A Brief History of Time (1991)

A film about the life and work of the cosmologist, Stephen Hawking, who despite his near total paralysis, is one of the great minds of all time.

Director:

Errol Morris

Writer:

Stephen Hawking (book)

Stars:

Isobel Hawking, Stephen Hawking, Janet Humphrey

5 wins.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Isobel Hawking	...	Herself - Stephen Hawking's Mother
Stephen Hawking	...	Himself
Janet Humphrey	...	Herself - Stephen Hawking's Aunt
Mary Hawking	...	Herself - Stephen Hawking's Sister
Basil King	...	Himself - Hawking Family Neighbor
Derek Powney	...	Himself - Hawking Classmate at Oxford
Norman Dix	...	Himself - Hawking Classmate at Oxford
Robert Berman	...	Himself - Hawking Tutor at Oxford
Gordon Berry	...	Himself - Hawking Classmate at Oxford
Roger Penrose	...	Himself - Professor at Cambridge
Dennis Sciama	...	Himself - Professor at Cambridge
John Wheeler	...	Himself - Astrophysicist
Brandon Carter	...	Himself - Astrophysicist
John Taylor	...	Himself - Astrophysicist
Kip Thorne	...	Himself - Research Scientist at Cambridge

Storyline

Unlike the book, this film is really an anecdotal biography of Stephen Hawking. Clips of his lectures, interviews with friends and family and a little physics are thrown together.

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Plot Keywords:

physics | paralysis | cosmology | astronomy | professor | 

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Taglines:

Where did the universe come from? Will time ever come to an end? Which came first, the chicken or the egg?

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Genres:

Documentary | Biography

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Certificate:

G

Details

Country:

UK Japan USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

16 October 1992 (Australia)

Also Known As:

Ajan lyhyt historia

Filming Locations:

Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, England, UK

Box Office

Gross:

$2,279,692 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Amblin Entertainment, Anglia Television, Channel Four Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

80 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Black and White Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Appearances to the contrary, all interviews were filmed on sets built for the movie.

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Quotes

Stephen Hawking: I wanted to understand how the universe began.

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Connections

Featured in A Brief History of Errol Morris (2000)

User Reviews

Stunning, moving, and ultimately unique

I was one of the few locals who had the opportunity to watch this on the big screen. The film was pulled 3 days after its release, but I happened by chance to be visiting the strip mall where the theater was located on its last day. I feel very lucky, although I wonder how a film of this nature ever made it to the big screen in the first place.

I don't recall having heard of Hawking before this film, mainly because I was fresh out of high school and carefree at the time. However, I am now well versed in many of his theories, and althought I disagree with many of his opinions, I still find him to be one of the most amazing individuals of our time. Simply, his willpower is enough to put us all to shame, and his cosmic imagination is unfathomable.

A Brief History of Time should be required viewing for anyone with any interests outside of mundane popular culture. I also recommend it if you are a writer, a thinker, or an admirer of cosmology. Anyone can enjoy this film, and I hope that you enjoy it as much has I have. We need more films like this at the theaters! Please?