia Bashore) |
| Anita Daugherty | ... | extras casting |
| Alison Loop | ... | casting assistant: New York |
| Ben Hynum | ... | casting scout (uncredited) |
Costume and Wardrobe Department
| Michelle Custance | ... | wardrobe production assistant |
| Elizabeth Feldbauer | ... | wardrobe supervisor |
| Juliet Polcsa | ... | assistant costume designer |
| Catherine Wall | ... | seamstress |
| Taryn Walsh | ... | wardrobe assistant |
| Michelle M. Pershing | ... | costumer (uncredited) |
Location Management
| Deirdre Costa | ... | location assistant |
| Glenn Gaylord | ... | location auditor |
| Michael Williams | ... | location manager |
Music Department
| Thomas A. Carlson | ... | music editor (as Tom Carlson) |
| Ensemble Vocal Michel Piquemal | ... | chorus |
| David Goldblatt | ... | musician: piano |
| Mark Isham | ... | musician: trumpet |
| Stephen Krause | ... | original score recording engineer (as Steven Krause) |
| Ken Kugler | ... | musician: trombone |
| Sid Page | ... | musician: violin |
| Bob Shepherd | ... | musician: saxophone |
| Daniel Troob | ... | consultant: classical music |
| Tom Warrington | ... | musician: bass |
| Kurt Wortman | ... | musician: drums |
| Gay DiFusco | ... | music clearance: Fricon Entertainment (uncredited) |
| David Sibley | ... | music supervisor (uncredited) |
Script and Continuity Department
| Mary Cybulski | ... | script supervisor |
Transportation Department
| William 'Fleet' Eakland | ... | transportation coordinator (as Fleet Eakland) |
| Alan Forbes | ... | driver |
| Jimmy Humphreys | ... | driver |
| Terry Johnson | ... | driver |
| E. Steve McLaughlin | ... | driver |
| Kelly Nordberg | ... | driver |
| Thomas J. Nordberg | ... | driver (as Thomas Nordberg) |
| Ed Petrie | ... | driver |
| Todd Pfeiffer | ... | driver |
| David Schnier | ... | driver |
| Pat Stubbs | ... | transportation captain |
| Ken Watson | ... | driver |
| Don Westerbeck | ... | driver |
| Fred Westerbeck | ... | driver |
| Scott Wingard | ... | driver |
Additional Crew
| Keith Armour | ... | teacher |
| Will Benson | ... | production assistant |
| Lisa Bradley | ... | production coordinator |
| David Collins | ... | production secretary |
| Vicki Dee Rock | ... | production auditor |
| Craig Denton | ... | production assistant |
| John Durling | ... | dailies projectionist |
| Sharon Fitzgerald | ... | assistant: Ms. Foster |
| Glenn Gaylord | ... | location auditor |
| Jeff Hay | ... | catering assistant |
| Ann McDermott | ... | production assistant |
| Derek McFadden | ... | riding double: "Damon" |
| Kris Nielsen | ... | production assistant |
| Phill Norman | ... | title designer |
| Marcia Oney | ... | production assistant |
| Tiffany Rosen | ... | assistant production coordinator |
| Albert G. Ruben | ... | insurance |
| Eileen Schroder | ... | craft service |
| Mary Seguin | ... | production assistant |
| Peter J. Silbermann | ... | publicist (as Peter Silberman) |
| Cris Thomas-Palomino | ... | riding double: Fred (as Chris Thomas) |
| Matilde Valera | ... | financial representative |
| Rebecca Bennett | ... | publicist (uncredited) |
| Shannon Kemp | ... | production assistant (uncredited) |
| Paul J. Memmi | ... | translator (uncredited) |
| Steven E. Williams | ... | production assistant (uncredited) |
Thanks
| Francis Aiken | ... | thanks: Cellular One |
| Rain Burns | ... | thanks: Apple Computer Inc. |
| Dara Eisenberg | ... | thanks: Wolfram Research Inc. |
| Chris Hayward | ... | thanks: Cincinnati Country Day School |
| Fenno Heath | ... | thanks: director, The Yale Glee Club |
| Joe Hofmeister | ... | thanks: Cincinnati Country Day School |
| Lori Holladay | ... | thanks: Greater Cincinnati Film Commission (as Lorie Holladay) |
| Ward Johnson | ... | thanks: Clarity Systems |
| Eve Lapolla | ... | thanks: Ohio Film Bureau |
| Frank Laurence | ... | thanks: Cincinnati Country Day School |
| Rich Little | ... | thanks: Miami University, Oxford, Ohio |
| Sam Micklus | ... | thanks: Odyssey of the Mind |
| Bonnie Paul | ... | thanks: Greater Cincinnati Film Commission |
| Joyce Rudowski | ... | thanks: Cincinnati Country Day School |
| Holly Wissing | ... | thanks: Miami University, Oxford, Ohio |
Production Companies
Distributors
- Orion Pictures (1991) (United States) (theatrical)
- CBS (1995) (United States) (tv)
- Columbia TriStar Film (1992) (Germany) (theatrical)
- Columbia TriStar Film (1992) (Japan) (theatrical)
- Columbia TriStar Films (1992) (France) (theatrical)
- Columbia TriStar Films de Argentina (1992) (Argentina) (theatrical)
- Arthaus (2019) (Germany) (Blu-ray)
- Arthaus (2019) (Germany) (DVD)
- Columbia TriStar Home Video (1993) (Germany) (VHS) (Orion)
- Film Production Partner (2022) (Germany) (video) (VOD)
- Filmayer (Spain)
- LK-TEL Vídeo (Brazil) (VHS)
- LK-TEL (1992) (Argentina) (VHS)
- MGM Home Entertainment (2001) (Canada) (DVD)
- MGM Home Entertainment (2001) (United States) (DVD)
- MGM Home Entertainment (2002) (Germany) (DVD)
- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (Turkey) (tv)
- Pluto TV (2024) (United States) (video) (VOD)
- VideoVisa (1993) (Mexico) (VHS)
Special Effects
Other Companies
- ARRI / Camera Service Center (camera equipment provided by)
- Apple (the producers would like to thank the following)
- Cellular-One (thanks)
- Clarity Visual Systems (thanks)
- DeLuxe Laboratories (color timing)
- Descriptive Video Works (descriptive video)
- Entertainment Catering (catering)
- Giorgio Armani (thanks)
- Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky Film Commission (thanks)
- Lightnin' Production Rentals (transportation equipment)
- Miami University of Ohio (thanks)
- Pacific Title (titles and opticals)
- Reeltime Creative (trailer music)
- Skywalker Sound (post production facilities)
- THX Ltd. (acknowledgement: This film recorded in a THX Sound System Theatre)
- THX Sound System Theatre (This film recorded in a)
- The Chandler Group (miniature shot)
- The Ohio Film Bureau (thanks)
- Varèse Sarabande (soundtrack)
Storyline
| Plot Summary |
Dede is a sole parent trying to bring up her son Fred. When it is discovered that Fred is a genius, she is determined to ensure that Fred has all the opportunities that he needs, and that he is not taken advantage of by people who forget that his extremely powerful intellect is harboured in the body and emotions of a child.
Written by Murray Chapman |
| Plot Keywords | |
| Taglines | It's not what he knows. It's what he understands. See more » |
| Genres | |
| Parents Guide | View content advisory » |
| Certification |
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Additional Details
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Box Office
| Budget | $10,000,000 (estimated) |
| Opening Weekend United States | $3,551,331, 01 Nov 1991 |
Did You Know?
| Trivia | Jodie Foster asked David Hyde Pierce to appear in the film after remembering him from college. They both attended Yale University. See more » |
| Goofs | There are several errors in simple mathematics in the movie: Firstly, Damon "The Mathemagician" Wells correctly states that there are 25 228 800 minutes in 48 years (but 25,246,080 minutes if one counts the 12 leap-days that would occur in any span of 48 years that doesn't include a century year - only century years evenly divisible by 400, like 2000 but not 1900, are leap years), then says that this is 151 368 000 seconds. This is clearly wrong as 25 228 800 x 60 is 1 513 728 000 (more than 10 times as much). Furthermore, Fred says that the cube root of 3 796 466 is 156 although 156*156*156 is 3 796 416. See more » |
| Movie Connections | Featured in Paradise/Livin' Large/The Fisher King/The Indian Runner (1991). See more » |
| Soundtracks | I Get A Kick Out Of You See more » |
| Quotes |
[last lines]
Fred Tate: I once got this fortune cookie that said, "only when all things around you are different will you truly belong". Well, we're all different that's for sure. I see Jane everyday at the institute, and once in while Dede let's her take us out to a fancy restaurant. Sometimes we even have fun. After a while I was the most famous kid at Jane's school. But then a year later, a 6 year old boy named Willie Yamaguchi got into law school, and suddenly I wasn't such a big deal anymore. But I don't care, because I was happy. See more » |